One of the questions the ID Edge team hears often is whether to use color PVC cards. Many organizations today rely on white cards, as they offer the most versatility and customization when it comes to printing images and other information. But is there a place for color PVC cards in your organization’s security plan? The answer will depend on several very important factors.
To better understand the possible role of color PVC cards can play, let’s take a closer look at how they work, as well as the pros and cons of using them.
What Are the Benefits of Color PVC Cards?
When it comes to color PVC cards it’s important to understand the potential benefits. There are several great reasons why some organizations may rely on using such cards.
One of the best ways to use color PVC cards is in situations where you can rely on monochrome printing. Black ink looks superb on such cards and there is absolutely no loss in print quality. As such, these cards are often used to make loyalty cards or temporary (one day) passes at venues.
However, the actual benefit of color cards is that they provide an easy way to categorize days or access levels. For example, some venues may issue different color cards on different days, to make it easier for security to identify expired passes.
Additionally, color cards may signify access levels to different parts of a venue. For example, a yellow card may act as an all-access pass, and entitle the holder to use all amenities free of charge. While a pink card would suggest the individual has to pay an additional fee for beverages, food, and other items. In many ways, it can act in a similar manner to color coding systems of bracelets, except that these cards can have a printed bar code to provide the venue with deeper insight about venue usage for better business intelligence (to measure price elasticity, for example, and to determine future prices).
The Downside of Color PVC Cards
Although color PVC cards have many benefits, there are several potential issues with using such cards.
Firstly, color cards are not a good choice for printing photos. Though ID printing technology has made significant strides in the last decade, it’s simply not possible to print highly detailed photos on color cards at this time. If you need to print an individual’s photo, you’re better off using a white card and setting a background color of your choice. This will ensure that the photo is crisp and easy to discern.
Secondly, some ID printers may have a difficult time recognizing color PVC cards, especially the darker hues. This can lead to issues with the printing process, including card jams.
Lastly, color PVC cards rarely come with magnetic stripe, smart chip, or RFID options. This makes them a bad option where security is vital. These various technological options allow for secure information encoding that interfaces with card readers to make card duplication much harder, thereby keeping your premises secure. Without such functionality, color PVC cards will make your organization more vulnerable.
Therefore, color PVC cards are a good choice only where security will not be affected.
Taking the First Step
If you’d like to learn more about using color PVC cards in your organization, please get in touch with us. We can help you assess whether such cards are a good choice for your needs and whether your ID printer is capable of easily printing on color cards, or if a workaround will be needed.
Our phone support is always free (even if you didn’t buy your printer from us), so just give us a call at (800) 798-3343, or email us through the Contact Form.