Evolis Card Printer
Card Printer Consumables
Card Printer Software
Evolis ribbons are engineered to deliver superior image quality with Evolis card printing systems.
Utilize Evolis High Trust® ribbons to eliminate defects while achieving premium print quality at an optimal cost-per-card. Formulated for precision, these ribbons produce vibrant images, sharp graphics, and crisp text. Evolis offers three ribbon categories: color ribbons, monochrome ribbons, and security ribbons.
Beyond standard solutions, Evolis provides a Custom Hologram Solution. Enhancing badge security may necessitate a bespoke hologram film design. Developed as a dedicated project by Evolis, each custom film is tailored to your organization’s specifications and guaranteed exclusive—ensuring it will not be distributed to third parties.
Warranty and Support Policy: Gentle Enterprises Limited offers support exclusively for genuine Evolis products purchased through authorized local channels. Warranty and support claims are not applicable to parallel imports or gray market goods. Requests for service options will be considered based on availability and may incur additional fees.
Understanding the ribbon codes helps you choose the most cost-effective solution for your specific card design.
The YMCKO ribbon consists of five panels. The final panel, 'O', is a protective varnish overlay that safeguards the card's printed elements. These versatile ribbons can be utilized to print any design on both single-sided and dual-sided cards. Each roll yields between 100 and 500 prints, contingent upon the specific printer model.
Cost-Saver! The color panels (Y,M,C) are half the length of a standard card. Best for ID cards where the color image (photo or logo) covers less than 50% of the card surface.
A 6-panel ribbon designed for dual-sided printers. Best for Printing full color on the front and black text only on the back.
Applies two layers of the protective Overlay varnish. Best for Cards requiring extra durability and abrasion resistance without using a lamination module.
Evolis High Trust® Direct-to-Card (DTC) ribbons are the core consumables for standard card printers, delivering vibrant, full-color personalization directly onto the card surface. To ensure optimal print quality and protect your print head, it is essential to use ribbons specifically engineered for your printer model. Please refer to the compatibility table below to find the right ribbon for your Zenius or Primacy series printer.
| Product Code | Description | Prints / Roll | Badgy 200 | Zenius / Primacy | Zenius 2 | Primacy 2 | Quantum 2 | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CBGR0100C | YMCKO Color Ribbon | 100 | ● | Buy | ||||
| R5F008S140 HOT | YMCKO Color Ribbon | 300 | ● | Buy | ||||
| R5F002S140 | YMCKO Color Ribbon | 200 | ● | Buy | ||||
| R5F208C140 HOT | YMCKO Color Ribbon | 300 | ● | ● | Buy | |||
| R5F202C140 | YMCKO Color Ribbon | 200 | ● | ● | Buy | |||
| R3011 | YMCKO Color Ribbon | 200 | ● | Buy | ||||
| R3511 | YMCKO Color Ribbon | 500 | ● | Enquire | ||||
| R5H004S140 | 1/2 YMCKO | 400 | ● | Buy | ||||
| R5H204C140 | 1/2 YMCKO | 400 | ● | ● | Enquire | |||
| R3013 | 1/2 YMCKO | 400 | ● | Buy | ||||
| R6F003S14 | YMCKO-K (Dual Sided) | 200 | ● | Buy | ||||
| R6F203C14 | YMCKO-K (Dual Sided) | 200 | ● | Enquire |
Unlike standard Direct-to-Card printers, Retransfer printers (such as the Avansia and Agilia) require two distinct consumables to operate. This technology prints the image onto a clear film first, which is then heat-bonded to the card surface. This process ensures "over-the-edge" printing with no white borders and allows for printing on uneven surfaces like smart cards.
This is the "canvas" that carries the printed image. Every print requires a corresponding length of film.
This provides the ink (CMYK) for the image.
Important: You must install both a Transfer Film and a Color Ribbon. The printer cannot function if either one is missing or empty.
The standard 4-panel ribbon (Yellow, Magenta, Cyan, Black). Best for Single-sided full-color printing. It can also be used for dual-sided printing if you need full color on both sides.
A 5-panel ribbon with an extra Black (K) panel. Best for Dual-sided cards where the front is full color (photo/logo) and the back is black text only (terms & conditions/barcodes). This is more economical than using YMCK for both sides.
A special 5-panel ribbon that includes an "Inhibitor" (I) panel. Best for Cards with contact chips (EMV) or magnetic stripes. The 'I' panel prevents the transfer film from adhering to the chip or magnetic stripe area, ensuring they remain exposed and functional.
