Before choosing an ID card printer, it helps to assess your current and future card printing needs. Use this guide and infographic to review the top three card printing factors at-a-glance.
1. Estimate Your Card Printing Volume
For best results, consider how many cards you’ll print per session and per year, on average.
- < 1,000 annually = Small batch/Low volume printing
- 1,000 to 5,000 annually = Medium batch/Standard volume printing
- > 5,000 annually = Large batch/High volume printing
2. Determine Your Card Appearance Needs
Determining your card appearance needs involves deciding on single- or dual-sided card printing, full- or single-color printing, and desired image quality.
Single-Sided Printing
- Can print on both sides if desired, but must run through twice. Works best if cards have fixed data on one side.
- Some single-sided printers are upgradeable to dual-sided printing after initial purchase, but upgrade may cost more than dual-sided machine
Dual-Sided Printing
- Dual-sided capability can cost approximately $600 to $1,000 more at initial purchase
- Used for collating front/back ID data on cards
Monochrome (Single) Color
- Less costly; typically used in specialized situations, such as integrating with a mainframe system
- Also works well when using color ID cards, for example silver printing on a black ID card
- Other than cost-savings and card design, there are no significant advantages to using a monochrome card printer
Full Color
- Higher cost, but the most versatile and practical long-term choice
- Any color printer can also use monochrome ribbons to print single-color images
Edge-to-Edge Photo Quality – Direct-to-Card Printers
- Direct dye sublimation process uses thermal print head to transfer color from ribbon to card
- Uses standard ribbon supplies
- Prints photo-realistic colors, but images will have slight borders
- Many of these cards look as good as borderless
- Entry-level printers generally have lower print quality than professional-class printers
Borderless High Quality – Retransfer Printers
- Best if image quality is primary concern
- High-tech printing process
- Requires extra retransfer ribbon
- Offers higher durability and tamper resistant cards
- Offers high-quality printing on uneven surfaces
- Eliminates borders
- More costly and slower to print
3. Determine the Level of Security Needed
Basic Visual Security – ID Card
- For basic visual identification
- Often includes a simple 1-D barcode that can be scanned
- Can be printed on lower-cost, entry-level printers
- Printed on standard pvc card stock in CR80 size
- Perfect for loyalty cards, membership cards, basic student IDs and gift cards
Low Security – Magnetic Stripe Cards
- Nearly all card printers can be purchased with optional magnetic stripe encoding
- Magnetic stripe – or swipe cards – can be read by any card reader
- Versatile – common uses include: Time and attendance systems, secure access, loyalty or gift cards, membership cards, hotel room keys, and more
- Magnetic-stripe cards are not much more expensive than plain plastic card stock
Medium Security – Access (Smart) Cards
- For even higher security needs, optional smart card technology can be added to some card printers to allow more advanced or detailed information to be stored directly on cards
- Used for contactless access control, using proximity or smart cards
- Professional-class printers with smart card encoders must be used
- Great for access control cards and kiosk payment cards
High Card Security – Lamination
- Extends life expectancy for all cards
- Allows added security features such as holographic images and added security layers such as ultraviolet images
- Often used for high-security facility identification in the public and private sectors
- Laminator functionality typically increases printer cost by several thousand dollars
- Requires use of composite card stock, rather than standard PVC card stock
- Custom holographs can be customized for highest security by either using customized laminating ribbons or card stock
How-to Series: Choosing an ID Card Printer
Want to learn more? Check out these other posts in our How to Choose series:
- Choosing an ID Card Printer – Introduction
- Choosing an ID Card Printer – Top 3 Factors At a Glance
- Choosing an ID Card Printer – Part 1: Card Printing Volume
- Choosing an ID Card Printer – Part 2: Desired Card Appearance
- Choosing an ID Card Printer – Part 3: Security Options
- Infographic: How to Choose an ID Card Printer
- Video: What to Look for when Buying an ID Card Printer
- Bonus – Expert Reviews of Top Printer Brands & Models
Questions?
Find more answers here or contact our expert sales staff at (877) 868-0012 or [email protected] for help choosing the best ID printer to fit your needs.