Scheme and Non-Scheme Cards

What is Scheme and Non-Scheme Cards?

Card Personalization: Also referred as “Card Issuance” is the sequence of steps that make every smart card unique. During this process individual card holder data are loaded into the chip memory, encoded into the magnetic stripe and variable data printed, engraved and embossed on the surface of the card. Magnetic Stripe Personalization: This production process encodes data on the magnetic stripe. The location, flexibility, magnetic characteristic, size, data format of the magnetic stripe are mainly defined by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Chip Contact Personalization: This step allows the download into the smart card chip with customer-specific information including.

• Card number
• Cardholder name
• Cardholder family name
• Cardholder birth date
• Cardholder secret key
• Card expiry date

During the chip card personalization is also possible to load application and further parameters of the Card Operating Systems and its application.

Chip Contactless Personalization: When the card to personalize have only a contactless chip (no contacts pads) the card personalization is executed by means of one or multiple contactless card readers. The most common communication protocols between the card reader and the contactless card is defined by the ISO/IEC 14443 series.

Direct-To-Card Printing: This the most common type of printing technology and it’s chosen for its good quality photographic results. The printing process uses thermal transfer to transport varying amounts of colored dye pigments from a carrier ribbon, or film, to the PVC printing surface to which the dyes bond chemically.

Retransfer Printing: Also known as Reverse Transfer Printing, is a higher-end technology that produces crisp, vibrantly colored, high-definition cards. Like dye sublimation, the retransfer printing method uses a heated printhead and ribbon. But unlike dye sublimation, retransfer printer adds an additional step with a clear film.

Laser Engraving: A technology that burns data into a card. It enables standard text and images to be added as well as special security features such as microtext, tactile data, perforated images, and variable images that change with different viewing angles. Laser engraving can be conducted on various materials, but it works best with documents made of polycarbonate. When a laser beam is applied to the polycarbonate substrate, the heat causes a chemical reaction that essentially burns, or carbonizes, a minute area changing it from white to black. Repeated and controlled application of the laser creates the text and images within the card.

Overlay Film Application: When the card under production is intended to be used as ID Card or when is necessary to increase the life time of the card, an additional layer of transparent protective material can be added on a single or both sides. The overlay application can be done within the direct-to-card printing process – in this case the overlay film is included with the color panels – or as separate step.

Embossing / Indent: This process creates a three-dimensional effect to letters and numbers on the card surface. The embossing is very popular for credit card, debit cards, loyalty and membership, rarely for ID Cards and Driving License Cards.

Tipping: This is the application of color on top of the embossed text applying – by means of a hot stamping pad – a colored film. The film for tipping are offered in limited colors such as black, white, gold, silver, red, blue

Scratch Panel Application: This is a heat-process foil stamp that can be eliminated with the edge of a coin to expose the preprinted number or text underneath it. A basic or custom shaped die presses the foil onto the surface area of the scratch card, which leaves the foil in the particular shapes. Concealed details are readily available after getting rid of the top layer on the scratch panel. Scratch plastic card data can be pin numbers, codes, sequential numbering, barcodes, names, winning numbers, and names.

Label Application: This process applies an adhesive label on the card. This is a popular card personalization step for cards that needs an activation process, thus the popular name of “Activation Labels”. The labels can be with or without a text message. The preprinted labels can carry messages such as “To activate this card please call 111-222-333-444”.