Custom printing to Magnetic Stripe Cards

By Allan Hall Magnetic stripe cards are not new in the market. It gives an excellent opportunity to the user to carry their personal information along with them in such a way that no one else could retrieve that information. To make the usage of magnetic stripe cards more secure many security Ecard specialist are looking forward to custom printing. This is a final phase of Ecard making process were card graphic designing and printing takes place. This is a very thoughtful process as the specialist has to make sure that designing should e attractive so that others are encouraged to use Ecards as well as it should e uni!ue so that the safety aspect is also covered. This prevents the duplication too. "ith advancement in technology one can also chose different shape of card# this ensures more security measures. $ome of the custom printing options that are availa le in the market are mentioned elow%

Let us just have a brief introduction of these options:

1.Primary Printing Technology: This is the most basic printing that is available to you. The cards are printed with a lithographic process in a sheet form and then cut into finished stock. To ensure instant drying of ink all litho presses are hooked up to UV curing units. .Coloured interlayer: !olored interlayers is a very innovative technology" where layers of colored material are sandwiched between two or more translucent layers that laminates it and when viewed on a proper angle" change in the most prevalent colour of the card to the colour of the interlayer material is observed. #. Secondary Printing technology: This printing is done after the card has been manufactured" at this stage printing of serial numbers" barcodes" and other images $e.g. photo %&s or partner logos' are under taken. This graphical information can be matched to data encoded into the card(s magnetic stripe. )ll this is done by any of the following four methods* dye+sublimation" retransfer printing" inkjet printing" and laser engraving. ,. Security Printing technology: This printing technology is most crucial and important step. )s it discourages and prevents unauthori-ed physical replication for fraudulent behaviour. Using sophisticated encryption techni.ues cards can be authenticated through a card reader. %t can be achieved by following four ways" %. Colour shifting ink: /ost commonly used security feature" an e0ample of it is currency" gleams different colors when viewed at different angles. The effect is impossible to reproduce with scanners and copiers. %%. Microprinting: /icroprinting or nanometre imaging is creation of a faint line" composed of very fine te0t. This te0t is only clearly legible through a naked eye or for that matter even from magnifying glass or microscope. %t is impossible to reproduce using conventional scanners and desktop card printers. %%%. Ultraviolet (UV) inks: 1uch inks can be used to print any security feature on a card. %t is invisible in normal light" but glows brightly when observed under black light. Ultraviolet inks are available in an array of colours. %V. idden images: 2ne of the most used features is hidden images. 3idden images are mathematically buried in the printed card. 4ecause of the fine detail used to generate the hidden images" they cannot be scanned" copied" or reproduced. V. !uilloche: This is the most comple0 pattern. %t is basically numerous fine geometrically line drawn on the card" which are interwoven into one another. 4ecause each pattern is uni.uely generated" e0act reproduction is nearly impossible. "rticle Source: http:55securityecardspecialists.blogspot.co.n-5 61,56#5custom+printing+to+ magnetic+stripe+cards.html