Glossary of Terms

Want to learn more about the Gift/VIP Card lingo? Here are some common terms used:

Bar Code
A bar code is printed on your card if you will be using a POS System that will take advantage of this option to track data based on a sequential customer number. You would assign a barcode number to a customer and when that customer comes into your restaurant, club, etc. you can simply scan the bar code to bring up the customers file or information. Another more detailed option for tracking your customers can be the implementation of a Mag Stripe assuming your system is capable of reading a Mag Stripe.

Clear Coat
A clear coat is typically added to a PVC Printed card to protect the inks printed on your card. Although not required for most jobs this satin coating will help to seal your card and provide for a longer lasting finish and an even more attractive card.

CMYK
Refers to the process of printing by laying down four colors to achieve a full color image. The colors Cyan(C), Magenta(M), Yellow(Y) and Black(K) are used.

Foil Stamp
This process can be used to add a metallic accent on your card. A great option when you are concerned about the possibility of counterfeit cards. This addition to your card won't easily be replicated and is a great security measure. Looks great too! Many different foil options are available. Please consult with our staff to pick the right foil for your job.

Mag Stripe (Magnetic Strip)
You may want to add a mag stripe to your cards if you will be using the cards as Gift Certificates or you want to store more information about your customer on the cards you purchase. You can also put very simplistic information on a mag stripe like a sequential number. You must have a POS System of course to retrieve the data from the card. We can either encode the cards for you with a data file that you provide us or you may wish to receive the cards with a mag stripe without any encoding so that you can encode them yourself using your POS System. Again, your POS System must have the ability to encode the cards. Please contact the manufacturer of your system for further details about the capabilities of your particular system.

• Lo-Co Vs. Hi-Co - A Lo-Co Mag stripe is recommended for most cards simply because it is a much cheaper option. This type of mag stripe holds a smaller amount of information and won't last as long as a Hi-Co mag stripe, but is suitable for a majority of applications. A Hi-Co Mag stripe would be recommended if you are putting a large amount of information on your cards or if the card will be used for a long period of time.
  
  Mil
  Refers to the thickness of the cards. A 30 Mil card for example is the same thickness as the credit cards you carry around in your wallet and is the thickest card we produce. A 20 Mil card is 2/3 the thickness of a standard credit card.

Negatives, Stripping & Plates
Basically these are the three items required for setting up your job before we print a PVC Card. The negatives are used to "burn" or expose the plates we use for printing your job. The image is literally burned into the metal plates which are used for laying down the inks onto your card. Striping refers to the preparation of the negatives before they are used to "burn" the plates and involves a lot of taping and positioning on a paper grid so that the different CMYK Colors all line up properly when printed. Typically categorized a Setup with most companies. Once the negatives have been burned onto the plates we are able to re-use the same plates when you re-order the same exact cards and therefore is only a one-time charge assuming you do not change anything on your cards when you re-order. There is a discount for re-orders on the price list for that reason.

Custom Card Carriers
For a very classy presentation we can provide fold over card carriers. They are printed full color, 2 sided and hold your cards in slots. This will give your cards more perceived value and are more attractive for those who wish to purchase a card as a gift.

PMS Color Match
Refers to an exact color you want matched and stands for Pantone Matching System, which is a universal color matching system. Your logo for example might be made up of a specific color. These colors are only achieved by printing the exact color called out by the PMS system and will have a specific number as an identifier. You will never achieve the exact color by mixing colors in either the CMYK or RGB Format. We will need to special order the exact color you wish to have printed assuming we do not already have it in stock and therefore requires the additional charge.

POS System
Simply put, this is a Point of Sale (POS) Electronic system that you would use for receiving money from your customers. A fancy cash register that usually has the ability to scan a barcode from a card or any other item and/or read and/or encode a mag stripe. We do not sell POS Systems, but our cards will work with most systems on the market.

Signature Panel
A signature panel is printed on your card when you require your customers to sign their cards in order to be active or validated. This signature panel will be either printed onto your card using a U.V. Press or Thermal Imprinted depending on the type of card you choose or quantity of cards you order.

Thermal Printing
The process of thermal printing involves the use of special foil ribbons to print data onto a PVC Card. This process is typically used to print variable or sequential numbers, Names, barcodes or even a signature panel on your card. Although this method produces a high quality print of text or barcode it is not recommended for use in printing logos or artwork.

U.V. Printing
The process of U.V. printing involves the use of special inks that cure when exposed to an Ultra-Violet (U.V.) light. This process of printing is critical when surface printing a PVC Card and makes for a durable finish.