Printed ID Badges: Professional Custom Badges for Your Team

Welcome to Plastic Card ID: Your Trusted Source for Printed ID Badges and Plastic Cards

Every organization, from a busy hospital to a thriving retail chain, shares one common need: a reliable way to identify its people. Printed ID badges are not just pieces of plastic - they are powerful tools that build trust, enhance security, and project a professional image that lasts. When you hold a well-crafted ID badge, you are holding a physical statement about who you are and what your organization stands for.

We have spent over 25 years perfecting the art and science of custom plastic card printing. Our team has helped more than 100,000 businesses across the country create cards that do more than just look good - they work hard every single day. Whether you need ID badges for a team of five or a workforce of five thousand, we deliver quality, consistency, and speed directly to your door, no matter where you are in the nation.

What makes us different? We do not just print cards. We build solutions. From the very first conversation to the moment your cards arrive at your front door, we are with you every step of the way. Our expertise, our technology, and our passion for quality combine to give you a product you will be proud to hand out and even prouder to show off.

Why Printed ID Badges Matter More Than Ever

In a world buzzing with digital notifications and virtual everything, a physical ID badge cuts through the noise in a way no email or app notification ever can. It says, clearly and confidently, that this person belongs here. For schools, hospitals, corporate offices, and event venues, that simple statement carries enormous weight and practical value every single day.

Security experts consistently point to visible identification as one of the most effective and affordable ways to manage access and reduce risk in any environment. A well-printed badge with a clear photo, name, and role makes it instantly easy to spot who should be where. This small investment pays off in a big way when it comes to safety, accountability, and overall organizational order.

Beyond security, printed ID badges serve as a constant, walking advertisement for your brand. Every time an employee walks through a door, attends a meeting, or greets a customer, that badge is on display. It reinforces your organization's professionalism and makes a lasting impression on everyone who sees it.

The Power of a Physical Connection

There is something deeply human about a physical object. Digital credentials can be forgotten, hacked, or simply ignored, but a well-made plastic ID badge is tangible, durable, and immediate. People trust what they can see and touch, and that trust is exactly what a high-quality printed badge delivers to your team and your customers every single day.

We have seen firsthand how the right ID badge transforms a workplace culture. Employees feel more official, more connected, and more proud of where they work when they carry a badge that truly represents their organization. It is a small thing with a surprisingly large impact on morale, unity, and the overall sense of professionalism within any team or company.

Our clients regularly tell us that upgrading from paper or low-quality printed badges to our premium plastic cards was one of the best decisions they ever made. The difference in durability, appearance, and employee response is immediate and dramatic. Once you experience the quality we deliver, it is very hard to go back to anything less.

Nationwide Shipping, Right to Your Door

No matter where your business is located, we ship your printed ID badges, card printers, and all the refill supplies you need directly to you. From small towns in rural America to bustling city centers, our nationwide shipping network ensures that distance is never a barrier to getting the professional cards your organization deserves, exactly when you need them.

Speed and reliability are not just words to us - they are promises we keep. We know that when you order ID badges, you often need them quickly. Our fulfillment process is designed to move fast without ever sacrificing the quality that makes our products stand out. You can place your order with confidence, knowing it will arrive on time and exactly as expected.

Have a question or ready to place a new order? Reach our friendly team right now at 800-835-7919. We love hearing from new and returning customers alike, and we are always ready to help you find the perfect solution for your printed ID badge needs.

Types of Printed ID Badges We Offer

Not all ID badges are created equal, and we understand that different organizations have very different needs. A hospital requires something far different from a school or a corporate office. That is why we offer a wide, carefully curated range of printed ID badge styles and formats, each designed to meet specific professional requirements while always delivering the visual polish that makes your team look its absolute best.

Our catalog covers everything from simple, single-color employee badges to highly sophisticated, full-color photo ID cards with embedded security features. We work with you to understand your exact needs, then we craft a product that checks every box. No cookie-cutter solutions here - every badge we produce is tailored to the organization it represents.

Popular ID Badge Categories

We have produced printed ID badges for virtually every industry imaginable. Our deep experience means we already understand the unique demands of your sector before you even finish explaining them. Here is a look at some of the most popular badge categories we produce for organizations just like yours every single day.