Evolis High Trust® Retransfer ribbons and films are specialized consumables designed for retransfer printers, enabling over-the-edge printing with high-definition quality. As the Avansia and Agilia series utilize distinct consumable architectures, selecting the correct supplies compatible with your specific printer model is critical. Please refer to the table below to identify the correct combination of Transfer Film and Color Ribbon for your equipment.
| Product Code | Description | Prints / Roll | Avansia | Agilia | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transfer Films | |||||
| RTCL009NAA HOT | Clear Transfer Film | 500 | ● | Enquire | |
| RTCL100NAAA HOT | Clear Transfer Film | 1200 | ● | Enquire | |
| Color Ribbons | |||||
| RT4F010SAA HOT | YMCK Color Ribbon | 500 | ● | Enquire | |
| RT4F101C100 HOT | YMCK Color Ribbon | 600 | ● | Enquire | |
| RT5F011SAA | YMCKK Color Ribbon (Dual-sided) | 400 | ● | Enquire | |
| RT5F102C100 | YMCKK Color Ribbon (Dual-sided) | 600 | ● | Enquire | |
| RT5F012NAA | YMCKI Color Ribbon (Smart Card) | 400 | ● | Enquire | |
| RT5F013NAA | YMCKH Color Ribbon (Non-PVC Card) | 400 | ● | Enquire | |
| RT5F014NAA | YMCFK Color Ribbon (UV Panel) | 400 | ● | Enquire | |
YMCKO (Full Panel) is the standard choice for printing full-color images, photos, and text on the entire card surface. It includes a protective overlay (O) to prevent fading.
1/2 YMCKO (Half Panel) is a cost-effective solution (saving up to 40%) if you only need to print a color photo on a specific area (e.g., ID photo) and black text on the rest of the card.
Choose the one that fits your card design to optimize cost.
Evolis ribbons typically have a shelf life of 1 year from the manufacturing date. While expired ribbons may still work, print quality cannot be guaranteed and issues like ribbon tearing or uneven colors may occur.
Storage is key: Always store ribbons in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Proper storage can significantly extend the usable life of your consumables.
Using original High Trust® ribbons ensures optimal print quality and maximizes printhead lifespan.
Original ribbons feature an identification chip that allows the printer to automatically adjust settings for the best results. Using non-original or low-quality ribbons may damage the printhead and could void your warranty.
This error usually indicates a Region Code mismatch. Evolis printers are region-locked to ensure optimal performance.
As the authorized distributor for China, Hong Kong, and Macau, we supply ribbons specifically coded for printers in these regions (e.g., ending in S140 for Zenius/Primacy, or C140 for Zenius 2 / Primacy 2).
Ribbons from other channels with different suffix codes will not be recognized by your printer. Please contact us to purchase the correct regional version.
The following P/Ns are NOT compatible with HK/Macau units:
R5F008S130, R5F008S131, R5F008S132, R5F008S133, R5F008S141, R5F008S142 (CN/IN Regions);
R5F208C130, R5F208C131, R5F208C133 (Primacy 2 / Zenius 2 CN/IN);
R5F008AAA, R5F008EAA, R5F208A100, R5F208E100 (EU/US Regions).
No, they are not compatible.
Zenius / Primacy use the R5F008 series (taking YMCKO as an example).
Zenius 2 / Primacy 2 uses the new R5F208 series.
The ribbon cassette design and chips are different. Please check your printer model carefully before purchasing. For other ribbon types (Half-panel, Monochrome, etc.), please contact our team for the correct part numbers.
While these printer models are discontinued, we may still have stock for their consumables (e.g., R3011, R3013).
Please contact our sales team to check the latest stock availability. We also offer trade-in programs if you wish to upgrade to the latest Primacy 2 / Zenius 2 for better print quality and long-term support.
This is due to the nature of Retransfer Technology. Unlike Direct-to-Card printers (like Primacy) that print directly onto the card surface, Retransfer printers first print the image onto a clear Transfer Film. This film is then heat-bonded to the card surface. Therefore, both the Color Ribbon (for the image) and the Transfer Film (as the medium) are essential for the printing process.
Retransfer technology offers superior print quality and versatility:
No. The printing principles are completely different. Avansia and Agilia use Retransfer technology, while Primacy and Zenius use Direct-to-Card technology. The ribbons are structured differently to suit their specific printing methods and are not interchangeable. Please ensure you select the correct part numbers listed in the Retransfer section above.
