"Fargo's materials team continues to work to enhance the security of our customers' cards," says Alan Fontanella, vice president of product marketing for secure materials and peripherals "These new programs are an additional defense to thwart the efforts of those trying to create fraudulent ID cards. Customized holograms offer protection that's difficult to forge but easy to authenticate"

Fargo's new secure express holographic overlaminate provides a way to add durability and security to an ID card. Using Fargo's PolyGuard and thermal transfer technologies, secure express custom holographic overlaminate is available with a lead time of just five weeks and a minimum order of only 20 rolls. The overlaminate includes block graphics or text and provides solid holographic diffraction for a moderate level of security.

"Secure express will open the door for more entry-level customers to be able to take advantage of the additional security of a custom holographic overlaminate," says Mr Fontanella "With a low initial order quantity and a quick turnaround, it's an excellent option for applications that may not have previously considered a holographic overlaminate. It's the fast track to basic, yet customized, holographic protection"

For those organizations that want visual security but don't have the need or budget for lamination equipment, Fargo is launching an embedded visual security card program that offers a range of customizable security elements. From translucent and metallized foils to guilloche printing and UV inks, customers can design security into the construction of their ID cards and beyond the reach of counterfeiters.

Cards constructed with translucent and metallized foil cards are created using a precise layering process. The foil is embedded into the card and the tamper-evident image appears below the surface of the card.

Translucent foil cards have embedded translucent holograms in the card stock and can incorporate Fargo's array of visual security elements. They are ideal for designs where the card printing will cover the embedded images, creating a watermark effect.

Alternatively, Fargo's custom metallized foil cards add security with a solid 2D metallized hologram embedded below the surface of the card. The metallized foil adds a unique style element as well as heightened security.

Custom translucent and metallized foil cards can also be preprinted with images according to the customer's card design. For example, a foil element, background design and logos can be preprinted into the card construction, then individual information such as the cardholder photo, title and ID number can be personalized in a Fargo card printer/encoder. This can save time and ensure a consistent look throughout the population of cards.

"Our embedded foil cards allow customers who require as few as 1000 cards to have a custom holographic foil and other visual security elements like invisible red ultraviolet ink to be a part of their card solution," continues Mr Fontanella "It's another way to add a tamper-evident element of security at an affordable price"