35 years' experience and customer care, printing since 1992
all our plastic cards are proudly printed in England Proudly printed in England all our plastic cards are proudly printed in England
Tel 01948 411 867 Email: sales@cpcards.co.uk We aim to reply within 10 minutes 9-5 Mon-Fri

Print That Can’t Scratch or Wear Off

On our full colour plastic cards the print is under the surface. Your design is printed on a central sheet of PVC, and that sheet is bonded between two clear PVC sheets, so the print can’t scratch or wear off. Some cheaper cards are printed on the outside instead, and that print rubs away, starting at the corners.

The drawings on this page show the difference on ten kinds of card. Each design is drawn twice after the same months of use: once printed on the surface, and once sealed the way we supply it.

The same gift card, printed two ways, after the same months of useBehind, a surface printed gift card with its corners and edges rubbed down to white plastic and scratches through the print. In front, the same design with the print sealed under clear PVC, still whole. THE LINEN PRESS Gift Card £25 Homeware · Bedding · Gifts THE LINEN PRESS Gift Card £25 Homeware · Bedding · Gifts ✕ Printed on the surface✓ Sealed under clear PVC

The short versionEvery full colour PVC card we supply has its print sealed under clear plastic, at no extra cost. Wallets, keys, hands and card readers only ever touch the clear PVC. If one quote is much cheaper than the others, ask whether those cards are printed on the surface.

Printed on the surface, or sealed under it?

A surface printed card and one of ours can look the same on the day they arrive. The difference is where the ink sits, and it shows after a few months of use.

Printed on the surface A surface printed card, seen edge on The edge of a card, magnified. The printed ink is a thin layer on top of the card with nothing over it. A key has scraped across it, and the ink has worn through in two places, with flakes of colour coming away. Worn off Ink on top Card The ink is the outside layer of the card, so it takes all the wear.
Sealed under clear PVC: how ours are made A card with the print sealed inside, seen edge on The edge of a card, magnified. A PVC core printed on both sides sits between two clear PVC sheets. The same key has scraped the top clear sheet and left light scuffs on it, but the print underneath is untouched. Clear PVC Your print PVC core Clear PVC The ink is under a clear layer. Wear lands on the clear PVC, and the print stays whole.

Ours are made the second way. The design is printed onto a central PVC sheet, and that sheet is bonded between two clear PVC sheets with heat and pressure before the cards are cut out. The surface you touch is clear plastic, with the ink underneath it.

On a surface printed card the ink goes onto the outside of a blank white card. Desktop ID card printers work this way too, with a thin clear film over the ink (see ID card printer or printed cards?). Every time the card goes into a wallet, brushes against keys or slides into a reader, it’s the print that rubs.

Ten cards, both ways

Each pair is the same design after the same months of use. The first is printed on the surface. The second has its print sealed under clear PVC, the way we supply it.

These are drawings, not photographs. The brands are made up and the barcodes won’t scan.

Gift cards

A gift card can sit in a purse for months before it’s spent. It’s a present, so it has to look like one when it’s handed over and again when it comes back to the till. On surface print the corners go first. See our gift cards.

Printed on the surface A gift card, printed on the surface, after months of useThe ink is on the outside of a gift card for a made-up homeware shop, The Linen Press, dark teal with a gold ribbon and bow and a £25 value. It has rubbed off the corners and along the edges, down to the white plastic, and scratches run through the print. THE LINEN PRESS Gift Card £25 Homeware · Bedding · Gifts
Sealed under clear PVC A gift card, with the print sealed under clear PVC, after the same months of useThe same design, printed under the surface of a gift card for a made-up homeware shop, The Linen Press, dark teal with a gold ribbon and bow and a £25 value. The corners, edges and print are all still whole. THE LINEN PRESS Gift Card £25 Homeware · Bedding · Gifts

Loyalty cards

A loyalty card comes out at every visit, and the till scans its barcode each time. Scratches through a surface printed barcode stop it scanning, and the number has to be typed in by hand. See our loyalty cards.

