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the following questions will help determine what features you need in your ID Card Printer. Or, you can contact us for a recommendation based on your needs. What type of interface do you need? Most ID card printers now come standard with a USB interface. Some modules offer a parallel interface along with USB and others offer USB with an Ethernet interface. Ethernet is available on several printers. Our Specialists can help you select a printer that provides the interface you need. What type of driver do you need? With some exceptions, all of our card printers solely support Microsoft Windows (typically Windows 2000 and XP) drivers. Windows Vista support is also becoming more common. If you are using a MAC and don’t want to use an emulation program, please contact our specialists to suggest the right printer model for you, contact us.
Do you need, or prefer to print color cards? Most printers will print a combination of color and monochrome (single color), but certain entry level models are capable of monochrome printing only. If you need to print full color logo or pictures, than you need color printer but if you only need to print data, such as serial numbers, names, etc\' a monochrome printer will do.
Will your cards be printed on one or two sides? Some printers are \'single-sided\', which means they can only print on one side of the card. Two-sided card printing is called ‘dual-sided’ or ‘duplex’. If you would like to print color and/or monochrome on both sides of your cards, you will want to select a card printer that is dual-side capable or duplex. Computer Guard Tip! A dual sided printer is more recommended if there are variable data on both side of the card if you need to print on both side but the variable data is only on one side, you might be settled for single sided printer and use it to print the fixed data on all of the cards and then turn the pack of cards to print the side with variable data.
Will your cards include a magnetic stripe? Magnetic stripes are the dark stripe that you might find on the back of your credit card or employee card. These stripes store data and are often used in Time and Attendance or Access Control applications. All of our printers offer an optional magnetic stripe encoder. Computer Guard Tip! it is most recommended to find out if you need a magnetic encoder in your printer before purchasing it, as not all of the models are field upgradeable when it comes to adding this option in the future, so consider adding magnetic encoding up-front or select a printer that is upgradeable to magnetic encoding in the future.
Will you need to encode smart cards? Contact smart cards have a memory chip embedded on the card surface. This chip can hold more information more securely than a magnetic stripe. Virtually not all printer models offer smart card contact stations as an option. Since most smart card contact stations cannot be added after the printer has been built, we suggest ordering this option up-front.
Will you need to print high volumes of cards per session and/or per year? If you plan to print thousands of cards per session or many thousands of cards per year, you’ll want to look for a printer that is built to sustain high volume printing. This printer should also include large input and output card hopper capacities (greater than 100 cards). Examples of such printers are the Fargo DTC550 and the Evolis Quantum.
How long do you need your cards to last? If your cards need to last longer, will be used outside, or will be subject to chemicals or abrasive contact, you will want to consider purchasing a printer that includes lamination capability. Lamination is generally a thick clear or holographic layer that covers the card surface, protecting the image and information that has been printed. If you select a lamination-capable printer, be sure to select composite PET/PVC cards rather than 100% PVC cards. Composite PET/PVC cards are designed to stand up to the heat generated by the lamination process.
Don\'t Forget to Consider Your Future Needs Even if you plan to use badges only for visual identification now, consider possible future applications. You may not have the need or the budget for a card system that includes magnetic stripe or smart card encoding today, but you may in the next couple of years. Several printer models offer in-field upgrades to magnetic stripe encoding, smart card encoding, and card lamination. Our Specialists will help ensure the system you buy today will be able to handle your growing needs.
For a no-obligation consultation about selecting the right card printer, contact us. |