Clamshell proximity cards are extremely popular with access control systems, making it easy to enter into buildings with a wave of a card. But the cards are plain white – can you print on them to add cardholder information or your business’s branding?

Short Answer – No.

When you order the cards you have the option to have the manufacturer custom print them, so the cards arrive already printed and branded.

But because of the thickness of the card construction, you cannot use an ID card printer to print on clamshell cards.

But you can work around that by printing on thin adhesive-backed CR-79 cards. These cards are only 10mil thick, so they may not be compatible with every ID card printer – make sure to check your printer’s technical specifications.