Color Management
- Joe Large
Color Management for ID Card Printing
Most ID card printers come equipped with a range of graphical settings that influence how color is applied to plastic cards. Understanding these settings is crucial for achieving optimal print quality and ensuring the readability of barcodes and other elements on the card.
YMCK Ink Ribbons
ID card printers use YMCK (Yellow, Magenta, Cyan, and Black) ink ribbons, which consist of four separate color panels. The printing process typically involves applying the YMC (Yellow, Magenta, Cyan) color panels first and then overlaying the black (K) panel for added depth and contrast.
True Black Elements
When generating true black elements, such as text, shapes, lines, and 1D barcodes/QR codes, using the dedicated black (K) panel ensures a crisp and professional appearance. This approach enhances readability for barcode scanners and imaging devices, increasing the likelihood of successful code scans. In contrast, using a composite of the YMC color panels to produce black may result in a less precise and consistent appearance.
Potential White Outline Issue
In some instances, certain printers and their configurations may introduce an undesirable white outline around black elements, especially when utilizing the black resin (K) panel. This issue can compromise the appearance of the ID photo and other critical elements on the card.
EliteID's Color Management Solution
To address this potential issue, EliteID, in conjunction with the VDS PrintManager software, employs invisible pre-processing on ID photos and credential template images. This process transforms true black (RGB 0,0,0) to a slightly lighter shade (RGB 10,10,10), which visually appears black to the human eye but prompts the printer to use the YMC panels for composite printing instead of the black (K) panel.
By default, EliteID avoids printing ID photos and graphical elements using the black (K) panel, resulting in enhanced image quality without any adverse effects, such as white outlines around black elements.
Printer Settings for Optimal Black Printing
The following settings recommendations aim to ensure that true black elements, such as text, shapes, and barcodes, are printed using the dedicated black (K) panel on your ID card printer. However, please note that these recommendations may not apply to all situations, and you may need to make additional adjustments to achieve your desired print quality standards.
Evolis Printers
In the Evolis Print Center software, there is a "Black panel adjustment" setting. We recommend setting this to "All black dots." This configuration ensures that true black barcodes, text, and shapes are printed using the dedicated black (K) panel for optimal crispness and readability.
Fargo Printers
In the card printer's printing preferences, locate the "K Panel Resin" tab. There should be a "Print All Black with K Panel" setting. Typically, the "Full Card" option is the appropriate choice for this setting.
DataCard / Entrust Printers
In the card printer's printing preferences, you should find a setting labeled "Print black image pixels using monochrome." We recommend enabling this setting to ensure that true black elements are printed using the dedicated black (K) panel.
Remember, these recommendations are general guidelines, and your specific printing requirements may necessitate further adjustments. It's always a good practice to conduct test prints and evaluate the results to ensure that the printed cards meet your desired quality standards.
Printer Settings for Optimal Color Matching
When customizing your card design, you may notice a difference in color between your design on the screen and the printed card. This is a common issue that can be addressed by properly configuring your printer's color matching settings.
To ensure accurate color reproduction on your printed cards, please refer to the documentation provided by your printer manufacturer. Here are some specific recommendations:
Evolis Printers
For Evolis printers, you can achieve optimal color matching by following the instructions provided in the "Evolis Premium Suite Users Guide." Specifically, refer to the section titled "Installing Evolis Color Profile on WINDOWS" for detailed steps on configuring the color profile for your operating system.
You can toggle the setting in Evolis Premium Suite / Evolis Premium Suite 2 - Color Setting - “Do not Apply”.
Other Printer Brands
If you're using a printer from a different manufacturer, such as Fargo, DataCard, or Entrust, consult the respective printer documentation for specific instructions on color matching and color profile installation.