Process for printing a metallic security feature on identification cards and cards produced therefrom
AssigneeZIH Corp.
InventorGary Field
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thermal transfer printing process for making identification cards is provided. The process involves printing indicia onto a dye-receptive surface of a card substrate. A metallic dye is applied in precise registration with selected print indicia to form a metallic border along the edges of the indicia. The invention also includes identification cards produced by this process. The process can be used to produce cards such as licenses, employee badges, student cards, bank cards, and the like having unique security features.
Claims18
A process for thermal transfer printing an identification card, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a card substrate having a thermal transfer dye-receptive surface;
- b) providing a thermal dye transfer ribbon having at least one color dye panel and a metallic dye panel;
- c) printing indicia onto a selected portion of the dye-receptive surface with said color dye panel, and
- d) printing a metallic security outline onto a selected portion of the dye-receptive surface with said metallic dye panel, said metallic security outline being in registration with the printed indicia to form a metallic border along the edges of the printed indicia.
An identification card having printed indicia with a metallic border produced by a process, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a card substrate having a thermal transfer dye-receptive surface;
- b) providing a thermal dye transfer ribbon having at least one color dye panel and a metallic dye panel;
- c) printing indicia onto a selected portion of the dye-receptive surface with said color dye panel, and
- d) printing a metallic security outline onto a selected portion of the dye-receptive surface with said metallic dye panel, said metallic security outline being in registration with the printed indicia to form a metallic border along the edges of the printed indicia.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.