Cut
Custom NFC stickers and cards can be cut into any shape or size. Thicker tags can also be made into different lengths, widths, or heights. You can choose from our existing form factors, or work with us to create a completely customized tag.
NFC tags are far more than just cards and key tags. NFC tags can be embedded into different types of materials cut into interesting and unique shapes. Shapes can be functional—like circles or diamonds. They can also be playful—like flowers, fish, or original characters. Available materials for 2D tags include polyvinyl (PVC), polyethylene (PET), and paper. Silicone and injection-molded plastic are also used to make shapes for 3D products.
Die-Cut: 2D Products
Die cutting primarily applies to 2D products like stickers and cards. We have tools in production for
NFC Bubble Epoxy Sticker
the following standard sizes. If you don’t find what you need form the standard sizes below, we can create a custom size and shape for you.
Circle
- 25mm
- 30mm
- 35mm
Square
- 25 x 25mm
- 30 x 30mm
- 35 x 35mm
- 45 x 45mm
- 50 x 50mm
Rectangle
- 25 x 30mm
- 85 x 54mm (CR80)
Tiny NFC Tags from a Flexible Printed Circuit
Mini NFC Tag
To make 2D NFC tags even smaller, we can use FPC, flexible printed circuits. FPC uses copper for the antenna coil. This makes it a good electrical conductor. Because the copper is thin, it allows for a smaller tag. However, FPC cannot be custom printed, unlike other 2D products.
Mold Tooling for 3D Products
3D products require special manufacturing processes, such as injection molding for plastic. In this case, customers provide a 3D CAD model. Our engineers can assist with modifying 3D models to accommodate a custom NFC tag and any special mechanical structures needed.
NFC Silicone Hang Tag
Chip
Your choice of NFC chip determines the user experience. Marketing professionals are usually happy with the NTAG213. Software engineers may require more advanced features such as passwords and data encryption that are offered by other chips.
For all of your NFC products or apps, it’s the chips that make them work. Like computer microchips, NFC chips store data and house their programming. NFC chips communicate wirelessly and transfer information to mobile devices and NFC-enabled computers. For example, a musician might have an NFC chip embedded on her business card. Tap her card with your smartphone, and you’ll be able to download several songs off the website for her new album.
Memory Sizes
The amount of information stored on your NFC product depends upon the NFC chip’s memory size. NFC chips come in several different sizes. The more memory the chip has, the more information that can be stored. The data included on the chip can include URLs, contact information (like phone numbers and e-mail addresses), and scan counters (collecting the number of times the tag’s been scanned).
Additional Features
You may need an NFC tag for security purposes. You might use the tag to share a Wi-Fi password with other mobile devices, have ID cards for your employees, or store sensitive financial information in an app. NFC chips can come with security measures for whatever you need to protect. These include password authentication, data encryption, and unique serial number formats:
- Password Authentication: No one can access the chip’s data without the password.
- Data Encryption: This keeps unauthorized devices from decoding the chip’s encrypted data.
- Unique Serial Number Formats: The chip has a unique ID that cannot be altered.
The NTAG213
In general, the NTAG213 is a chip that meets most customer’s needs. This is Tagstand’s most popular chip, and we can customize it for a variety of your products. These include wristbands used at festivals, tags used with Google Cardboard VR viewers, and custom stickers.
Craft
Choose the right materials and tag construction that meets your application requirements. This ensures that your tags perform whenever, wherever, or however you or your customer needs.
Choice of Material
Tags come available in a variety of materials and each offer their own benefits.
| Material | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Paper | Widely used and low cost |
| PET | Adds resistance to water and wear |
| PVC | Stiffer than paper or PET |
| FPC (Polyimide) | Small size |
| Silicone | Waterproof and soft |
| ABS | Waterproof and resistant to impact |
Surface Treatment or Finish
For aesthetic or other reasons, add different surface treatments to your custom NFC tag. Here's some of our more popular options.
| Surface Treatment | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Glossy | High sheen for a quality look |
| Matte | Subdued for more diffuse light reflection |
| Epoxy (Bubble Dome) | Add depth and highlights to artwork |
| Glow in the Dark | Fun for evening events |
| Signature Strip | Provide an area for hand writing |
Outdoor Applications
Waterproof IP68 NFC keyfob
If your NFC sticker tag is used outside, then PET or PVC material offers good weather resistance. Make sure that you properly clean the surface before adhering the tag. Any dirt or foreign substance weakens the bond strength of the adhesive. For more heavy-duty resistance, you may consider a waterproof hard tag (IP68). We can custom design a mold for your unique form factor.
