Category

Plastic cards

May 11
0

Zebra Id Card Printers Overview

By | ID Cards | No Comments

If you are looking for a printer that is “made in the USA”, Zebra has the solution for you.  This Illinois based corporation distributes its products in almost 100 countries but keeps its manufacturing base close to home.  The company’s dye sublimation ID card printers are part of a much larger product line including bar coding, labeling and RFID tagging technology.  This widely recognized brand is used by a stunning 90% of the companies featured on the Fortune 500 list and is a rapidly expanding supply chain innovator.

Each Zebra machine can print both monochrome and full color on PVC or composite card stock.  These units can be supplied with 3 track mag stripe encoders and they offer a two year warranty on all equipment.  Some models offer warranty upgrades which include an extended coverage period and a hot-swap program designed to keep your ID enrollment program rolling with minimum downtime in case of component failure.  The entire range of Zebra machines is priced to sell in a tough economic climate so you don’t have to wait for a market upturn to invest in a unit for your office.

P110i and P120i

These 10 pound desk top models can handle entry level and mid volume jobs for corporations, resorts, schools, and many other industries.  The 110i prints single sided cards and the 120i covers the front and back for more design options.  Both models can be equipped with automatic continuous feed hoppers or CardSense one-at-a-time feeders depending on your need to print bulk cards or single units.  Monochrome ribbons are available for purchase in black, blue, and white so you can print on a variety of card stock colors and still have text appear clearly.

Training is quick and easy on these intuitively designed systems and this will save you significant time during the learning process.  User friendly features include the LCD screen (which provides informational prompts), the drop-in ribbon cartridge design, and the blue touch points that let operators know which sections open up for access to the equipment’s interior.  Even printhead replacement is straightforward on the P120i since no tools are required.

P330i and P430i

The 330i is a high speed single sided printer that introduces an angled card hopper design specifically created to reduce mis-feeds.  The 430i dual sided unit also has a reject bin that automatically segregates any cards that failed to encode correctly – allowing you to catch errors before you distribute the final product to customers or employees.  Both of these models can be formatted to incorporate the latest in pass-through encoding options for contact and contactless smart chips.  The built in Ethernet also allows you to connect these printers to your existing computer network without a supplemental device.

Since the 330i and 430i can process a variety of card thicknesses, you have the unique opportunity to print your company business cards on durable 10 mil PVC to create long lasting advertising.  The print head is self aligning for maximum image clarity and Zebra’s dye sublimation ribbons are designed to give you brilliant color.  Making a visual impact with your card printer has never been easier.

May 11
0

The Best Choices for Id Card Printers

By | ID Cards | No Comments

When you are responsible for making ID badges and making sure that they are readable to anyone who needs to see it, you have to make sure that what you purchase is of good quality. You will also need to understand what an ID card printer is and what it can do to help your company.

ID card printers are available for a variety of uses and just like other printers they have more functions than those of printing. Think about the ID cards that you have seen around different businesses. Most of them have a magnetic strip these days that keep information about the employee embedded in it. Part of what the printer does is to encode this information into the magnetic strip on the back.

This magnetic strip must say that the individual is a part of the company and in many cases it keeps the data as to where the individual goes throughout the day. This means that the data must be kept somewhere and generally this is the job of the preinstalled software that comes with the printer.

Any printer you purchase will have a variety of options and functions but you may not need everything that it offers. As an example, some ID cards will not need a magnetic strip. Some of the clubs, temporary programs and conventions may not need this extra strip so you would not need to have this function on your printer. You might only need a single sided printer.

There are a couple of things to consider though when you do decide on a printer. Some ID cards need a double sided printer because they want not only the picture and the name of the individual but you may need other information that won’t fit on the face of the card. In this case your ID card printer would have to print on both sides in order for it to be effective.

The type of printing you need will also determine the printer that you choose. As an example, if you are printing proximity cards, or using smart cards your printer will have more features than someone who only needs an ID card with a picture and the person’s name. Another question is whether you need a hologram on the front of the card as well.

These more advanced ID card printers work on radio frequency in order to give you the information you need for higher security needs. You will need to make sure that this extra encoding is available on the printer you choose.

Another thing to take into consideration is whether you need just one color (monochromatic) or several colors on your card. Some businesses have a certain logo they need put on the card which would lead to a possible custom job — in other words it may be more than your printer can do.

Once you have taken a look at all the printers and you understand your needs, it is a good idea to make sure the printer is user friendly for anyone who is gong to use it.

