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Who says professional ID cards require full-color printing? For many businesses, Monochrome Printing is the smarter, faster, and more economical choice.
Evolis High Trust® Monochrome Ribbons are engineered for organizations that demand speed and cost-efficiency. Whether you are personalizing pre-printed cards with member names, or printing high-density barcodes and QR codes, monochrome ribbons deliver sharp, crisp lines at a fraction of the cost of color printing.
Evolis monochrome ribbons feature an integrated Ribbon Saver Technology. Unlike color ribbons (YMCKO) that consume a full panel set for every card regardless of the design, monochrome ribbons only use the specific length of ribbon required for your printed text or image.
This smart consumption significantly increases the number of prints per roll and drastically reduces your cost-per-card, maximizing your Return on Investment (ROI).
Monochrome printing is not just about black text. It is the industry standard for specific functional applications:
Standard monochrome ribbons are excellent for basic personalization, but some projects require specific technical properties or security features. Evolis offers a range of specialty ribbons designed to handle non-standard card materials, increase durability, or add functional elements to your cards.
The BlackFLEX ribbon utilizes a special wax/resin formulation designed for demanding applications where standard ribbons may fail to adhere properly. It is the ideal choice for printing on ABS, PET, and Paper cards, which are becoming increasingly popular as eco-friendly alternatives to PVC.
The KO ribbon consists of two panels: a Black (K) panel for printing text or barcodes, and a Clear Overlay (O) panel that applies a protective varnish over the entire card surface. This overlay protects the printed data from UV fading, scratches, and daily wear and tear.
White Signature Ribbon: This ribbon applies a rectangular white panel onto the card that accepts writing from standard pens. It is essential for banking cards, loyalty cards, or student IDs where a user signature is required for verification.
Scratch-Off Ribbon: A special gray pattern ribbon designed to cover sensitive data (such as PIN codes or discount codes). The ink is opaque to hide the information underneath but can be easily scratched off by the cardholder with a coin or fingernail.
The Black Monochrome Ribbon (RTCT107NAAA) is a specialized solution designed exclusively for the Evolis Agilia retransfer printer. It must be used in conjunction with the Clear Retransfer Film.
Unlike standard color retransfer ribbons that consume a full set of panels for every card regardless of the design, this monochrome ribbon features Ribbon Saver Technology. It is a continuous ribbon that only consumes the specific length required for your printed text or logo plus a small 5mm gap.
With various generations of Evolis printers available, selecting the correct ribbon part number is essential for compatibility and print quality. Whether you are using the latest Primacy 2, the specialized Agilia, or legacy models like the Zenius and Quantum 2, we have the specific monochrome solution for you.
Please refer to the comprehensive compatibility table below to identify the exact product code for your specific printer model and application.
| Product Code | Description | Prints / Roll | Badgy 200 | Zenius / Primacy | Zenius 2 | Primacy 2 | Agilia | Quantum 2 | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLACK RIBBON | |||||||||
| RCT223NAAA HOT | Black | 2000 | ● | ● | Buy | ||||
| RCT023NAA HOT | Black | 2000 | ● | Buy | |||||
| RTCT107NAAA | Black | 2400 | ● | Enquire | |||||
| RCT219NAAA | BlackFLEX | 1000 | ● | ● | Buy | ||||
| RCT019NAA | BlackFLEX | 1000 | ● | Buy | |||||
| R2F210NAAA | KO (Black + Overlay) | 600 | ● | ● | Enquire | ||||
| R2F010NAA | KO (Black + Overlay) | 600 | ● | Enquire | |||||
| R2011 | Black | 1000 | ● | Enquire | |||||
| CBGR0500K | Black | 500 | ● | Buy | |||||
| WHITE RIBBON | |||||||||
| RCT215NAAA | White | 1000 | ● | ● | Buy | ||||
| RCT015NAA | White | 1000 | ● | Enquire | |||||
| RCT221NAAA | White Signature | 1000 | ● | ● | Enquire | ||||
| RCT021NAA | White Signature | 1000 | ● | Enquire | |||||
| METALLIC & SPECIALTY | |||||||||
| RCT216NAAA | Metallic Gold | 1000 | ● | ● | Enquire | ||||
| RCT016NAA | Metallic Gold | 1000 | ● | Enquire | |||||
| RCT217NAAA | Metallic Silver | 1000 | ● | ● | Enquire | ||||
| RCT017NAA | Metallic Silver | 1000 | ● | Enquire | |||||
| RCT218NAAA | Scratch-Off | 1000 | ● | ● | Enquire | ||||
| RCT018NAA | Scratch-Off | 1000 | ● | Enquire | |||||
| OTHER COLORS | |||||||||
| BLUE | Blue | – | RCT012NAA | RCT212NAAA | RCT212NAAA | R2012 | Enquire | ||
| RED | Red | – | RCT013NAA | RCT213NAAA | RCT213NAAA | R2013 | Enquire | ||
| GREEN | Green | – | RCT014NAA | RCT214NAAA | RCT214NAAA | R2014 | Enquire | ||
If you observe that the black ink is failing to adhere to the card, resulting in patchy or incomplete print, the issue is likely the card material. Standard Black ribbons are strictly optimized for PVC surfaces.
If you are printing on ABS, PET, or Paper cards, you need to switch to the BlackFLEX Ribbon. It uses a specific formulation designed to bond securely with these non-PVC materials.
This phenomenon, often called “Thermal Smearing,” typically occurs when printing white text or lines on a dark background (negative printing).
It is caused by the drastic change in print head temperature. The print head must heat up intensely to print the dark background and cool down instantly to leave the white space. If the temperature cannot change fast enough, the ink smears into the white area.
Solution: This is best managed during the card design phase. Try to avoid extremely fine white lines surrounded by heavy dark blocks, or allow a small buffer zone in your design to give the print head time to adjust its temperature.
It depends on the ribbon you are using.
We do not recommend it. Monochrome ribbons can only print solid black dots; they cannot print actual shades of grey (Grayscale).
If you attempt to print a color photo, the printer will convert it into a high-contrast Black & White image. You will lose all the subtle details, shadows, and depth, making the photo look like a flat “clipart” or sketch rather than a recognizable photograph.
For printing ID photos with proper details and tones, you must use a YMCKO Color Ribbon.