Printed on the surface A loyalty card, printed on the surface, after months of useThe ink is on the outside of a coffee shop loyalty card for a made-up Bean Street Coffee House, dark brown with a cup logo and a barcode in a white panel. It has rubbed off the corners and along the edges, down to the white plastic, and scratches run through the print. Bean Street COFFEE HOUSE Loyalty Card Every 10th coffee is on us BSC 0049 2731
Sealed under clear PVC A loyalty card, with the print sealed under clear PVC, after the same months of useThe same design, printed under the surface of a coffee shop loyalty card for a made-up Bean Street Coffee House, dark brown with a cup logo and a barcode in a white panel. The corners, edges and print are all still whole. Bean Street COFFEE HOUSE Loyalty Card Every 10th coffee is on us BSC 0049 2731

Membership cards

Members carry their card for the whole membership year and show it at the door, the desk or the bar. On a surface printed card the wear runs across the name and number, the details your staff need to read. See our membership cards.

Printed on the surface A membership card, printed on the surface, after months of useThe ink is on the outside of a gym membership card for a made-up Northgate Fitness, dark navy with teal and lime stripes, a member name, number and expiry date. It has rubbed off the corners and along the edges, down to the white plastic, and scratches run through the print. NORTHGATE FITNESS MEMBER ALEX MORGAN No. NGF 004317 Valid to 03/2028
Sealed under clear PVC A membership card, with the print sealed under clear PVC, after the same months of useThe same design, printed under the surface of a gym membership card for a made-up Northgate Fitness, dark navy with teal and lime stripes, a member name, number and expiry date. The corners, edges and print are all still whole. NORTHGATE FITNESS MEMBER ALEX MORGAN No. NGF 004317 Valid to 03/2028

Hotel key cards

Hotel key cards are handed out guest after guest and used at the door several times a day. A key card with rubbed edges and corners is the first thing a new guest is given. See our hotel key cards.

Printed on the surface A hotel key card, printed on the surface, after months of useThe ink is on the outside of a hotel key card for a made-up seaside hotel, The Harbour House, with a sunset over the sea and a lighthouse. It has rubbed off the corners and along the edges, down to the white plastic, and scratches run through the print. The Harbour House HOTEL & RESTAURANT ROOM KEY
Sealed under clear PVC A hotel key card, with the print sealed under clear PVC, after the same months of useThe same design, printed under the surface of a hotel key card for a made-up seaside hotel, The Harbour House, with a sunset over the sea and a lighthouse. The corners, edges and print are all still whole. The Harbour House HOTEL & RESTAURANT ROOM KEY

Combo cards

The card goes in a wallet and the key tag goes on a keyring, where it rubs against keys all day. The tag is where surface print wears worst: around the hole, along the edges and through the barcode. See our combo cards.

Printed on the surface A combo card with its key tag, printed on the surface, after months of useThe ink is on the outside of a garden centre combo card for a made-up Greenway Garden Centre: a green rewards card with a snap-off key tag joined to its right-hand end, with a barcode on the tag. It has rubbed off the corners and along the edges, down to the white plastic, and scratches run through the print. Greenway GARDEN CENTRE Rewards Card Points on every visit GW 300 81442
Sealed under clear PVC A combo card with its key tag, with the print sealed under clear PVC, after the same months of useThe same design, printed under the surface of a garden centre combo card for a made-up Greenway Garden Centre: a green rewards card with a snap-off key tag joined to its right-hand end, with a barcode on the tag. The corners, edges and print are all still whole. Greenway GARDEN CENTRE Rewards Card Points on every visit GW 300 81442

Key tags

A key tag lives on a keyring, in and out of pockets and up against metal keys. Ours are 760 microns thick with the print sealed in, so keys can mark the clear surface but can’t reach the print or the barcode. See our key tags.

Printed on the surface A key tag, printed on the surface, after months of useThe ink is on the outside of a library key tag for a made-up Kingsmead Library, purple with an open book logo and a barcode, with a keyring hole in the middle of its right-hand end. It has rubbed off the corners and along the edges, down to the white plastic, and scratches run through the print. Kingsmead LIBRARY KML 2048 8173
Sealed under clear PVC A key tag, with the print sealed under clear PVC, after the same months of useThe same design, printed under the surface of a library key tag for a made-up Kingsmead Library, purple with an open book logo and a barcode, with a keyring hole in the middle of its right-hand end. The corners, edges and print are all still whole. Kingsmead LIBRARY KML 2048 8173

Plastic business cards

A plastic business card is made to be kept, so it ends up in a wallet next to bank cards. On surface print, a dark background like this one shows the white plastic as soon as the ink starts to go. See our plastic business cards.