• Employee and staff ID badges for corporate offices, retail, and hospitality
• Student and faculty ID cards for schools, colleges, and universities
• Visitor and contractor badges for temporary access management
• Healthcare ID cards for hospitals, clinics, and medical practices
• Government and institutional ID credentials
• Event and conference ID badges for large gatherings
• Membership ID cards for clubs, gyms, and professional associations

Each category comes with its own set of design possibilities, security features, and material options. Our team guides you through every choice, making sure your final product is not just functional, but genuinely impressive. We take real pride in helping organizations of all sizes look and feel more professional through the cards they carry.

Security Features That Make a Difference

A great-looking badge is important, but a secure badge is essential. We offer a full range of security features that can be incorporated right into your printed ID badges, giving you peace of mind and giving your organization the layer of protection it needs to operate safely and confidently in today's environment.

From UV printing and holographic overlaminates to magnetic stripes, barcodes, and RFID smart card technology, our security options are both impressive and practical. These features make your badges extremely difficult to duplicate or forge, which is exactly the kind of deterrent that keeps unauthorized individuals from gaining access to your spaces or information.

We also offer proximity card and contactless MIFARE DESFire technology for organizations that want seamless, touch-free access control. These high-tech options work beautifully alongside our stunning full-color printing, giving you a badge that is as smart as it is sharp-looking. Security and style are not mutually exclusive - we deliver both, every time.

Custom Design Options for Every Brand

Your brand deserves to look its best, even on something as practical as an ID badge. We offer extensive custom design options that let you incorporate your logo, brand colors, typography, and imagery seamlessly into every card. The result is a badge that feels like a natural, polished extension of your overall brand identity and makes a strong impression wherever it is seen.

Our design team works closely with yours to bring your vision to life. Whether you have a complete design ready or you are starting from scratch, we provide the guidance, tools, and expertise to create something truly excellent. We have helped brands from small nonprofits to national corporations develop ID badge designs that their teams are genuinely excited to wear and display.

Card Printers: Print Your Own ID Badges In-House

For organizations that need the flexibility to print their own cards on demand, we offer a carefully selected range of professional-grade card printers. Printing in-house gives you the ability to issue badges immediately, update information in real time, and maintain full control over your entire ID card program from start to finish. It is a game-changer for growing organizations with dynamic needs.

We carry printers from the industry's most trusted brands, and our experts are happy to walk you through every option to find the perfect fit for your volume, budget, and feature requirements. From compact desktop models perfect for small offices to high-volume printers built for enterprise-level operations, we have a printer that matches exactly what you need.

Top Card Printer Features to Consider

Choosing the right card printer is easier when you know exactly what features matter most for your operation. Our team helps you evaluate printers based on a clear set of practical criteria that align with your actual workflow, not just a list of technical specifications that can be hard to interpret without context and real-world experience behind them.

• Single-sided vs. dual-sided printing capability
• Print resolution - typically 300 DPI for standard cards, 600 DPI for sharper detail
• Print speed - measured in cards per hour for high-volume needs
• Built-in encoding options - magnetic stripe, smart card, or RFID
• Lamination modules for added card durability and security
• Connectivity - USB, Ethernet, or wireless options

Once you understand these key factors, finding the right printer becomes a much simpler and more satisfying process. We have matched hundreds of organizations with the ideal card printer for their specific situation, and we love the moment when a client realizes just how smoothly their new in-house printing operation can run with the right equipment in place.

Printer Ribbons and Refill Supplies We Stock

A great printer is only as good as the supplies that feed it. We stock a comprehensive range of printer ribbons, cleaning kits, blank card stock, and overlaminates to keep your card printing operation running at peak performance. Running out of supplies should never slow down your ID badge program, and with us as your supplier, it never has to.

Our refill supplies are sourced to match the printers we sell, ensuring full compatibility and consistently high print quality with every single card you produce. We make reordering fast and simple so you are never left waiting when your team is counting on you to deliver fresh, professional-looking ID badges quickly and reliably.

Call us anytime at 800-835-7919 to check stock, place a supply order, or ask about bulk pricing on ribbons and card stock. We ship supplies nationwide and always aim to get your order moving as fast as possible so your operation never has to skip a beat.