Anti-Tamper Tags
Like our Barnacle tag, your custom NFC tag can possess an anti-tamper feature. After the tag is applied, any attempt to remove it will destroy the tag and make it unreadable.
Window Stickers
For NFC stickers applied to the inside of storefront windows or windshields, we can print on the sticky side of your custom NFC tag. Your tag stays safe inside, the artwork shows to the outside, and users scan the tag through the glass.
Anti-tamper NFC tag's antenna being detached and destroyed
NFC window sticker showing through glass
Code
Encode your NFC tags with the content that your application needs. We have the expertise and experience to custom encode order quantities from one to one million pieces (and more).
Code is Content
NFC chips can store data that can be read with an NFC device. The amount of information stored depends on the chip's memory size. Different manufacturers offer a wide variety of chips with a range of memory sizes. NFC content can be read without an app if it is NDEF.
NDEF Records - No Download Required
The acronym NDEF stands for "NFC Data Exchange Format" which is an international standard for how information is written to an NFC tag. Any tag with NDEF data can be read by an NFC device (like NFC-enabled smartphones). That means your audience does not need to download an app to read the content which streamlines the user experience. With NDEF, an NFC smartphone can do the following with no app download required.
Open a URL in a browser
Send an email message to a specific address
Add a vCard to contacts
Send an SMS with a pre-written message
AAR - Open an app if you have it. Download it if you don't.
Google introduced the Android Application Record for NFC tags. Program an NFC Tag with an AAR with your app's package name. After a user scans the tag with an Android device two things can happen:
- Your app automatically opens if already installed
- Google Play automatically opens to your app for downloading
Proprietary Data
For security or business reasons, you might require users to use your app to read your NFC tags. In that case, we can encode the user memory in any format you require. We can also lock or password protect your tags if the NFC chip has the feature.
Creative
Brand your NFC tags with your logo, icon, or other custom artwork. Variable printing can add serial numbers, unique codes, or any other text that your application needs.
Full-color Printing
The artwork that you provide to us (a .pdf or .ai file) will be used to print directly onto your NFC tag.
Silkscreen Printing
We offer silkscreen printing for thicker products such as silicone wristbands, ABS keyfobs, and hard tokens. Use this for an icon or text in a single solid color. Additional colors can be added, but allow room for slight misalignments since each color is applied separately.
Variable Printing for Text, Numbers, and QR Codes
Accompany your graphics with variable printing, which means that each tag displays unique text, numbers, a QR code, or all three. Tell us how and we can create the variable data for you. If you already have your own data, then we can produce using your list.
Silicone NFC wristband with two color silkscreen printing
NFC Sticker with variable printed text, numbers, and QR code
Metal Effect
NFC tags can't be made from metal, but they can still look metallic with our simulated gold or silver facestock.
NFC stickers with metallic gold and silver effects
Coil
The NFC antenna is a metal coil bonded to the NFC chip. For customers who require a custom antenna to accompany a unique tag design, we can help with the design while ensuring optimal read performance.
Coil: The Means of Communication
NFC tags need a way to transmit data and/or communicate with devices. They do this with coils. Coils are antennas. They’re made with materials that can be placed between or on layers of plastic, metal, or even paper.
Materials
Antennas can be made out of a couple of different types of metals:
Aluminum
Lifting an NFC tag reveals the aluminum antenna and NFC chip
Copper
NFC inlay with copper antenna
Reading Distance
The coil size is one factor determining an NFC tag’s read distance. Generally speaking, a larger antenna provides for a longer read distance. However, read distance also depends on the underlying surface material and the antenna in the reading device.