Q. How do I protect the magnetic stripe on my credit card / access card?
Tyvek® provides excellent protection for the magnetic stripe on credit cards, ATM/debit cards, and campus access cards. The properties of Tyvek® protect the strip from scratching and wear.

Q. Is the ArmorShield™material in the Secure Sleeves government/FIPS approved?
Yes, Secure Sleeves and the Armor Shield material is FIPS 201 approved by the US Government as an Electromagnetically Opaque Shield.

Q. What frequencies will the ArmorShield™block the RFID transmission?
ArmorShield™ material is designed to shield ISO 1443 A/B and EPC Gen1/Gen2 contactless smart cards.  This encompasses any contactless card that operates at 13.56 Mhz and above.   This material will not shield non-smart cards (the older 125khz proximity cards.  On cards that include a secondary 125 khz antenna added fro backward compatibility, on the new 13.56 Mhz interface is shielded.  The 13.56 Mhz interface is generally the only one with personal data.

Q. What types of cards are typically embedded with RFID technology?
• All HID iClass, HID MIFARE®, HID FlexSmart, DESFire
• Indala FlexSmart
• Any card ISO 14443A/B or ISO 15693 compatible
• All MIFARE® and DESFire compatible cards
• All new contactless credit cards
• sQuid cards used in Europe
• Military CAC (Common Access Cards)
• New Government PIV (Personal Identity Verification) cards such as the Linc-Pass
• TWIC™ (Transportation Worker Identification Credential)
• New long range RFID EPC Gen1/Gen2 cards
• US Passport Cards
• Enhanced Driver's Licenses such as Washington, New York, and Vermont
• Many transit cards such as the DC Metro and Boston Charlie™ card

Q. Are there cards that the ArmorShield™ material will not block the RFID transmission?
Yes, older type proximity cards and those operating with 125Khz will not be shield.  Examples of these types of cards include: Older "prox" cards, HID 125 khz. Includes: ProxCard II, ISOProx II, DuoProx II, Smart ISOProx II, Smart DuoProxII, ProxCard Plus.  Also Indala FlexISO, FLexCard, FLex Tag

Q. Can the card sleeves and envelopes be made using recycled paper?
Yes, recycled papers and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified papers are available and can be used to make these sleeves and envelopes.

Q. Can card sleeves and envelopes be made using specialty papers?
Typically, card sleeves are made from a 60# offset paper stock. Information Packaging can manufacture your sleeves and envelopes from a a variety of specialty papers and stocks to meet your specific needs. Please call us to discuss your project.

Q. Can card sleeves be made in custom sizes?
Information Packaging is a custom manufacturer of sleeve and envelope products, therefore we have the ability to customize the size of sleeves and envelopes to best meet your requirements.

Q. Can I put a window on a card sleeve?
Small windows may be an option for your card sleeve or envelope. Some manufacturing restrictions may apply, so give Information Packaging a call with your specific request and we would be happy to help you out.

Q. Do you have gift card envelopes with a flap?
We have three standard sizes that work for gift cards, hotel key cards, credit/ATM cards, etc.: 2 ¼” x 3 ½” open end sleeve; 2 3/8” x 3 ¾” open end with flap; and 3 5/8” x 2 5/8” open side with flap. Custom sizes are always available

Q. What is the best material to use on a sleeve or envelope for gift cards?
This would depend on the length of time the card is intended to be used and how often it is used. For short term cards that are not subject to constant use, paper is the most economical material. For cards that are used frequently or will be stored for a longer term, Tyvek® will perform better.

Q. What is the best material to use on a sleeve or envelope for hotel key cards?
Hotel key cards are typically short term use items and do not require the protection of Tyvek® therefore paper is the best material for this application. Paper also is easier to write on (as compared to Tyvek®) so room number and other guest information is easier to read.

Q. What is the best material to use on a sleeve or envelope for cards with magnetic stripes such as credit cards or debit cards?
The properties of Tyvek® makes this an ideal material for protection and storage of these type of cards. Tyvek® will protect the magnetic strip from scratching against other cards in your purse or wallet.

Q. Can you print a 4 color process on card sleeves?
We can print spot PMS colors and process color on paper, paperboard, and Tyvek® card sleeves. Card sleeves are an excellent means to get your company logo and key message out to your customers.

Q. Can you print on the face and back of card sleeves?
Card sleeves are printed onflat sheets, then die cut and folded into sleeves and envelopes, so printing on the face and back of the sleeves is easy to accomplish with no additional print charges.

RFID Blocking FAQs   back to top

Q. What is RFID?
RFID, or radio frequency identification, is the technology that lets you simply wave your credit card, passport or license in front of a nearby scanner instead of having to slide the magnetic stripe through it. The electronic scanner sends a signal which is received by an antenna embedded into the card, which is connected to the card's RFID chip, thus activating it. The RFID chip in these cards emits all of the information, including the account number, that is needed to complete a transaction.

Q. Why is there a need for RFID shielding for credit cards?
About 100 million credit cards now have RFID technology embedded into them. However, over the next two to three years, credit card issuers plan to replace every single magnetic stripe credit and debit card with a new contactless smartcard. These cards can be read without even taking them out of your wallet. The RFID shielding technology in our Secure Sleeves^® manufactured with ArmorShield™ card sleeves blocks this transmission from happening as long as the card is inside the sleeve.

Q. What is skimming?
Skimming is the process where “thieves” record your personal information from your card without your knowledge. This technology is relatively easy to acquire and is so unobtrusive, you would never know it has happened.

Q. What is ArmorShield™ ?
Exclusive to Information Packaging, ArmorShield™ is a unique material used to make our Secure Sleeve^®  which protects smart cards and contactless cards from being read without your knowledge. ArmorShield™ is durable and resistant to tears, punctures, moisture and chemicals, and provides shielding for ISO 14443/15693 and EPC Gen 1/Gen 2 contactless smart card and any contactless card that operates at 13.56 MHz and above. Secure Sleeve^®  effectively blocks the ability to read a RFID encoded card. The Secure Sleeve^®  manufactured from ArmorShield™ is FIPS 201 approved by the U.S. Government as an electromagnetically opaque shield.

Q. How does Tyvek® protect my credit card?
Tyvek® is ideal for cards with magnetic stripes as they provide a low abrasive surface for the cards. Tyvek® is also extremely durable, tear resistant, and water resistant with make this an excellent substrate for card storage.

Q. When is it best to use ArmorShield™ , Tyvek®, or paper for card sleeves?
1. Our Secure Sleeve^®  made from ArmorShield™ is best used for applications to protect the data on smart or contactless cards, passports and enhanced drivers licenses.
2. Tyvek® is ideal for longterm use of cards such as credit cards, ATM/debit cards or loyalty cards which do not contain an RFID embedded chip. Tyvek® is durable, tear resistant, light weight and water resistant.
3. Paper is an ideal material for short term use cards such as hotel key cards and gift cards where the card will be used and the sleeve will not be used again.

*** See File Submission Guidelines for additional general art related questions.

Secure Sleeve® is a registered trademark of Identity Stronghold.