High-Quality ID Card Printers - Buying Guide
Membership and ID Cards
If you’re a healthcare provider, an event planner, a club owner, a government agency, or an association, you know how important membership and ID cards are to the overall image of the business or organization. A well-designed ID card invokes a sense of belonging and pride among members and employees. It fills people associated with your brand with prestige and fellowship. High-quality customized membership and ID cards are essential to maintain security, unite employees and members, and control access to high-security areas and premises.
Here are some reasons why you need Membership and ID Cards:
Membership and ID cards instill a sense of accountability, security, and belonging to any organization. Here are some benefits of having an ID card badge personalized for members, employees, students, visitors, attendees, or anyone else within the organization.
1- Identify and Recognize Your Staff Quickly and Instantly
If you’re running a business, you know the importance of an ID or membership card. It’s quick identification for your staff and gives a sense of inclusion to the workforce. It is important to include some critical details in the employee id cards that are unique to your company.
- Photo
- Last name
- First name
- Job title
- Department
- Location
Your employees or staff members can be identified within the business location simply by wearing a photo id card or membership card.
2- Give Your Business a More Refined & Professional Look
Wearing id card badges help build a cohesive corporate identity. Create a great first impression and project a professional image for your company or organization. Employee id cards reinforce the feeling of belonging and unity within the company.
They help employees and customers interact better with each other. The image of your employees and the safety of your assets enhance the overall perception of your company and boosts confidence among your partners and customers.
3- Protect Your Sensitive Confidential Data & Location
An employee badge can also be used as an access key - granting or restricting access in order to protect access to your premises or data. By adding a magnetic strip, a barcode, or a QR code to the ID card badge, you can prevent intrusions to highly confidential zones and data that need protection, using the predefined rights and parameters set by you. It’s an absolutely critical component of security that dictates who can get access to your company data, resources, and premises.
4- Secure Your ID Card Badges to Prevent Fraud & Misuse
The security of an organization’s information is crucial to its continued success. Protected and secure ID cards can add a blanket of extra security to your business. Use lamination to protect and increase the lifeline of your ID cards. Laminates are clear polyester films that are applied onto the surface of a plastic ID card using heat and pressure. They serve as an additional barrier that protects the card from outside tampering.
For additional security, use cost-effective 3D Holograms on cards. Visible from a distance, holograms can be easily verified without the need for additional equipment. Another sure-shot way to prevent counterfeiting is through ultraviolet or fluorescent printing. Elements printed using ribbons with special UV or F panels are only visible under a black light. This type of security markings add a high level of security to any ID badge.
Features to look for in your ID Card Printer
- Print High-Quality Professional ID Cards
- Printing Frequency & Quantity
- Supports Different Capabilities
- Efficient and Easy-To-Use
- Excellent Value for Money
Printer Buyer's Guide
Handpick the printer that gives you the best output and performance for your unique needs. Ask yourself these vital questions when making a decision.
- On a daily basis, how many cards are you creating, managing, and printing?
- Will your printer be dedicated to a single workstation or will multiple computers be connected to the printer? USB vs. Ethernet.
- Do you need to print on one side or on both sides? Choose between Single vs. Dual side printing.
- What kind of card are you creating? Employee ID Card? Membership Card? Access Control Security Card?
- Will you use your cards for door access or time and attendance tracking in the future?
- What kind of graphic elements do you need on the card? Logo, Text, Photo, Barcodes, QR Codes, Lamination with Holographic film applied on the card (to improve card security)
- Do you need ID Card Accessories or any product that would pair with your ID Card? Lanyards and pouches, a hook-up badge, a slot hole punch, consumables.
With several models to choose from, we have an ID card solution that’s just right for you. Call us on 1855 278 7532 to know more about the new line of printers, accessories, and consumables.
How to choose the best printer for your needs
Printing your ID badges, visitor passes, and membership cards in-house has great benefits – from added control and convenience to overall cost savings. But with so many choices and options available, how do you know which card printer is right for you? Before you begin to shop, read our top seven mistakes to avoid when buying an ID card printer. Sometimes knowing what NOT to do is just as important as knowing what TO do!