Loyalty Cards, Gift Cards, and More

Card Type	Primary Benefit	Best For
Gift Cards	Boost sales up to 100% vs. paper	Retail, restaurants, spas
Loyalty Cards	Increase repeat visits 35-50%	Cafes, salons, fitness centers
Membership Cards	Builds belonging and retention	Clubs, gyms, associations
Postcard Mailers	2x response rate vs. paper mail	Marketing campaigns, promos

While printed ID badges are at the heart of what many of our clients need, our product range extends far beyond identification. We are a full-service plastic card provider, meaning we can supply your business with gift cards, loyalty cards, membership cards, and specialty marketing cards - all produced with the same premium quality that has made us a trusted name for over 25 years.

Businesses that switch from paper gift certificates to our professionally printed plastic gift cards consistently see dramatic jumps in sales and customer satisfaction. The look, the feel, and the durability of a plastic gift card sends a message to your customers: this brand takes quality seriously. That message pays off in very real, very measurable ways over time.

Gift Cards That Drive Real Revenue

The numbers behind plastic gift cards are genuinely exciting. Retailers who make the switch from paper to plastic gift certificates often report sales increases of up to 100%, and that is not an exaggeration. A beautifully designed plastic gift card is more likely to be purchased, displayed prominently at the checkout counter, and treasured by the recipient long after the balance is used up.

We produce gift cards in full, vibrant color with your logo and branding front and center. We can add magnetic stripes or barcodes for easy point-of-sale scanning, making the entire gifting and redemption experience smooth and enjoyable. Your customers will notice the difference immediately, and so will your bottom line after just a few months of using our cards instead of paper alternatives.

Loyalty Cards That Keep Customers Coming Back

Customer loyalty is the foundation of any sustainable business, and a well-designed loyalty card program is one of the most effective tools for building it. Research consistently shows that loyalty programs can boost repeat business by 35-50%, and our premium printed loyalty cards make starting or upgrading your program surprisingly straightforward and affordable.

We design loyalty cards that feel special in a customer's hand. When your card earns a permanent spot in someone's wallet right next to their bank card, you have achieved something remarkable: top-of-mind brand awareness every single day without spending another dollar on advertising. That kind of constant, gentle reminder keeps your business firmly in your customers' daily routines and spending habits.

Our loyalty cards are fully customizable with punch holes, magnetic stripes, barcodes, or QR codes depending on your preferred tracking system. We help you figure out which option works best for your operation and your customers, then we produce the cards quickly and ship them directly to wherever you need them, anywhere across the country.

Specialty and Premium Card Options

Sometimes a standard plastic card is not enough. For organizations and brands that want to make an absolutely unforgettable impression, we offer a spectacular range of specialty card options that go far beyond the ordinary. These are cards that people notice, talk about, and keep - and that kind of lasting impact is priceless when it comes to building a premium brand image.

From crystal-clear transparent cards to exotic shapes and even luxurious metal cards crafted from stainless steel or gold, our specialty line is designed for brands that refuse to settle for average. These cards command immediate attention and communicate quality in a way that no digital alternative can ever replicate. When you hand someone one of these cards, they remember it.

Clear and Transparent Plastic Cards

There is something visually stunning about a clear plastic card, and our clients love the reaction they get when they hand one out. Whether used as a VIP membership card, an exclusive loyalty card, or a premium ID badge, a fully transparent card immediately sets your brand apart from every competitor in the room and creates an instant conversation starter.

We produce clear cards with the same high-resolution printing quality that defines all of our products. Your logo, colors, and design elements pop beautifully against the transparent background, creating a visual effect that is both elegant and striking. These cards photograph beautifully for social media too, giving your brand an extra layer of organic marketing reach every time someone shares a photo.

Metal Cards for Ultimate Luxury

For the ultimate in prestige and brand elevation, our metal cards are in a class entirely their own. Crafted from stainless steel, gold-finish metal, or other premium materials, these cards have a satisfying weight and solidity that communicates success, exclusivity, and extraordinary attention to detail. They are the kind of card that never gets thrown away - ever.

Metal cards are ideal for VIP programs, executive ID badges, high-end membership clubs, and any brand that serves a premium clientele and wants every touchpoint to reflect that commitment to excellence. The investment in metal cards pays back richly through the impression they leave, the conversations they start, and the loyalty they inspire among the customers and members who receive them.

