HID Global’s new line of Fargo printers just became available on our website, including the DTC1000, DTC4000, and DTC4500. I thought I would take a minute to talk about the features of the Fargo DTC4500.

When compared to the DTC550, the first glaring difference is reduction in time to print, down eight seconds to 24 seconds per single sided card. Whether you print in high volume or low, this will reduce your total time spent on creating ID badges and allow you to move on to more important tasks.

The second major difference is that the DTC4500 is a cartridge load machine. This means no more wasted time trying to figure out the ribbon spool and if you put it in correctly. Cartridge load machines have few ribbon feed errors overall as well.

Another great improvement, ethernet comes standard. This adds the flexibility to send print jobs from different locations within your organization without the hassle of having to be right in front of the printer itself. Along with ethernet, the printer includes very elementary badging software, Swift ID, embedded within the print server. This is great for low volume users who want to save a little bit of money. It is not recommended for mid to high volume printing or if you want to keep a database of the cards you have created.

Lastly the DTC4500 is lighter and more compact with a sleeker design adding more aesthetic value to your office space. With the new design the DTC4500 now offers the lamination option stacked on top, instead of side by side, helping reduce the amount of space needed to operate the printer. There are some things that have not changed, however, like the great print quality and dependability of a Fargo machine.

The DTC4500 – same great Fargo quality, now with faster production and a new look. So if you are in the market to replace an old ID card printer or are looking to add one to your arsenal of office supplies, give ID Wholesaler a call and ask about the DTC4500.

Till next time readers, have a great day.

Written by Derek Gunderson on September 1st, 2010 | Tags: DTC4500, Fargo | Category: ID Card Printers | Leave a comment

Take a photo, save it to your computer, cut and crop the photo, resave it, and then upload the photo into your ID card software… ah, the process of taking a photo ID. Imagine if your computer could do some of these steps for you. Is this possible? Yes, with the help of a TWAIN driver!

In a photo ID system, a TWAIN driver allows your ID camera to talk to your ID software. It saves you time by streamlining the photo ID process.

Want to upgrade to a TWAIN driver? Check out the Canon Rebel XS Camera with TWAIN Driver and Face Finder. This camera comes with a TWAIN driver that will give you a live feed onto your computer screen of what the camera is seeing. It allows you to take the photo while sitting at your computer with the click of your mouse. It also “finds the face” of the person in the photo and will automatically cut, crop, and place the photo into your ID card software. It’s that easy!

Want more information on how you can save time with a TWAIN driver? Contact an ID expert at (800)321-4405.

Written by Kate Rafko on August 27th, 2010 | Tags: Cameras, TWAIN Driver | Category: ID Card Software | Leave a comment

Many companies and organizations use proximity cards for their access control system as well as IDs for employees. These cards have an antenna embedded into the card, so if you’re considering using a slot punch you will need to be sure to punch the slot in the correct spot on the card so as not to damage the antenna or chip. If the antenna is damaged, your proximity card will not work. Since these cards can cost anywhere from $3 to $8+ per card, it’d be a waste to damage these cards because of a mistake that can be easily avoided!

As an alternative to punching a slot in the card and potentially damaging the integrity of the card, why not use an attachment known as a gripper? Gripper attachments do just as the name implies – they grip the cards using a friction fit. They can hold cards with up to 5 lbs of vertical force and greater than 5 lbs of horizontal force.

Grippers are an economical, stand alone device that can be added to nearly any existing attachment including badge reels, lanyards, and strap clips. You can even customize the grippers with your logo, tag line, or other graphics. Available in black or white, consider the gripper for use with your ID cards!

Written by Beth Campbell on August 25th, 2010 | Tags: Badge Accessories, Proximity Card | Category: ID Badge Accessories | Leave a comment

With just one week left in August, schools across the country are preparing to kickoff the 2010-2011 school year – which means that it is also time to issue student, staff, and faculty ID badges. Today’s technology allows photo IDs to be multi-purpose cards. In addition to identification, there are many ways ID badges can be used in schools.