May 11
0

Everything You Need to Print Your Own Plastic Cards

By | ID Cards | No Comments

Are you planning to print your own plastic cards or ID cards? There are many different scenarios in which you may need to print your own cards. Maybe you need the cards for school or for a small business you own. Have you been paying another company to print your ID cards for you? If so, then you probably already know how expensive this process can be. It’s also challenging to get the cards printed exactly how you want them.  It can be a frustrating process if the cards turn out to be wrong or with even a small mistake. Even if you get the mistakes corrected free of cost, you will have to wait all over again to have them reprinted and mailed out.

If you learn to print your own plastic cards, you can take a great deal of this stress and pressure out of the process.  When you print them yourself, you can have direct control over your cards, what they look like, their size and more. If you print one and it doesn’t come out right, you can go immediately back to your machine and just try again.

Card Printer Hardware

Printing ID cards with your own card printer doesn’t have to be difficult. It connects to your computer just like your paper printer and will print out the same way except instead of printing on paper, it prints your image on plastic cards.

If you’re going to print your own plastic cards, there are certain pieces of hardware you’re going to need to do the job correctly. Here is an overview:

Ribbons

Just like your paper printer needs ink ribbons or ink cartridges, so will your card printer. Card printer ribbons are made specifically for printing on cards and will get the job done right so that you can have professional quality cards, printed right in your own home or office.

Laminates

Laminating is very important to protect the card, especially with ID cards or badges that get used on a daily basis. There are different ways of achieving lamination but one of the easiest is purchasing laminates which fit over the cards like sleeves and will protect them and make them last longer.

Cleaning Kits

Proper maintenance is very important to keep your card printer working properly and for a long time. To get the most from your machine, you will want to purchase cleaning kits to keep it operating at top performance.

PVC Cards

You can purchase PVC cards for printing on. There are many different styles, colors and qualities to choose from, but you have freedom in finding the perfect ones for your needs.

These are just a few of the main pieces of card printer hardware you will need for printing your own perfect cards. However, this is not an exhaustive list and there are many other products that can make your job even easier or help you add other touches and details to your printed cards.  This includes things such as holograms and more.

Benefits to Printing Your Own Plastic Cards

If you aren’t already convinced that printing your own cards is the way to go, it’s time to consider the cost benefits. Who doesn’t like to save money? So why spend more money that you have to? It just doesn’t make sense. Common sense tells you that if there is a cheaper, better way, you should act on it.

If you’re printing membership cards, ID cards or other plastic cards, printing them yourself can be faster, less expensive and easier once you learn how. Here are some of the benefits to doing it yourself:

-The cost per card is less expensive
-No penalties if you only need a small number of cards at a time
-You can change designs any time you want to
-You don’t have to wait 2-6 weeks for your printed cards to arrive
-You have quality control and can quickly fix any mistakes to your cards
-You have complete control over the printing process and are not limited by a company’s policies

As you can see, the benefits clearly outweigh the cons in a case like this.

Let’s take a look at the numbers:

Full color printing through a company can cost you $0.75 – $2.00
per card and single color printing through a card printing company can cost the same. However, if you print yourself, you’re looking at $0.35 – $0.38 per card for full color printing and $0.07 – $0.08 per card for single color printing. That’s a whopping cost difference!  Anyway, for large factory like www.plasticcardonline.com, they provide a much lower price, but most company is still too expensive.

This is just the per-card cost savings. We haven’t even mentioned what you will save on shipping as well as the fact that you can print as much or as little as you want without any penalties. With many commercial card printing companies, you must have a minimum order (often in the thousands) or you will be charged an additional service fee. What about the person who doesn’t need thousands of cards printed at once?

But as we mentioned, it’s not all about the money. You have the benefit of complete control over your card quality, printing time and any necessary changes.

For the Small Scale Printer

If you tend to need only a small number of cards printed at once then it’s simply not cost effective for you to outsource your printing needs. If you are a small business who needs to print plastic cards for your employees, you won’t benefit from outsourcing your card printing needs either.

When you print the cards yourself with your own plastic card printer, it may take past the first couple of prints to really start to see a good return on investment, but once you do, it will be well worth it. In the long run, you can benefit financially from your own card printer and you can feel satisfied with the professional quality of each card printed.

May 11
0

PVC ID Card FAQ

By | ID Cards | No Comments

What is there to know about PVC ID Cards

Quite a bit. PVC ID Cards are the top end of the ID Card Industry, and there are many different things to consider when choosing your PVC ID Cards or Printer.