Custom Shapes and Die-Cut Cards

Who says a card has to be a rectangle? Our custom die-cut cards let you break away from the standard shape and create something that truly reflects your brand's personality and creativity. A guitar-shaped card for a music school, a key-shaped card for a real estate agency, or a rounded-corner premium card for a boutique hotel - the possibilities are genuinely exciting and the results are always impressive.

Custom-shaped cards generate buzz. They are the kind of thing people pull out to show their friends and colleagues, giving your brand an organic word-of-mouth boost that money simply cannot buy through traditional advertising. We handle all the design and production details, making the process of creating a one-of-a-kind card surprisingly simple and straightforward for our clients.

Frequently Asked Questions About Printed ID Badges

We talk to customers every day who have great questions about printed ID badges - from what materials work best to how long cards last and everything in between. We have gathered the most common questions here so you can get fast, helpful answers and move confidently forward with your ID badge program knowing exactly what to expect from us and our products.

If your question is not covered here, please do not hesitate to reach out to our team. We genuinely enjoy talking through the details with our customers and helping them find the exact right solution for their unique situation. There is no question too small or too technical for our experienced, knowledgeable staff to handle with confidence and care.

How Long Do Printed ID Badges Last?

Our plastic ID badges are built to last. Under normal everyday use, a high-quality printed plastic badge will typically last three to five years or even longer without significant fading, cracking, or wear. This is dramatically longer than paper or cardstock alternatives, making plastic the far more practical and cost-effective choice for any organization issuing ID credentials regularly.

To maximize the lifespan of your printed badges, we also offer protective overlaminates and card holders that shield the surface from scratches, moisture, and daily handling wear. These add-ons are inexpensive but can effectively double the working life of your badges, giving you even greater value from every card we produce and ship to your location.

What Is the Typical Turnaround Time?

We know time matters. Our standard production turnaround for most custom printed ID badge orders is designed to be as fast as possible without cutting any corners on quality. The exact timeline depends on the complexity of your design and the quantity you need, but our team always communicates clearly about expected delivery windows so you are never left guessing or worrying about your order status.

Rush orders are also available for those moments when you need cards faster than usual. We do our absolute best to accommodate urgent requests, and our nationwide shipping network is designed to get your cards to you quickly and safely. Call us now at 800-835-7919 to discuss your timeline and we will work with you to make it happen.

Can I Order Small Quantities?

Absolutely. We work with organizations of all sizes, from a small nonprofit that needs twenty-five staff ID badges to a national corporation ordering fifty thousand cards at once. Our production process is flexible enough to handle both scenarios with equal care and attention to quality. You should never have to order more than you need just to meet an unreasonable minimum quantity requirement.

Pricing naturally scales with volume, so larger orders do come with better per-card rates, but we make sure even small-batch orders are priced fairly and competitively. We want to earn your business today and keep it for years to come, which means treating every order - regardless of size - with the same level of professionalism and commitment to quality that our clients have come to expect.

Case Study: How Printed ID Badges Transformed a Regional Healthcare Network

Sometimes the best way to understand what printed ID badges can do for an organization is to see a real-world example in action. One of our most rewarding client stories involves a regional healthcare network that came to us struggling with an outdated, paper-based identification system that was creating genuine security and workflow headaches across multiple facilities throughout their region.

Their challenge was significant: dozens of locations, hundreds of employees, and an identification system that was inconsistent, easily lost, and impossible to quickly verify. They needed a solution that was professional, durable, scalable, and capable of integrating with their existing access control infrastructure. We delivered exactly that.

The Challenge They Faced

Before working with us, the healthcare network's staff ID system was a patchwork of different card styles, printed on different equipment, with varying levels of quality across their locations. This inconsistency created real confusion - both for employees trying to identify colleagues and for security staff trying to verify who belonged in sensitive areas. It was a problem that needed solving urgently.

Paper-based temporary visitor badges were being reused, lost, and in some cases potentially duplicated by unauthorized individuals. The organization's leadership knew they needed to upgrade to a professional plastic card solution with real security features, but they were concerned about the complexity and cost of making such a large-scale transition across so many locations simultaneously.

The Solution We Provided

We sat down with their team - virtually and in person - and developed a comprehensive printed ID badge program that addressed every one of their pain points. We designed a unified badge template that worked beautifully across all of their facilities while still allowing department-specific color coding and role designation. The design was clean, professional, and immediately impactful.

