Magnetic Stripe
A thin band of magnetic tape bonded beneath the card's lamination layer. It supports up to three data tracks that can be encoded with cardholder information. Swiping the card through a compatible reader extracts and displays the stored data.
More on magnetic stripe technology — Wikipedia
PVC Card
PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride) is a vinyl-based polymer converted into a polychloride resin. It is rolled into a thin sheet, die-cut and laminated to the ISO 7810 CR80 card format. PVC is flexible, corrosion-resistant and holds printed images well — making it the standard substrate for most plastic cards.
Standard CR80 plastic card specifications.
Hologram Overlay / Holographic Overlay
A transparent film carrying an embedded holographic image, laminated or heat-transferred onto the card surface. Light passes through the film and is refracted to produce an animated or highly detailed security image that is extremely difficult to duplicate.
Examples of holographic overlays (YouTube video).
Scanned Signature
A cardholder's handwritten signature that has been digitally scanned and reproduced in black ink as part of the card's printed design.
Scanned signature reproduction via autopen.
Micro Text
Text printed at an extremely small point size, typically invisible to the unaided eye. Reproducing microtext requires a high-definition printing process — most consumer-grade printers cannot render it accurately.
Wikipedia article on microprinting.
Anti-Counterfeit Elements
Design and print features engineered to prevent unauthorised reproduction of an identity document. Common examples include microtext, prismatic colour gradients, void pantographs, complex background guilloche, drape relief, ghost images, intentional microtext misspellings, grated images, EURion constellation patterns, magnetic ink and ultraviolet panels.
Overview of anti-counterfeit features on US banknotes.
Smart Card / Chip
An integrated circuit embedded in the card surface. It can store cardholder data, run secure applications and manage on-card cryptographic operations.
Thermal Printing
Thermal (dye-sublimation) printing converts solid ink on a ribbon directly to gas — bypassing the liquid phase — and deposits it onto the card surface. The results are adequate but can appear faded or washed out. Because the ink sits on the surface rather than being bonded into it, thermal prints are vulnerable to removal with solvents.
High Definition Thermal Re-Transfer Printing
Retransfer printing also uses dye-sublimation, but the image is first laid onto an intermediate transfer film, which is then heat-laminated (at approximately 175 °C) onto the card. This permanently fuses the image to the substrate.
The result is significantly sharper and more durable than standard thermal printing.
Further Reading
For a deeper look at how these printing techniques, substrates and security features come together in modern card manufacturing, see Why Modern Plastic ID Cards Are Not All the Same.