PVC ID Cards for Photo ID’s should be “Video Grade Cards”. Video Grade refers to very stringent processes & controls during production & packaging. Many inexpensive PVC ID cards may not be Video Grade.

Why should I care about Video Grade ID Cards

Video Grade ID cards have good quality surfaces, with excess material removed after the cutting process. Excess material & imperfections on the card surface will cause print defects and may damage the expensive Print Head of your ID Card Printer.

What thickness of PVC ID Card do I need?

PVC ID Cards are available in 10mil, 14mil, 20 mil, 24mil, 30mil & 40 mil. Select the thickness to suit your needs. The standard thickness of ID Cards is 30mil, about the same as a standard Credit Card. Thinner cards are often used with an adhesive back which is then applied to another card (Proximity Card) which enables the re-use of the more expensive chip card.

Our organization hase very high ID Card breakages, what options do we have?

Your ID Card options include Composite & Polycarbonate ID Cards.

Composite ID cards are high durability cards made with a 40% Polyester core & glossy PVC top & bottom. These cards are suitable for any application where a high breakage rate occurs.

May 08
0

Plastic Business Card and Pvc Card Printing, a Rapidly Growing Industry That Needs Attention

By | Business Cards | No Comments

Business cards are your business identity, and choosing the right card can not only leave a long lasting impression on your existing and potential clients, but it also can product job opportunities for thousands of people worldwide.

In the past years, PVC Card printing and Plastic business cards industry have growth more than ordinary paper card printing businesses. Plastic Business Cards create a high value image and expensive appearance at a very affordable cost. Your custom, full color, plastic business card is more likely to be retained by a client or customer because people say it is difficult to dispose away something so impressive.

The plastic business cards are the same size as a standard credit card and feature a durable, brilliant finish with die-cut rounded corners for a polished appearance and durability. Because of several newly developed manufacturing methods, beautiful cards with stunning graphics can be produced in quantities as low as 250 for as little as hundred dollars with overnight deliveries.

You can easily order your custom plastic business cards with our most popular printers now by visiting a local directory.

PVC cards are an attractive choice for printing ID cards quickly and economically. Print captured images directly onto the plastic cards with superb color reproduction. Magnetic encoding or two-dimensional bar codes printed onto the PVC cards provide data entry and tracking. This provides for a secure way for information exchange, while keeping it as handy as possible, which means less hassle, more productivity and more dependability for the work you do.

Most PVC Cards use thin film protection, which means your card will last longer, and will be safe from water, dust, or any other problems.

May 08
0

Card Printing Solutions to Consider for Your Organization

By | ID Cards | No Comments

Technology now offers you many printing ID systems and just as many card printing solutions. Whether you need to print photo ID or some other form of identification, there are many card printing solutions to consider.

There are several different types of printable plastic cards. Companies like Fargo, Datacard, Zebra, and Magicard all have a reputation for quality plastic cards. With more than 3 million identification cards printed every day, you can quickly see that this is really a new way of doing business.

Bank Cards

You can print on-demand bank cards right at your branch providing improved customer service. You can improve it even more by producing debit cards, credit cards, and ATM cards, then making them available for immediate use.

Driver’s Licenses

Government agencies around the world must print driver’s licenses, as they want a top notch product. This is why there are printers designed specifically for driver’s license printing.

Employee ID

Organizations require employee ID to help identify people, monitor production, and control access to areas. You want your employees as secure as your intellectual property. You can create personalized ID cards for your employees, the professional teams in your organization, for access control, and a host of other reasons.

Loyalty Cards

Loyalty cards have become very popular with businesses that want to reward their regular customers for their continued business. It’s a great way to set you apart from the competition. There are many different types of loyalty cards and you can decide what type you’d like to offer.

Membership Cards

Your members are your best asset and just as you want to set your business apart from the rest you should make sure your membership cards set you apart from the rest too. In-house card printing makes it easy for you to do just that. You can add security and value to your membership by printing cards that are personalized have the member’s name, and even a photo of your members. By printing barcodes you can keep the members personal information confidential. And if you want you can have expiration dates and balances in the printed barcode.

Government ID

There are all kinds of Government divisions with some that require some type of photo ID for most employees and others which require security identification cards for their security systems. Governments also provide all kinds of identification to citizens such as with healthcare cards or social security cards.

High Level Security ID

All high level security printed photo IDs are protected from counterfeiting, duplication, forgery, and alteration. And you can add the type of security that’s required from microchips for identification to systems that will open secure doors. There are many corporations that require high level security such as Homeland Security, research facilities, and hospitals.