Printed on the surface A plastic business card, printed on the surface, after months of useThe ink is on the outside of a plastic business card for a made-up joinery firm, Holloway Joinery, dark slate with an oak panel and an HJ monogram. It has rubbed off the corners and along the edges, down to the white plastic, and scratches run through the print. HJ HOLLOWAY JOINERY Tom Holloway Master Joiner Kitchens · Staircases · Doors
Sealed under clear PVC A plastic business card, with the print sealed under clear PVC, after the same months of useThe same design, printed under the surface of a plastic business card for a made-up joinery firm, Holloway Joinery, dark slate with an oak panel and an HJ monogram. The corners, edges and print are all still whole. HJ HOLLOWAY JOINERY Tom Holloway Master Joiner Kitchens · Staircases · Doors

Discount cards

A discount card is shown at the till on every visit. A strong colour like this red shows every scratch when the ink is on the surface. See our discount cards.

Printed on the surface A discount card, printed on the surface, after months of useThe ink is on the outside of a pizzeria discount card for a made-up Marlowe’s Pizzeria, deep red with a pizza slice and 10% off in large yellow type. It has rubbed off the corners and along the edges, down to the white plastic, and scratches run through the print. Marlowe’s PIZZERIA 10% OFF every visit, eat in or takeaway
Sealed under clear PVC A discount card, with the print sealed under clear PVC, after the same months of useThe same design, printed under the surface of a pizzeria discount card for a made-up Marlowe’s Pizzeria, deep red with a pizza slice and 10% off in large yellow type. The corners, edges and print are all still whole. Marlowe’s PIZZERIA 10% OFF every visit, eat in or takeaway

Event passes

An event pass hangs on a lanyard for the whole event, swinging against zips, buttons and other passes, and it’s checked at every gate. Surface print wears around the lanyard slot and along the edges. See our event passes.

Printed on the surface An event pass, printed on the surface, after months of useThe ink is on the outside of a festival event pass for a made-up Brightwater Festival 2027, purple to pink with an All Access band and a lanyard slot at the top. It has rubbed off the corners and along the edges, down to the white plastic, and scratches run through the print. BRIGHTWATER FESTIVAL 2027 Fri 16 – Sun 18 July ALL ACCESS JAY RIVERS CREW
Sealed under clear PVC An event pass, with the print sealed under clear PVC, after the same months of useThe same design, printed under the surface of a festival event pass for a made-up Brightwater Festival 2027, purple to pink with an All Access band and a lanyard slot at the top. The corners, edges and print are all still whole. BRIGHTWATER FESTIVAL 2027 Fri 16 – Sun 18 July ALL ACCESS JAY RIVERS CREW

RFID cards

Staff access cards are tapped on a reader every day and carried in wallets, phone cases and clip-on holders. The chip and antenna are sealed in the core of our RFID cards, and so is the print. See our RFID cards.

Printed on the surface An RFID staff access card, printed on the surface, after months of useThe ink is on the outside of a staff access card for a made-up company, Calder Works, navy with a hexagon logo, a name, an ID number and a contactless symbol. It has rubbed off the corners and along the edges, down to the white plastic, and scratches run through the print. CALDER WORKS STAFF ACCESS ID 20417 Priya Shah Operations
Sealed under clear PVC An RFID staff access card, with the print sealed under clear PVC, after the same months of useThe same design, printed under the surface of a staff access card for a made-up company, Calder Works, navy with a hexagon logo, a name, an ID number and a contactless symbol. The corners, edges and print are all still whole. CALDER WORKS STAFF ACCESS ID 20417 Priya Shah Operations

Our recycled PVC and biodegradable cards are made the same way, with the print sealed under the surface.

Where surface print wears first

Surface print doesn’t wear evenly. It goes first where the card is touched or rubbed most, which is why the cards above all wear in the same places.

