Standard ID cards are composed of a plastic or PVC material, which is the most inexpensive card type of cards used with ID Printers. Another version of PVC Cards is Composite PVC-PET Cards. PVC cards are generally used in dye sublimation printers and offer graphic-quality surfaces for professional-looking credentials. However, if you are laminating your cards or using a retransfer printer such as the HPD5000 / HDP5600, it's highly recommended that you use a composite PVC or PET card type instead of the traditional PVC stock. Composite cards – typically made of 60% PVC and 40% PET plastic – are stronger and much more capable of withstanding the higher heat settings used by laminating and retransfer ID card printers. Composite PVC cards also feature graphic-grade surfaces for producing high-quality ID cards and can be used in dye sublimation printers. More durable and longer-lasting composite PVC/PET material reduces the chances of the card breaking, cracking, melting, or warping due to the higher heat settings. Additionally, composite cards prove to last longer than the standard PVC cards. While the PET cards are more expensive up front, you will find yourself replacing these cards less often due to breaking, bending, or tearing as a result of normal, everyday wear and tear.