Student Identification

The campus of today is far more secure than the past. Today’s student ID card can do a whole lot more than just identify a student. It can be encoded with all kinds of student information including medical conditions, library cards, and even class registrations.

Smart Cards

This type of card can be used by many different companies and organizations and it offers a great deal of functionality and security. Smart cards provide security, convenience, and portability. For example, ATM cards are an excellent example of a smart card.

With so many different card printing solutions there’s something to meet the needs of all companies and organizations. While deciding on the right solution for your organization you should consider the following.

Security – What type of security do you need? Different types of organizations and events require different security levels. Each business has their own unique needs so you will need to determine what it is you require in this area.

Integration – You will need to determine how you will need to integrate your new card printing system into other areas of your company or organization. You can always get the experts in the field of integration to give your organization a hand in providing a seamless system.

Functionality – There are several different card printers on the market and you will need to evaluate for the functionality you require. The professionals that offer these products to the market are experts in their product line so be sure to utilize this expertise.

Card Issuance – Issuing cards in-house is great but the security of these cards is only as good as the card printing system you implement which is why it’s important for you to know and understand the various levels of security associated with the equipment.

There are many different card printing solutions available. That means your organization should consider what it is they want to do, and how they would like to do it. Only then they can make the right choice.

May 08
0

6 Questions to Ask When Purchasing an Id Card Printer

By | ID Cards | No Comments

Everyday business owners decide that the time is right to implement their own internal ID card printing system; and each time the same question arises – what is the right ID card printer? Here are 6 Questions you should have the answers to before purchasing an ID card printer.

1. Do you need to print on both sides of your photo ID card?

If you answered yes, you will need to purchase a dual-sided printer. This will allow you to add information on both the front and the back of the card. There are all kinds of excellent dual ID card printers on the market. The disadvantage to this type of printer is it costs more and this type of printing takes more time.

2. Do you need to print monochrome or color cards?

Monochrome printing uses only black ink, so it is much cheaper. It’s also a lot faster, taking only around 5 seconds per card. Color printing lets you create eye catching color cards, and it also allows for very realistic photos on you photo ID cards. The disadvantage is that color printing costs more.

3. Do you need your cards to be smart?

Today’s market provides you with all kinds of different photo ID cards to choose from, including smart ones. The smart card is able to store all kinds of information on the magnetic strip or bar code. The information is encoded on smart chips, making them popular in situations where security is an issue. For example, smart cards are a good choice if you need your employees to sign in or sign out of secure facilities.

4. Do your cards need to be secure?

There is a great deal of effort that goes into making a card as secure as possible. A members card for a local retail store might not have to be very secure, but a restricted area in a laboratory will likely require a great deal of security. You’ll need to take inventory of what it is you need your cards to do, and then you’ll know what features to look for in a printer. All the top manufacturers offer mag stripe encoders, and smart card encoders. If you need to laminate your card you need a photo ID printer with a special station.  So consider this when you are looking

5. How many cards do you need to print every year?

The average printer can print around 30,000 cards per year, which is adequate for most. If you need to print more cards you will need to choose a printer that is designed for higher volume.

6. What is the life expectancy you want from your photo ID cards?

Abrasive activities from swiping the card in high usage situations, can wear them out quickly. Average usage will see a PVC card last 1 to 2 years, while high use could easily cut the life expectancy of these cards in half.

You can extend the life of your cards using overlays or lamination. An overlay is an additional panel on the printer ribbon, which gets laid down on the top of the card. This extends card life by a year. Lamination applies a vinyl coating on both sides of the card. It is applied using heat and pressure. There are different thicknesses of lamination to choose from. In general, laminating adds 4 to 5 years to the life of your card. These options might increase your initial costs, but overall are more likely to reduce your costs in situations of high use.

Once you know the answer to these 6 questions, you will have a much better understanding of the type of ID card printer you need. There are many excellent printers on the market, making choosing right printer that much easier. Successful businesses recognize opportunities that will reduce costs and increase profits. Printing your own photo ID cards will do just that.

May 04
0

What is a smart card?

By | Smart Cards | No Comments

A smart card resembles a credit card in size and shape, but inside it is completely different. First of all, it has an inside — a normal credit card is a simple piece of plastic. The inside of a smart card usually contains an embedded microprocessor. The microprocessor is under a gold contact pad on one side of the card. Think of the microprocessor as replacing the usual magnetic stripe on a credit card or debit card.

Smart cards are much more popular in Europe than in the United States. In Europe, the health insurance and banking industries use smart cards extensively. Every German citizen has a smart card for health insurance. Even though smart cards have been around in their modern form for at least a decade, they are just starting to take off in the United States.

