| A.N.S.I. |
American National Standards Institute. An organization whose mission is to develop and provide acceptable industry-wide product standards for the USA. |
| Access Control |
Allowing only selected persons to enter a building or area, or have access to information in computers or other devices. Photo identification cards provide a simple,
secure form of access control, allowing one to verify that the person presenting an identification card is the true owner. Access control can be automated by incorporating magnetic stripes, bar codes
or other features that permit access control devices to read cards without human assistance. |
| Adhesive-Backed Cards |
A .010 to .030 mil card with an adhesive back used to adhere a photo ID or bar code to an existing access control card. These removable cards allow for the re-use of
technology cards to which they may be attached. |
| All-photo ID Card |
A photo identification card with portrait and data together on a single piece of film. |
| Bar Code |
An array of machine-readable rectangular bars and spaces arranged in a specific way to represent letters, numbers and other human-readable symbols. |
| Bar Seal |
Narrow welded area near one edge of laminate designed to temporarily hold the top and bottom layers of the laminate together prior to the laminating process. |
| Biometrics |
Technology that allows identification through something about you, such as; retinal or iris pattern, face recognition, fingerprint, hand geometry, signature dynamics, voice
authentication, to guard against theft. |
| Butterfly Laminate or Pouch |
A laminating pouch cut from one piece of plastic and scored so it can be folded to form the pouch. Used with teslin inserts to make an edge-to-edge card. |
| BYOD (bring your own device) |
Term to describe the policy of permitting employees to bring personally owned mobile devices, such as laptops, tablets, and smart phones, to their place of work and utilize those devices to access privileged company information and applications. Term is used to describe the same practice applied to students using their devices in educational settings, primarily higher education. |
| Carrier |
A reusable, folded piece of heavy paper used to protect ID cards during lamination. Several carriers are provided with each lot of laminates purchased. |
| Coercivity |
Characteristic of a magnetic stripe indicating the power of the magnetic field required to encode the card. Cards are available in low and high coercivity versions. |
| Color Coding |
Changing the color of a portrait background, border, or laminate material to differentiate groups of identification card holders. For example, cards for employees allowed
in a high-security area may have blue portrait backgrounds, while all other employee cards have red portrait backgrounds. |
| Combi Card |
Also known as a dual-interface card, this card offers one chip that is both contact and contactless. |
| Composite ID |
Identification card made up of a separate portrait and data area, which are combined in the laminating process (Also called "cut-and-paste".) |
| Contact Cards |
Type of smart card that has a gold chip embedded in the card. This kind of card requires insertion into a smart card reader and a direct connection with the physical
contact points on the card to transmit data. Contact cards are used frequently in banking, communications and health care. |
| Contactless Cards |
Have an antenna coil and a chip embedded in the card. This type of card must pass within range of a smart card reader. |
| CR80 |
A standard identification card size of 3.375 x 2.125 inches (85.6 mm x 54 mm). Also knows as credit card size. |
| CR90 |
A standard identification card size of 3.63 x 2.37 inches (92 mm x 60 mm). Also known as drivers license size. |
| CR100 |
A standard identification card size of 3.88 x 2.63 inches (98.5 mm x 67 mm). Also knows as military size. |
| Data Card |
The portion of the identification card containing the company name, cardholder's name and other printed or graphic information. In the ID-4 System, the data card is
inserted in the camera and photographically reproduced on the same sheet of film with the cardholder's portrait for added security. |
| Datastrip's 2D Bar Code |
The only two-dimensional bar code technology capable of storing two biometric templates, a digitized photo and encrypted biographical information in a small footprint,
roughly the size of a magnetic stripe. |
| Debit Card |
A card with value encoded on the magnetic stripe, which is re-encoded with a lower value after use. |
| Die Cutter |
A component of an identification system that trims the photograph to a predetermined size. May be manually or electrically operated. |
| Digital Imaging |
Scanning or otherwise capturing images which may be subsequently edited, filed, displayed or printed on a plastic card. |
| Direct-to-Card (DTC) Printing |
The Direct-to-Card printing process prints digital images directly onto any plastic card with a smooth, clean, glossy PVC surface. |
| Dye Sublimation |
An imaging method for transferring measured quantities of printer ribbon dye onto a plastic card. Because of the high resolution of the print head (300 dpi)
near-photographic quality results. |
| E-Card |
Any card that incorporates advanced technology - smart cards, proximity cards, laser cards and magnetic stripe cards. |
| Edge-to-Edge |
Refers to the maximum printable area on a card. Printers with edge-to-edge printing capability can print just to the edge of a card resulting in printed cards with
virtually no border. |
| Emboss |
To produce raised letters and numbers on a PVC card, e.g., the account number and name of the person, by mechanical pressure from the backside of the card. |
| Encoding |
The act of "writing" information on magnetic stripes or smart card chips. |
| Flap |
Top layer of a laminate material, which is lifted to insert the photograph prior to laminating. |
| Frictionless |
Term used to describe security solutions that do not restrict users, but rather streamline the solutions making them more user friendly. For instance, rather than users carrying separate cards, keys and fobs that all perform different functions, a frictionless solution will embed the various functionality into one device, such as an NFC (near field communication) enabled smart phone or other mobile device. |
| Graphics Quality Cards |
These cards have a polished surface designed to work in PVC card printers and are made to allow inks to adhere to the card surface. They go through a cleaning
process, are visually inspected and are typically shrink-wrapped for protection. |