CornersThey catch on wallet pockets and card slots every time the card goes in or out.
EdgesThe edge of the card scrapes against readers, lock slots and the cards beside it.
BarcodesA few scratches across the bars, and the scanner can’t read it.
Small printCard numbers, expiry dates and names are the smallest text on a card, and they’re hard to read once the ink starts to go.
Dark coloursNavy, black, red and dark green show the white plastic under the ink as soon as it starts to wear.
Holes and slotsKey tags and lanyard passes wear where the ring or clip rubs.

What’s sealed in, and what sits on top

Everything printed with your order is sealed in: the design, the colours and the wording, and any barcodes, QR codes, numbers and names. A few extras have to sit on top of the card to do their job.

What wears on a full colour PVC card
Part of the cardWhere it isCan it wear off?
Design, colours, logos and wordingSealed under clear PVCNo
Barcodes, QR codes, numbers and names printed with your orderSealed under clear PVC with the designNo
Signature strip or write-on panelOn top, so a pen can write on itWears with use
Scratch-off panelOn top, so it can be scratched offMade to come off
Names or numbers added later by bureau personalisationPrinted onto the finished cardOn the surface

If you want names or numbers sealed in, send them with your order. Our bureau personalisation service is for adding them later, as new members join.

The clear surface is plastic, and long use in a wallet can leave fine marks on it. Those marks are in the clear layer, not in your print. A Premium Matt finish hides them better than High Gloss.

How to check before you buy

  • Ask where the ink is. “Is the print sealed under clear PVC, or printed on the surface?” Any card supplier can answer that in one line.
  • Ask about the numbers too. If your cards have barcodes, numbers or names, ask whether they’re printed with the cards and sealed in, or added on top afterwards.
  • Check the cheap quote first. If one price is much lower than the rest, find out how those cards are printed before you compare anything else.
  • Handle the cards. Our sample pack has finished cards you can carry in a wallet for a few weeks.

Our before you buy checklist covers the other things worth asking a card supplier.

At CP CardsEvery full colour PVC card we supply has its print sealed under clear PVC. It isn’t an upgrade or an extra: it’s in every price on our card pages. Our cards are printed in England by the same manufacturer we’ve used for over 20 years, so they’re made the same way every time.

Questions & Answers

  • Does the print on a plastic card wear off?

    It depends where the ink is. On a surface printed card the ink is the outside layer, so it rubs away with use, starting at the corners and edges. On our full colour PVC cards the print is sealed between clear PVC sheets, so it can’t scratch or wear off.

  • What does printed under the surface mean?

    The design is printed onto a central PVC sheet, and that sheet is bonded between two clear PVC sheets before the cards are cut out. The outside of the card is clear plastic, with your print underneath it.

  • Which of your cards have the print sealed in?

    All our full colour PVC cards: gift cards, loyalty cards, membership cards, hotel key cards, combo cards, key tags, business cards, discount cards, event passes and RFID cards, and our recycled PVC and biodegradable cards.

  • Are barcodes and numbers sealed in too?

    Yes, when they’re printed with your order. Barcodes, QR codes, numbers and names go on with the design and are sealed under clear PVC with it, so a barcode keeps scanning. Details added later through our bureau personalisation service are printed onto the finished card.

  • Can the clear surface still get marked?

    Yes. It’s plastic, and long use in a wallet can leave fine marks on it. The marks are in the clear layer, not in your print. A Premium Matt finish hides them better than High Gloss.

  • Does sealed print cost extra?

    No. It’s how all our full colour PVC cards are made, so it’s included in the prices on our card pages.

  • How can I tell how a supplier prints its cards?

    Ask whether the print is sealed under clear PVC or printed on the surface, and whether barcodes and numbers are printed with the cards or added afterwards. A sample pack lets you handle the cards before you order.

Ready to order?

Tell us what your cards are for and how many you need. We aim to reply by email within 10 minutes, 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Your free photorealistic proof shows exactly how the cards will look before anything is printed.

Not sure what you need? Ask us

How long do plastic cards last?, how plastic cards are made, before you buy: 12 things to check, High Gloss v Premium Matt, ID card printer or printed cards?, or our sample pack.