Magnetic stripe technology remains in wide use in the United States. However, the data on the stripe can easily be read, written, deleted or changed with off-the-shelf equipment. Therefore, the stripe is really not the best place to store sensitive information. To protect the consumer, businesses in the U.S. have invested in extensive online mainframe-based computer networks for verification and processing. In Europe, such an infrastructure did not develop — instead, the card carries the intelligence.

The microprocessor on the smart card is there for security. The host computer and card reader actually “talk” to the microprocessor. The microprocessor enforces access to the data on the card. If the host computer read and wrote the smart card’s random access memory (RAM), it would be no different than a diskette.

Smarts cards may have up to 8 kilobytes of RAM, 346 kilobytes of ROM, 256 kilobytes of programmable ROM, and a 16-bit microprocessor. The smart card uses a serial interface and receives its power from external sources like a card reader. The processor uses a limited instruction set for applications such as cryptography.

The most common smart card applications are:

* Credit cards

* Electronic cash

* Computer security systems

* Wireless communication

* Loyalty systems (like frequent flyer points)

* Banking

* Satellite TV

* Government identification

Smart cards can be used with a smart-card reader attachment to a personal computer to authenticate a user. Web browsers also can use smart card technology to supplement Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) for improved security of Internet transactions.

Apr 27
0

Save money , live better!

By | ID Cards | No Comments

Having your plastic identification cards made by a printing company can be very expensive. If you represent a company who is not concerned about saving money than please ignore this information. However, if you are representing a business and your success or failure depends on every dollar you can save, than hop aboard and hang on. Even if you are a student that only needs to make a few cards at a time for school, this is news you will want to hear. The bottom line is that by printing your own plastic cards you will save money.

Most of your commercial printing companies require bulk orders, sometimes up into the thousands. By printing your own cards, you have the option of printing only the amount of cards that you need. Once you learn how to make your own plastic cards, it will be easier, faster and without a doubt, less expensive. In addition, by making your own cards you avoid any penalties or fees for small orders. You will have the control over your own designs. You can change them anytime you wish with out any hassle. You will also eliminate the waiting period, which can be weeks with some companies.

You are immediately empowered with on the spot quality control when you are making your own cards. If a company makes a mistake, most of the time they will take care of the cost, but you still have to wait even longer to get your product. All of this stress can be avoided. You do not have to be tied down to other companies polices. You can control your own printing process. By making your own cards you will save an amazing amount of money on a per card basis. In addition to all of this you will not be paying shipping costs anymore.

Any business must be cost effective. Everyone wants to save money. It does not matter if you are a student or a small business owner. Make your own cards and you will get better through trial and error. In the end you will reap the rewards. It is not as hard as you might think to make your own plastic cards. You can purchase a card printer and connect it to your computer just like a paper printer. Of course you will need a card ribbon instead of a paper ribbon to ensure absolute quality. Badge software and the correct attachments to wear or carry the badge are other items you may need to have a successful badge printing setup.

If you have an eye for detail and actually feel more comfortable when you have your fingers on the controls, then making your own plastic cards is the way to go. You will get that control and save a bundle of money as well.

Apr 27
0

Giving Your Business Card The Right Feel

By | Die Cut Cards | No Comments

Many people approach the design of a business card as a simple task, related only with visual arrangement of the elements of the card. This is wrong, however, as there is much more to the design of a successful business card – it has to hold a few key elements, and also combine them in an appropriate way, in order to create the complete card as something outstanding and different from the competition. Die cut business cards can be seen as tiny masterpieces of design, incorporating many elements of creativity.

One important aspect of your card, which isn’t directly related to its look, is it’s physical feeling. If your card not only looks good, but brings a pleasant sensation to whoever’s holding it, it will create a much more positive impression. This can be easily achieved by using appropriate materials, and sometimes inks (depending on what you’re planning to put on your card). Generally, you can put pretty much every popular material to a good use, as long as it’s properly worked into the design of your card. Making your rounded corner business card out of transparent plastic, or wood, can enhance that feeling and deliver a nice finishing touch to the card.

Of course, we can’t forget the visuals, no matter how much we wish to concentrate on other aspects. You need to give your cards a proper look that mixes well with your choice of material. Calmer colours, as well as pure black, can fit well on a wooden card. For the transparent plastic design, try something different and wackier – bright colours in the red and yellow tones, combining and swirling around to create interesting patterns. Though you have to be careful with overdoing it – you don’t want your card to look like a smudgy mess, do you?