MISTAKE 1: Buy a printer based on price alon
We know your budget is important, but make sure you get a printer that will do the work your job requires. While an entry-level printer might be better on your budget now, printing a large quantity of cards on a low volume printer will overextend the machine, likely resulting in expensive repairs down the road.
Talk with your ID professional about what your cards need to do for you, including:
- How much information needs to be printed on your cards
- Will your cards need to store data in a mag stripe or smart chip?
- How many cards you expect to print
Start with equipment that best fits your needs to maximize your long-term investment and get the most out of your ID card program.
MISTAKE 2: Choose a printer that can’t keep up with you
Some printer models are better equipped to print larger volumes of cards than others. If you know you’ll be printing a high volume of cards, make sure your printer is up to the task.
One feature to look for in higher volume printers is the card capacity of its input and output hoppers.
Printers made for higher volume printing will generally have larger capacity ribbons and card hoppers, meaning you’ll spend less time refilling supplies and more time printing.
MISTAKE 3: Think only about your immediate needs
Before choosing a printer, consider the future goals for your ID card program.
- Will you use your cards for door access or time & attendance tracking in the future?
- What about printing on both sides of your cards rather than only one side?
- Will you consider laminating your cards for added durability or to extend the life of your cards?
If you know you’ll be expanding your card functionality in the future, choose a printer that can be easily upgraded.
Some card printers only require a special ribbon to upgrade to dual-sided printing. Other upgrades, like lamination, are available as “plug-and-play” modules. Talk to your ID Professional about upgrade options before you invest in a printer.
MISTAKE 4: Plan to print dual-sided cards with a single-sided printer
Can you print on one side of the card and manually flip your cards to print on the other side? Sure, but it’s not recommended.
Dirty hands, dust, debris, and even fingerprints can distort the images that are printed on the cards and, worse yet, damage the printhead. Printhead replacement can be very costly; new printheads typically cost several hundred dollars and may not be covered under a manufacturer’s warranty if damaged due to improper care.
Plan ahead, prevent costly repairs, and purchase a printer that can print on both sides of the card. It will lead to a longer life of the printer, save you time, and create less stress in the long run.
MISTAKE 5: Don’t consider card durability & quality
An average PVC card will last 3-5 years. If it is swiped through a magnetic stripe reader or exposed to the sun, its life is typically much shorter. There are two ways to extend the life of your cards:
- Laminate your cards. In plastic card printing, lamination is a clear protective layer that is applied over the top of your card by a printer with lamination capability.
- Print cards with a retransfer printer. Retransfer technology prints the image to a film that is heat rolled to the card surface resulting in a more durable print (with the added benefit of vibrant, over-the-edge printing).
MISTAKE 6: Buy a printer that can’t handle your security needs
While a retail membership card may not need to be very secure, an access card into a police department requires high security. Your security needs may require a specialized ID card printer.
A variety of visual security features can be added to cards. Some features can be added regardless of the type of printer you own, such as hand-applied peel-and-stick holographic seals.
Other security features require a special printer. For example, holographic laminate requires a laminating printer. To prevent unauthorized use, some printers offer password protection and locked access to cards and ribbons.
Secure your card printing program by investing in a printer that will protect your data and hardware.
MISTAKE 7: Forget to plan ahead for emergencies
Technology has certainly simplified our lives, but we also need to be prepared for the day it doesn’t work as it should. Even if you properly maintain your ID card printer, as the saying goes, nothing lasts forever.
Service programs offer peace of mind. Typically a full-service program costs a little more than half the cost of a backup printer and covers the cost of all repairs. Plus, they’re much cheaper than purchasing a backup printer. If you would be in a pinch without your printer for a week or two, you should also consider adding loaner coverage to reduce downtime.
BONUS MISTAKE! Choose a company that doesn’t offer technical support
ID card printers are specialized products. Make sure you work with a company that can help you if you have problems. Not all companies support the items they sell. Some companies will refer you to the manufacturer when you have issues which can be a hassle. Choose a company that offers in-house training and support so that you have easy access to expert advice when you need it.
Take these common mistakes into consideration to ensure you choose the best ID card printer for your current and future needs. You can also lean on the ID Professionals at ID Wholesaler. We ask the right questions to get to know you and your needs before we make recommendations. With this, you can be confident that you’ve made a wise investment.