A school photo ID card can help you:

• Clearly identify students, faculty, and visitors at a glance
• Store student information such as class schedules, emergency contact information, medications, and allergies
• Allow students to use a pre-paid debit card for food service and vending machine purchases (no cash to deal with means faster serving lines)
• Track attendance to school and special events
• Manage library and/or equipment checkout
• Access computers and other technology
• Verify school bus access
• Monitor and control who has access to specific areas of the school and the school itself
• Motivate students to achieve academic success

Added Security
On the security front, there are many features you can add to your school ID badges to improve safety and security. A basic level of security can be incorporated into your cards within its design. Rather than a photo on a plain white background consider using custom imagery. To easily distinguish between students, faculty, and staff, incorporate a color-coding system into your cards (for example, add a blue bar to indicate faculty, a green bar to indicate students, and a black bar to indicate administration). Additionally, design your visitor badges with an entirely different look so that visitor status is evident from a distance.

More advanced visual verification techniques include holographic foils and overlaminates which can be either embedded in your cards or applied onto the cards. Holograms considerably increase your card’s protection against fraudulent duplication. Holographic foils can be hand applied or, for even greater security, embedded below the card’s surface. Likewise, holographic overlaminates can contain standard designs or a custom hologram for the ultimate in security.

To learn more about how your school can multi-purpose its ID badges or add security features, contact an ID expert at (800)321-4405.

Written by Kate Rafko on August 23rd, 2010 | Tags: Education | Category: Helpful Tips & Support | Leave a comment

The Fargo C30e is all about simple, reliable, and affordable ID card printing. It has received an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from ID Wholesaler customers. In a product review, Randy from Nixa, MO reported that although he was “new to id card printing, this printer was extremely easy to understand and get set-up. [He] was printing IDs within an hour of it arriving.”

It’s no wonder that the Fargo Persona C30e has become one of our top-selling printers!

It’s Versatile
The C30e features color printing enhancements that provide true-to-life photos and sharp text. It is ready to print on a wide range of card stocks, including thin cards, rewriteable cards, technology cards, and holographic foil cards.

It Saves You Time
The C30e uses an easy-loading, all-in-one ribbon cartridge to eliminate the aggravation and expense of torn, wasted ribbons. Simply open the front panel, slide in the ribbon cartridge and close the panel! And since the card cleaning roller is part of the printer’s ribbon cartridge, it is automatically changed every time the ribbon is changed, removing potentially damaging dust and debris from your cards.

It’s Customizable
The C30e is available in a single-sided or duplex (two-sided) printing version. It can be ordered ready for ethernet so that you can share your card personalization application over your network. You may also choose to add magnetic stripe or smart card encoding to create multi-functional ID cards. Your C30e printer can be ordered with encoding options or they can be field-installed whenever the need arises.

In short, the C30e is:

• Simple, reliable, and affordable
• Easy loading with an all-in-one ribbon cartridge
• Available with connectivity, lamination, and smartcard encoding options
• Easily upgradable to magnetic stripe and smartcard encoding

Find out if the C30e is the right printer for you by calling our ID experts at (800)321-4405 today!

Written by Kate Rafko on August 20th, 2010 | Tags: C30e | Category: ID Card Printers | Leave a comment

As I was eating lunch at Subway yesterday, an employee of a well known multi-million dollar company walked in and waited in line. I noticed he had an ID badge clipped to his belt loop. His photo ID card was terrible – his picture was dark and grainy, the elements on the card were out of balance, and it definitely didn’t reflect the success of the company in a positive way. Why do companies demand excellence from their employees but settle for mediocrity in regard to their photo ID cards?

What about your ID cards? Are the text and graphics balanced properly on the card? Do your photos look dark and grainy or bright and cheery? Are you using a cheap webcam to take employee pictures, or do you have a good digital camera with a TWAIN driver? Are you ok with the white border that is around the edge of your cards, or would you prefer a “full bleed” over-the-edge printing process? Or, how about this question: do you wear your ID card because you have to, or because you want to? Frankly, I’m proud of the company I work for and I expect my ID card to reflect that pride. I wouldn’t want a generic looking ID card any more than I would want to place a generic looking advertisement in a magazine.

