Membership cards are crucial to any organization because they offer members identification and recognition whenever they visit an organization’s establishments. These are important for any organization as they help to distinguish members and grant them access to otherwise restricted services. And since there is a wide range of materials to be used in the creation of membership cards, one has to choose the right one depending with the goal and financial plan. Here are some of the most popular options to consider:Here are some of the most popular options to consider:
PVC Plastic Cards
Some of the popular material for membership cards include the PVC plastic also referred to as the polyvinyl chloride plastic. PVC cards do not tear easily and are also not affected easily by scratching and are also waterproof. They can be fully customized both from the front and rear sides with images, logos, messages, magnetic stripes, and barcodes. PVC cards allow you to have a matte or glossy surface that you consider appropriate for the card.
The main benefit of PVC cards is that the cost of their manufacturing is significantly lower compared to other types of cards. The basic design consisting of simple cards with a single color entails a highly minimal cost per unit. This is beneficial for organizations which may have lots of members or those who require more cards to be produced, this makes the PVC one of the most cost-effective to use. PVC cards are useful for short term or disposable cards like in student ID cards.
The drawback is that PVC cards do not have a luxurious feel that may be associated with the use of metals or woods, for instance. In the long run, they may chip away by scraping or bending, but are incredibly durable otherwise. But, it does come with the benefit of that laminate does provide a measure of protection for the cards.
Metal Membership Cards
Notable and also valuable is the beautiful, rather sophisticated look of metal membership cards. Metal base cards that have been coated with stainless steel, aluminum, or gold plates look trendy and convey a feeling of elitism. Metal cards are also very much dense – they are not prone to cracking or breaking like plastic cards for everyday usage.
Manufacturing is great for intricate designs – you can let your creativity go wild; engrave text, logos, designs, signatures and anything that you desire. Both laser etching and debossing lend themselves well as eye-catching accents on a sleek metallic tone-on-tone background. Cutting and creating metal cards in unique shapes and forms are other ways you can personalize metal cards further.
Of course, there are a lot of disadvantages: the main one is the higher price of metal membership cards. It is crucial to note that metal cards are made by hand and often with special equipment, thus making the price per unit several times higher than the price of other materials even if it is bought in large quantities. This higher pricing therefore restricts metal cards to limited orders or organizations that can afford the costly materials. However, the use of metal can convey a glamorous experience, making membership feel like a luxury.
Wood Membership Cards
Wooden membership cards are also, quite naturally, different – organic, earthy in their appeal. It is necessary to note that in cards made out of wood, the grains and grooves on each card are as unique as fingerprints. Bamboo is a very good timber which is commonly used in the construction of houses, oak, walnut, and maple can also be used.
While both wood and plastic are quite popular in the construction of chairs, the wooden parts look much more warm and beautifull as well as giving it a luxurious look compared to the plastic materials. Similarly to the Shire horses, wood cards can also be engraved and further personalized. You can also try to arrange the shapes and the sizes; It can be thin slabs of wood, round pieces, or arcs of cards. This diversity can be described as suitable for wood since it is a material with high adaptability.
However, it should be noted that the natural ingredients that wood has cannot be doubted as well. Do not select slender ones as they are usually vulnerable to cracking or splintering at some point in the future. Wood also does not feel as hardy as the plastic and metal cards which are in use today. It is desirable to use a permanent coating in order to enhance the longevity of external surface of wood cards. And moisture cause damage or warping of wood cards, therefore take care to avoid dampness. Providing a protective box to store the nice wooden membership cards is a good suggestion as well.
Paper Membership Cards
There is another even cheaper variant – membership cards made of paper. The basic example of paper cards will cost a few cents or less to create. Thus, paper is effective for use when you intend to provide cards to a huge membership or when you wish to avoid excessive member charges. it is also friendly to the environmennt since it stays in a state which can easily undergo recycling.
It is quite flexible and thin in texture than most other materials hence making it easy to distinguish when handling it. Also, paper offers the flexibility of creativity – cards can get creative with it, they can use paper with thick, thin, rough, smooth, light, or dark shades. UV gloss finishing, matte and soft touch laminations are some that are available for varying appearances. Paper, conveniently, can take any type of print, from raised foil stamping for a touch of class.
Oh, of course, the delicate composition of the material of paper cards entails certain disadvantages, as well. Such products can be easily damaged to the point of tearing or bending, can have poor durability when exposed to elements, and have shorter life expectancy when frequently used. The only modest gains that can be made in card sturdiness are by utilizing thicker paper stocks. However, paper can only be comfortably replaced at a low cost – a fact that lends itself well to temporary programs instead of lifetime memberships.
Hybrid Materials
Duplex plastic cards incorporate two dissimilar materials into a single card to create more premium and distinctive membership cards. Metal and wooden cards may also have plastic inserts for ID and bar code, which are inlaid into the cards. PVC cards may have foil stamping or metal foil stamping and they may have attachments like foils or metal pieces. Or you can actually place items inside clear plastic cards, such as computer chips, fancy shapes, or your company “trinkets. ”
Combining two types of materials, hybrids offer the best of various options in one card design. As for the choice of material, it is a combination of metal and plastic, which is suitable for endurance alongside the availability of the printer/encoder. Large organizations that have the resources to invest in more expensive membership cards value hybrids for the unique and versatile look they offer. While they still take considerably longer than a regular print copy, hybrids should be given more time as the production process involves a few extra phases.
In Summary
Having membership cards represent important affiliation with the organisation today like never before. Choosing the material of the membership cards, it is necessary to evaluate the availability of options for the design, the wear resistance and the possibility of the individual approach, which should not be overlooked in combination with the cost factor. When you’re establishing the membership program or changing its type or adding some new options, you may need differing materials. Fortunately there is a multitude of beautiful products to offer to members, who will be glad to have a unique sign of their membership.