Creating a Preferred Customer Card

2/2009

Metallic thermal printed plastic membership card

Introduction

There are many ways to print to our Plastic Card Printers. Emedia is the standard program that is typically used to print with. It allows users to print variable information like names, ID numbers, and other various information. What is typically unknown though is that our printers also have the ability to print from any program, just like you would with a normal desktop printer. So if you have graphics programs such as Illustrator or Photoshop, or you have desktop publishing programs like Publisher or Word, they will print directly to your thermal card printer.

Personally, I usually stick to two programs, eMedia for my variable information and Illustrator if I have to print different monochrome ribbon colors on a single card.

To print a card like the attached Preferred Customer Card on your printer I would suggest using any program that allows you to create your file in layer form with the ability to turn them on and off, in my case I used Illustrator.

Correctly Setting Up Your File

Evolis Tutorial Card 1

So, I have my design as seen above, and I know what color I want for each text area.

evolis card tutorial layers in illustrator

I then created my document size to 3.375” x 2.125” (which is the size of the card) and centered the art.
Now that the art is centered, I separated the colors to different layers and labeled the layers. As seen above.

Converting Card Artwork to 100% Black

Since I will be printing with the monochrome ribbon and not the actual color in the artwork, I need to convert all the art to 100% black. If this is not done the colors will look light and blotchy.

Note: When printing with monochrome ribbons, it is best to print with solid colors, pretty much anything with a gradient or a screen will not print very well.

Preferred Membership card artwork all black

Now that I have my artwork all set up, all I need to do now is turn the different layers on and off as they correspond with the color ribbon that I have in the printer. You will also need to select the black monochrome ribbon in the Printing Preferences. (To go to the Printing Preferences go to FILE > PRINT > SETUP > PREFERENCES > and it is under the Graphic tab. Then choose the color ribbon that you will be printing)

Printing the Gold

Printing The Gold Layer

So if I wanted to print the gold preferred part of the card, I turn the gold layer on.

Inserting a Gold Monochrome Ribbon

Insert the gold ribbon in the machine.

Setting the Gold Ribbon Preference in Printer Driver

Select the gold ribbon in the preferences, then print the gold part on the card.

Gold Monochrome printed on Silver Metallic Card Stock

Printing the Red

Inserting the Gold Printed Plastic Card into the Feeder

Place back into feeder, print 1 card to make sure that you have the card facing the correct way.

Card Artwork with Red Layer Turned On

Once I have the gold printed cards in the feeder, now I want to print the red.

Installing Red Monochrome Ribbon on Evolis Plastic Card Printer

Insert the red ribbon in the machine.

Red Monochrome Ribbon Printer Setup

Select the red ribbon in the preferences.

Red Monochrome Printed on Plastic Card

Then print the red part on the card.

Printing the Black on the Front

Place back into feeder, print 1 card to make sure that you have the card facing the correct way.

Turning on the Black Layer for your card in Illustrator

Once I have the red printed cards in the feeder, now I want to print the black on the front.

insert black monochrome ribbon in your printer

Insert the black ribbon in the machine.

Setting the printing preferences for a black monochrome ribbon for a thermal plastic card printer

Select the black ribbon in the preferences.

Thermal Printer Demo Card Multi Color

Then print the black part on the card.

metallic thermal printed plastic card loaded in feeder

Printing the Black on the Back

Place back into feeder, flipping the card over because we will be printing on the back side. Print 1 card to make sure that you have the card facing the correct way.

back layer artwork

Once I have the black front printed cards in the feeder, now I want to print the black on the back.

thermal printed plastic card printer

Since I have the setting all set up and the black ribbon in the printer already I can print the black part on the card.

Printing the Scratch Off

Place back into feeder, flipping the card over because we will be printing on the front side again printing the scratch off. Print 1 card to make sure that you have the card facing the correct way.

scratch off layer