The new Smart Card Designer Tool from Datacard Group of Minnetonka, Minnesota, reduces the time and cost associated with developing customized smart card applications, allowing issuers to design smart-chip encoding processes as easily as designing the layout of a card. Together with a Datacard printer, identification software, and a smart card coupler, it provides an integrated solution for smart-card personalization. It requires no special programming experience. The tool is integrated with Datacard identification software including IDCentre Gold v6.5 and ID Works Enterprise v6.5. It is also compatible with smart-card-enabled desktop CP Plus and SP Plus card printers.