If any of the frustrations I mentioned above resonate with you, maybe it’s time to upgrade your card printer and/or ID camera. Or, maybe it’s time to purchase an hour of phone training so you can learn about the full design functionality of your ID card software. Whatever route you choose, we are here to help pull you out of mediocrity and into vibrant, balanced, professional-looking ID cards.

Written by Jeff Berger on August 18th, 2010 | Tags: ID Card Design | Category: Helpful Tips & Support | Leave a comment

Magnetic badge accessories and holders allow you to securely hold the badge to shirt pockets and belts without using clips or pins. ID Wholesaler offers magnetic badge holders  and attachments.

Here are a few ideas and recommendations directly from customers who have used these products…

The Shielded Magnetic Badge Holder features a sleeve for inserting your badge and a build-in magnet to attaching to clothing. JC@MrRooter from Baldwin Park CA says that it is “great in the field… long lasting, stays on the shirt” and “is a long lasting product and stays on our plumbers’ shirts in the field.”

The MagnaDisc Magnetic Badge Attachment contains one zinc-plated steel encased disc with one round magnet and one steel disc with adhesive foam tape. Sandra the HR Assistant Extraordinaire reports that “these little dots are great for quick attachment to uniforms. They also allow room on the back of the id for information to be printed…doesn’t take up too much room on the id itself.”

The MagnaBadge Badge Attachment is another popular item. It features a nickel-plated steel plate with two round magnets and one zinc plated steel plate with an adhesive foam pad and peel-away liner.

GWG776 from Hendersonville, NC reports: “Great magnet. Holds well for our staff that are interacting and playing with children.” Tom the Print Man from Davenport, Iowa says that he “used for badges and lately used to hang signs at trade shows.”

Carolyn S. from Pueblo, CO says, “I have ordered these magnets for the last 2 years. We prefer magnets to the pins that are on our nametags. The pins will ruin shirts. These magnets are VERY strong. They really hold the nametag to your shirt. Our guys in maintenance have no problems keeping their nametags on even during rough and tumble tasks. I recommend these magnets to everyone in our national franchise business.”

Contact ID Wholesaler at (800)321-4405  if you need help finding a magnetic badge holder or attachment for your employee ID badges!

Written by Kate Rafko on August 16th, 2010 | Tags: Badge Accessories, Badge Holders | Category: ID Badge Accessories | Leave a comment

New and experienced users alike can benefit from the ID software and hardware training we offer for our customers.  When starting an ID card program at your company or organization it is a good idea to utilize an hour or two of training with our technical team for many reasons.  After training, you will be better equipped with know-how to fully utilize your new ID card template design software to the fullest.  Whether it is basic card template designs or a topic more intricate like databases or barcode creation, we are here to help.

The training takes place via phone with one of our tech team members.  Via a screen-share program, we will take control of your computer and walk you through the steps that you want assistance.  You may have as many individuals present on your end to participate and learn during the training session. This is ideal as many organizations wish to have multiple people familiar with the printer.

Training is offered for a $150 hourly rate. It is an easy and painless way to get up and printing confidently with your new equipment – and lets face it, $150 is inexpensive when it comes to any type of software training.

For more information about training, call us at (800)321-4405.

Written by Brent Hascall on August 13th, 2010 | Tags: Training | Category: Helpful Tips & Support | Leave a comment

When the words “ID Wholesaler” and “rescue” are used in the same sentence, it’s usually because we put together a photo ID system for a company with a limited budget or completed a rush order on desperately needed ID supplies. Yesterday, however, things got a little quacky. Ten ducklings were discovered in the storm drain in our company parking lot – so, ID Wholesaler to the rescue!

After clearing the rescue with the city of Chanhassen, Chris Penn, Vice President of Sales and Marketing (and honorary member of the Duck Rescue Squad), offered to enter the storm drain to bring the ducklings to safety. Afterward, the cute little ducklings were reunited with their mother by the pond across the street, feathers unruffled. They are probably still quacking about their adventures. See photos below!

Written by Kate Rafko on August 11th, 2010 | Category: Photo ID in the News | Leave a comment