How to Print NFC Cards: A Step-by-Step Guide

Every once in a while, a new type of technology comes around that makes life better. From smartphones that put information at our fingertips to contactless credit cards that let us pay with a single tap, technology speeds up our lives and brings new solutions to our everyday lives.

But did you know that the same technology for contactless credit cards has everyday applications as well? These cards, called NFC cards, are cards with embedded chips that can be used for contactless payments, digital business cards, and controlled access to company premises and technology.

Printing your own NFC cards is easy. In this guide, we’ll explain the printing process, from choosing your NFC chip to designing your card and more.

What Are NFC Cards?

Simply put, NFC cards are plastic cards containing a chip that can transfer data to smartphones and other machines. NFC stands for Near Field Communication, since the cards can “communicate” with machines nearby. They are typically made of sturdy plastic which means that they hold up for a long time.

NFC cards have a range of uses. They can function as event passes, security access passes, and loyalty program cards. Custom NFC business cards help you transfer your contact information quickly and securely.

Choosing the Right NFC Chip

You can choose from a wide range of NFC chips, all of which have different compatibility with chip readers, amounts of memory, encryption styles, and data retention periods.

One of the most useful NFC chips is the NTAG213. This chip is universally compatible with NFC smartphones and tablets, and it has 144 bytes of memory and security features such as a password lock. This makes it a suitable choice for most organizations’ needs.

If you’re looking for a chip containing large amounts of memory, you can upgrade to the NTAG216, which has 888 bytes of memory. This increased storage is useful if you need your chip to contain a lot of information. However, it is therefore more expensive. In most cases, the NTAG213 chip is sufficient.

There are hundreds of types of NFC chips out there, so as you’re picking your chip, be sure to do your research so you can order the chip that is the best match for your needs.

Designing Your NFC Card

If you want to print an NFC card for your organization, you can keep some basic principles in mind. Here’s what to think about:

Keep your design clean and simple. NFC cards are relatively small, so only include design elements you truly need. This means that your design can be as simple as your company’s logo. If you’re creating an NFC business card, include your name on the card. For NFC ID cards, include relevant information such as the employee’s or student’s name, position, and picture.

Print in high resolution. To make your cards look professional, be sure to use high-resolution designs. You can create your designs using simple programs such as Canva or Adobe Illustrator, or you can ask your printing partner to create a design for you.

Follow your branding. Whether you’re printing custom NFC business cards or company ID cards, remember that your cards represent who you are and who your organization is. Use your organization’s fonts and colors on your card so that readers associate it with you.

Encoding Your NFC Card

Once you’ve printed your NFC cards, it’s time for the most important part: encoding them so that they contain the information you want them to have. Here’s what to do:

1. Collect the information you want to encode. Depending on your needs, this might include contact information, URLs, or any other relevant data.
2. Write the data into the chip’s user memory.
3. Configure any special features you’d like your chip to contain, such as being able to lock the chip.
4. Read the chip’s UID.
5. Save your NFC data for future use. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel every time you’re going to encode your NFC cards!

Where to Print NFC Cards

Since NFC cards are usually thick plastic cards, they aren’t your typical print materials. Therefore, it’s a good idea to work with a professional printing company that can create your cards for you.

If you already partner with a professional printing company, feel free to ask them if they can print your NFC cards for you. Otherwise, this is the perfect time to find the right printing partner who can make these cards into a reality for you.

One option is to partner with a specific NFC card printing company. The biggest benefit of doing this is that you are working with experts in NFC cards who know everything there is to know about them. They might be able to provide a wider selection of cards, if you have specific needs that require niche NFC cards.

On the other hand, when you partner with a standard printing company for your NFC cards, you get all of the benefits of working with a professional printing partner. This can include the excellent service, wide distribution network, and top-quality products that a full-service printing company can provide. In addition, they can produce all of your other print products, which helps you simplify your operations.

Start Printing Your NFC Cards Today

Whether you’re printing an NFC business card or employee ID card, working with a professional printing company makes the printing process hassle-free. Here at ZoePrint, we print high quality NFC cards that help you achieve your operations and marketing goals. We also print all of the materials that you need to succeed, including brochures, flyers, traditional business cards, and more.

To get started printing your own custom, high quality NFC cards, contact ZoePrint today!