We supplied them with in-house card printers for their largest facilities, complete with full training and an ongoing supply agreement for ribbons and blank card stock. Smaller locations received pre-printed badge batches that we produced and shipped on a regular replenishment schedule. The entire rollout was smooth, well-supported, and delivered exactly on time despite the scale and complexity of the project.

The Results They Achieved

Within ninety days of launching their new printed ID badge program, the healthcare network reported a dramatic improvement in security compliance across all facilities. Staff reported feeling more professional and unified, and security personnel noted that verifying credentials had become significantly faster and more reliable with the new standardized card design and security features we incorporated into the badges.

Visitor management also improved substantially, as the clearly differentiated visitor badge design made it immediately obvious to anyone in the building who was staff and who was a guest. This simple visual distinction, made possible by our premium printing quality and smart design guidance, turned out to be one of the most appreciated aspects of the entire program upgrade.

Our Full Range of Card Accessories and Add-Ons

A great card program is about more than just the cards themselves. The accessories and add-ons you choose can significantly enhance the functionality, presentation, and longevity of your printed ID badges and other plastic cards. We stock a comprehensive range of card accessories to ensure your entire program looks and performs at the highest possible level from day one.

Think of us as your one-stop shop for everything your card program needs. Whether you are setting up a brand-new ID badge system or upgrading an existing one, we have the accessories to complete the picture and make the whole experience seamlessly professional for everyone involved, from the people issuing the cards to the people receiving and wearing them.

Card Holders, Lanyards, and Clips

How a badge is displayed is almost as important as the badge itself. We carry a full selection of card holders, badge reels, lanyards, and belt clips that make wearing and accessing ID badges convenient and professional. These accessories protect your cards from daily wear while keeping them visible and accessible exactly when and where they are needed most in your workplace or facility.

Our selection includes both standard and branded options, so you can extend your organization's visual identity all the way to the badge holder and lanyard. Custom-printed lanyards with your logo and colors create a cohesive, polished look for your entire team that visitors and clients immediately notice and respond to positively. It is a small detail that makes a genuinely big difference in overall presentation.

Custom Card Sleeves, Carriers, and Mailers

For organizations using plastic cards as marketing tools - like gift cards, loyalty cards, or promotional mailers - presentation packaging matters enormously. We offer custom card sleeves and carriers that turn the moment of receiving a card into a branded experience in itself. These beautifully designed packaging options elevate your card's perceived value and make gifting it a genuinely pleasurable experience for everyone involved.

Our full-service card affixing and mailing services are available for clients who want to take their direct mail campaigns to the next level. We can affix your plastic card directly to a carrier, address it, and mail it to your customer list for you, creating a seamless end-to-end service that saves you significant time and effort while ensuring every piece arrives looking sharp and professional.

Our plastic postcard mailers deserve a special mention here - they achieve double the response rate of standard paper direct mail, making them one of the most cost-effective marketing tools available to any business. When your prospects receive something plastic and professional in their mailbox, they pay attention in a way they simply do not with ordinary paper mailers. That attention translates directly into responses, calls, and sales for your business.

Why Businesses Choose Plastic Card ID Again and Again

With so many options available for plastic card printing, the question is always: why us? The answer comes through clearly in our results. Over 100,000 businesses have trusted us with their card programs, and the vast majority come back to us time and time again because we deliver on our promises every single time. That kind of loyalty from our clients is the most powerful endorsement we could ever ask for.

We have built our reputation one order at a time, treating every client's needs with genuine care and providing the kind of responsive, knowledgeable service that is increasingly rare in today's business world. When you call us, you talk to a real person who knows cards inside and out and genuinely wants to help you succeed. That is not something you will find everywhere, and it is something our clients consistently tell us they deeply appreciate.

Our Commitment to Quality

Quality is not a department at our company - it is a mindset that runs through everything we do. From the materials we source to the printers we use to the quality checks we run on every order before it ships, we are relentlessly focused on delivering cards that look exceptional, feel premium, and perform reliably for years. We never cut corners, and our clients can feel that commitment in every card they receive.

We back our work with the kind of customer service guarantee that gives you confidence from the very start of your order. If something is ever not right with your cards, we make it right - period. No hassle, no runaround, no excuses. Our goal is for every client to receive exactly what they envisioned, and we work hard to make sure that goal is met on every single order we fulfill.