| Hologram |
A unique photographic preprint and overlay that provides a three-dimensional effect on a flat surface. Used for security and aesthetic purposes on cards. |
| Hybrid/Twin Cards |
Type of smart card that has two chips embedded in it, a contactless chip and a contact chip. The two chips are not connected to each other. Instead, one chip
serves the consumer needs and the other the card issuer needs. |
| I.S.O. |
International Standards Organization. An organization whose mission is to develop and provide acceptable industry-wide product standards for international use. |
| Laminate |
Using adhesive to join two or more layers. Refers to the process used for encapsulating the identification photograph and data in a protective outer sheath. The term
laminate also refers to the material used for laminating. |
| LCD Display |
Liquid Crystal Display. Shows the current mode of operation of the printer, and communicates an error using text. |
| Lead Time |
The period of time allowed between placing a special order for identification supplies and their shipment. Special orders often require the design and procurement of
specialized dies and equipment; therefore, the time required to fill the order is generally longer than for stock items. |
| Logo |
The individualized graphic symbol used by companies and other organizations to help establish their identity on packaging, signs, products, etc. Logos can be incorporated
into virtually all identification cards. |
| Magnetic (Mag) Stripe |
Mag stripe refers to the black or brown magnetic stripe on a card. The stripe is made of magnetic particles of resin. The resin particle material determines
the coercivity of the stripe; the higher the coercivity, the harder it is to encode - and erase - information from the stripe. Magnetic stripes are often used in applications for access control, time
and attendance, lunch programs, library cards, and more |
| Memory Cards |
A memory chip is similar to a small floppy disk. This type of chip primarily stores information, access control, or a value that can be "spent". |
| Microprocessor Cards |
A microprocessor chip can add, delete, change, and update information. It is a miniature computer with an input/output port, operating system and hard disk. |
| Mil |
One thousandth of an inch. Used to describe plastic card thickness (30-mil card /.030). |
| ODBC |
Open Database Connectivity. Microsoft's strategic interface for accessing data in relational and non-relational database management systems. |
| Overlaminate |
A protective clear or holographic material for added security and durability. |
| Overlay Panel/Varnish |
The clear overlay panel (O) is provided on dye-sublimation print ribbons. This panel is automatically applied to printed cards and helps prevent images from
premature wear or UV fading. All dye-sublimation printed images must have either this overlay panel or an overlaminate applied to protect them. |
| Over-the-Edge |
Printers with this capability can print past the edge of a card resulting in a no-border card. |
| PMS - Pantone Matching System |
Pantone® Color Formula Guide. A worldwide industrial and consumer reference guide for the selection and specification of colors, hues, and tints. |
| Pixel |
The smallest definable element of a digitized graphic image (300 dpi). |
| PKI |
A method of scrambling information called public key cryptography and is the foundation for PKI which enables secure identification of users within a network. |
| Proximity Card |
Proximity (Prox) cards use contactless technology, (generally through a built-in antenna). |
| PVC |
Polyvinyl Chloride. The material makeup of a typical plastic card. |
| Poly/PVC Composite Card |
Combination of PVC and polyester, offers increased durability, may be used with overlamination (heat applied) and will not crack or break. |
| Resin |
Resin card printer ribbons use monochrome color resin to deposit images to the surface of PVC plastic cards using high-intensity heat. |
| Resin Thermal Transfer |
Resin thermal transfer is the process used to print sharp black text and crisp bar codes that can be read by both infra-red and visible-light bar code
scanners. It is also the process used to print ultra-fast, economical one-color cards. Like dye-sublimation, this process uses a thermal printhead to transfer color from the ribbon roll to the card.
The difference, however, is that solid dots of color are transferred in the form of a resin-based ink which fuses to the surface of the card when heated. This produces very durable, single-color images. |
| Signature Stripe |
A specially treated strip on the card, which the cardholder can sign with a ball-point pen or other writing instrument. It allows verification of the cardholder's
signature during transactions. Attempts to alter or erase the signature can be easily detected. |
| Slot Punch |
Tool that punches an elongated hole in identification cards to prepare them for use with a spring clip and strap. This allows the cards to be worn as badges. |
| Smart Card |
These cards have an embedded computer circuit that contains either a memory or microprocessor chip. Several types are available; Memory, Contact, Contactless, Hybrid
(Twin), Combination (Dual Interface), and Proximity. |
| Teslin |
A unique synthetic core material that handles and feels like paper, but has the durability of plastic. This material must be used in conjunction with a butterfly laminate. |
| Thermal Printing |
The process of creating an image on a plastic card using a heated print head. |
| Trust Framework |
In digital identity systems, a trust framework is a pre-negotiated set of business, legal, and technical agreements that bind all stakeholders with mutual assurance that online transactions are reliable and repeatable. |
| TWAIN |
Interface industry standard protocol for exchanging information between application software and image capture devices such as digital cameras or scanners. |
| UV Printing |
A logo, signature or other graphic symbol printed in ink visible only under ultraviolet light. Used as a counterfeiting deterrent. |
| Vertical Badge |
An identification card with the portrait and data rotated 90 degrees so that the long edge of the card is vertical. A common format when the card is designed to be
worn as a badge. |
| YMC |
Yellow, Magenta, and Cyan are the primary print colors for cards. The three colors combine in varying degrees to make a full spectrum of colors. |
| YMCKO |
Same as YMC plus Black (K) and clear protective overcoat (O). |
| YMCKOK |
Same as YMC plus two Black panels (K, K) and clear protective overcoat (O). |
