88 Card Design Tasks
Retransfer Printer Print Area Tab
A retransfer printer uses the ink ribbon to print images on the retransfer film, which is then 
bonded to the card using a heated roller. When you print to a CR805 retransfer printer, you use 
the Print Area tab to select a preset mask to do the following:
 Block the application of primer over the smart card chip on the front of the card. This 
prevents the retransfer film (and any printing) from adhering to the chip.
 Apply the inhibitor panel of the ink ribbon to the back of the card. The inhibitor panel 
prevents ink or retransfer film from bonding to the magnetic stripe. 
If the predefined blocking selections offered by the Card Printer Driver do not fit the card design, 
for example, if the card includes a signature panel, you can use escapes to define custom 
rectangular areas that are not printed. Refer to “Print Bocking in a Retransfer Printer” on 
page 107.
Do the following to select a preset mask: 
1.  Open the Printing Preferences window.
2.  Select the Print Area tab
3.  For each side of the card with a non-
printing area, select Block printing over 
this area, and then select the area from 
the drop-down list. 
The Print Blocking icon displays the 
location of the card element.
4.  Click Apply to save the setting, and 
then click OK to close the Printing 
Preferences window.
5.  Send the card to print.
When you select to block printing over a 
feature (smart card chip or magnetic 
stripe), the retransfer film overlaps all edges of the feature by 0.5 mm. This makes the actual non-
printing area smaller than the feature and creates a clean edge as the retransfer film is applied to 
the card. It does not affect the function of the feature.
The completed card looks like the following: 
     
The dotted lines inside the smart card 
chip and the magnetic stripe areas 
indicate the 0.5 mm overlap of the 
retransfer film over the feature.