Serving Every Industry, Every Size

One of the things we are genuinely proud of is the extraordinary variety of industries and organization types we serve. Healthcare, education, hospitality, retail, government, nonprofits, corporate enterprises, sports and recreation organizations - we have produced premium printed ID badges and plastic cards for all of them and more. This breadth of experience means we bring valuable, cross-industry insights to every new client relationship we begin.

We understand that a school district has very different needs from a casino or a fitness chain, and we customize our approach accordingly. Our team asks the right questions, listens carefully to your answers, and builds a card solution that fits your specific context perfectly. There is no generic template approach here - just thoughtful, experienced, customized service every time you work with us.

The Numbers Behind Our Success

Numbers tell an honest story, and ours are genuinely impressive after 25-plus years in business. We have produced and shipped over 50 million plastic cards to clients across every state in the nation. We have supported more than 60 affiliate partner websites that leverage our products and reputation to build their own successful businesses. These are not small achievements - they represent decades of consistent excellence and client satisfaction.

The market for high-quality printed plastic cards, including ID badges, continues to grow because the need is real and enduring. Physical identification is not going away, and neither is the human desire for tangible, trustworthy credentials that do their job reliably day in and day out. We are positioned exactly where this growing demand meets expert production capability, and that is a powerful place to be for both our clients and our long-term business partners.

Get Started With Plastic Card ID Today - Your Printed ID Badges Are Waiting

Getting started with your new or upgraded printed ID badge program has never been easier. Our team is ready to guide you through every step, from initial design concepts to final delivery, with the kind of attentive, expert service that makes the whole process enjoyable rather than stressful. We have done this thousands of times, and we bring all of that experience to bear on every new client relationship we begin.

Whether you need a small batch of employee ID badges for a growing team, a large-scale rollout for an entire organization, or a complete card program that includes printers, supplies, and ongoing support, Plastic Card ID has exactly what you need. Our nationwide shipping means we are never too far away to serve you, regardless of where in the country your business calls home.

Call Plastic Card ID right now at 800-835-7919 to speak with a card expert and get your order started today. We are here, we are ready, and we cannot wait to show you what a real difference premium printed ID badges can make for your organization. Your team deserves the best - and the best is exactly what we deliver.

What to Have Ready When You Call

To make your first call as efficient and productive as possible, it helps to have a few key pieces of information ready before you dial. You do not need to have everything figured out - that is what our experts are here to help you with - but knowing a few basics will help us move quickly toward the solution that is right for your organization and your budget.

• Approximate number of ID badges you need (and how often you need to reorder)
• Key information to appear on each badge - name, photo, role, department
• Any security features you require - barcode, magnetic stripe, RFID
• Your logo and brand color guidelines if available
• Your preferred timeline for receiving the finished cards

Even if you only have some of this information, is absolutely ready to work with what you have and help you figure out the rest. Our process is collaborative, patient, and designed to make every client feel confident and well-supported from the very first conversation all the way through to the moment your cards arrive at your door.

Request a Custom Quote

Every organization is unique, and so is every card order we fulfill. That is why we offer custom quotes tailored specifically to your needs, your volume, and your goals. There is no one-size-fits-all pricing here - just honest, transparent quotes that reflect exactly what you need and nothing you do not. We are competitive, we are fair, and we stand behind every price we quote with the quality to match it.

Pricing for printed ID badges typically ranges from $75-$200 per hundred cards depending on complexity, quantity, and features selected, with significant discounts available for larger orders. Printer packages, supply bundles, and accessory kits are also available at competitive prices that make setting up a complete in-house card program surprisingly affordable. Call us to get your personalized quote and see just how accessible premium card quality can be for your organization.

Join Thousands of Satisfied Clients Nationwide

When you choose Plastic Card ID, you are not just buying cards - you are joining a community of more than 100,000 organizations that have discovered the difference that genuine expertise, premium quality, and outstanding customer service can make. We are proud of every one of those relationships, and we are genuinely excited about the opportunity to add your organization to that remarkable list of satisfied clients.

Your printed ID badges are more than just cards. They are a statement about your organization's professionalism, your commitment to security, and the value you place on the people who wear them. Let us help you make that statement as powerfully and beautifully as possible. Call 800-835-7919 right now and let us get to work for you. We are ready when you are.