If several people will be operating your ID card printer, take note. I’ve found that this often leads to a higher rate of printhead failure.

Fargo HDP5000 Retransfer ID Card Printer

Printhead failure is usually caused by dust or debris on a card that enters into the printer and damages a printhead pin. You’ll know that a printhead pin is damaged by an unprinted line running through the card.

Printhead replacement can be very costly. New printheads start at about $475 and are not covered under most manufacturer’s warranties if damaged due to improper care.

I have found that it is more cost effective in the long run to use a retransfer printer in these situations, such as the Fargo HDP5000. A retransfer printer’s printhead never touches the card, so there’s less chance for printhead failure, Plus, most retransfer printers offer a lifetime warranty! The investment in a retransfer printer has saved many organizations time and money.

ID Wholesaler offers a wide selection of retransfer printers.  To learn more, please give us a call at (800) 321-4405.

Written by Thomas Yemne on February 11th, 2013 | Tags: HDP5000, Retransfer | Category: ID Card Printers & Systems | Leave a comment

Many employee ID badges are able to serve more than one purpose, such as identification and door access. Below are a few elements found in more advanced ID badges and the required equipment and supplies.

Over-the-edge card design: A custom-designed ID badge is an extension of your brand. Plus, more intricate designs are more difficult to fraudulently replicate. If you want your card design to go “over-the-edge,” you’ll need a retransfer printer.

Signature: A signature pad allows you to electronically capture a signature for placement within the card design.

Technology cards: There are many types of technology cards, such as contact smart cards, that can store cardholder information for use in other systems. A printer with encoding capabilies is required to send data to a technology card.

Lamination: Laminating printers apply a thin film to the card with heat and pressure during the printing process to protect against abrasion and wear. Laminated cards are more durable and last longer than non-laminated cards.Using a holographic laminate also increases card security.

This information (and more) is also available on our downloadable Anatomy of an Advanced Photo ID Badge infographic! As always, if you have any questions about your ID badge, you can also call our ID Professionals at (800) 321-4405.

Written by Kate Curtis on November 5th, 2012 | Tags: Lamination, Retransfer, Signature Capture | Category: Helpful Tips & Support | Leave a comment

The majority of card printers available today are known as direct-to-card printers, meaning that the image is printed directly to the card surface via the printhead.  Because the printhead makes direct contact with the card, you will always have a thin white border and run the risk of damaging the printhead if printing on an uneven surface (technology cards, keytag cards, etc).  With this type of printer, the printhead is considered a consumable item, ranging in price from $399 – $699.

With a retransfer card printer, the printhead prints onto the underside of a film, which is then heat rolled onto the card surface; the print head does not make direct contact with the card.  Most retransfer card printers come with lifetime coverage on the printhead. This is ideal for anyone printing detailed full bleed images or on technology cards.

Thanks to the Fargo HDP5000 printer,  retransfer card printing is now priced in the same range as many direct-to-card printers, making it a cost effective option for small and mid sized businesses.  For those with high volume needs, the EDIsecure XID9330 retransfer printer is the way to go as you can daisy chain up to 7 printers with their IMP feature.

Not sure if a retransfer card printer is the best fit for you?  Call an ID Professional today to discuss your needs:  (800)321-4405 x5.

Written by Amy Sanders on March 27th, 2012 | Tags: HDP5000, Retransfer, XID9330 | Category: ID Card Printers & Systems | Leave a comment

The Zebra ZXP Series 8 now allows you to print cards wirelessly! It’s the first card printer on the market to provide secure wireless capabilities, eliminating the need to place the printer next to a USB or wired network connection. There are several benefits to wireless card printing:

Cost savings
Wireless printing enables on-site, on-demand printing with minimal IT infrastructure. It eliminates the expense, time and hassle of adding or moving cables.

Reduced clutter
Say goodbye to cord clutter! Plus, a printer’s cable length no longer dictates the printer’s placement.

Security
Protect sensitive data and maintain tight levels of security across the entire network with 802.11 b/g wireless secure connection that incorporates both encryption and authentication standards.

Increased productivity
Wireless card printing increases employee productivity, allowing employees to print from anywhere in the facility.

The ZXP Series 8 wireless option supports 802.11b and 802.11g networks and a wide range of security standards and protocols including Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) and advanced Wi-Fi protected access WPA/WPA2 standards. At this time, the wireless option is available as a factory-installed option only and ships configured with the specific country code. Contact your ID Wholesaler account manager at (800) 321-4405 for more details.

Written by Kate Curtis on August 8th, 2011 | Tags: Retransfer, Zebra, ZXP Series 8 | Category: ID Card Printers & Systems | Leave a comment

Retransfer printers require slightly different supplies than direct-to-card printers. Take note of the supplies you’ll need to keep your retransfer printing program running smoothly…

Transfer Film
Transfer film is required for printing cards with retransfer printers. These printers print your card image to the underside of this film and then apply it to the surface of the card, “sandwiching” the image between the film and the card. This film creates vivid, high quality images, plus adds a layer of protection to your cards.

Color Ribbon
As you look at your ribbon options, know that you can avoid any ribbons with an “O” panel (a YMCKO ribbon, for example). The “O” is an overlay panel that provides a thin layer of protection to your cards. Your retransfer printer uses a transfer film, eliminating the need for this panel.

Composite PVC-PET Cards
Composite cards are a combination of 60% PVC and 40% PET, a durable material with greater flex and impact strength. Composite cards can handle the higher temperatures that retransfer printing produces without distortion. They also provide a longer card life than standard 100% PVC cards and are less susceptible to cracking or tearing from bending and handling.

Cleaning Kit
Cleaning your printer is one of the easiest ways to maintain optimal printing. Cards carry dust and other tiny debris with them through the printer’s print path that can potentially degrade your image quality and damage your printhead or other parts of your card printer. With routine cleanings, you can expect optimal image quality and a longer life for your card printer.

How to Find Your Retransfer Printer Supplies
There are three easy ways to find the supplies for your specific printer model. (1) Visit ID Wholesaler’s Supplies Selector. Simply choose your printer brand and model and the supply you need to quickly find your supplies. (2) Go to your printer model’s product description page on ID Wholesaler and view the “Related Products” tab. (3) Call (800) 321-4405 to talk with a friendly ID Expert who can complete your order for you!

Written by Kate Curtis on August 5th, 2011 | Tags: Retransfer | Category: Card Printer Supplies | Leave a comment

When shopping for an ID card printer, one choice you will need to make is direct-to-card or retransfer printing. If any of the following fit your situation, you should consider retransfer:

You want to print to the very edge of the card
The printhead of traditional direct-to-card printers comes in direct contact with the card and therefore cannot print to the very edge of card without tearing the ribbon and damaging the printhead. With this, direct-to-card printers leave behind a white border around the perimeter of the card. Retransfer printers, on the other hand, print to a retransfer film that is then applied to the card. Thus, the image can have an “over the edge” bleed and 100% card coverage.

You print on smart cards
Retransfer printers allow added flexibility to print on a variety of cards, such as pre-punched cards, key tag cards, contact smart cards, or any type of technology card that has an antenna or circuit embedded in the card.

You require great looking cards
If your employees will be wearing your ID badges or if your cards will be in your customer’s hands (such as a membership or rewards card), it is imperative that your cards speak to the quality of your brand. A retransfer printer produces the highest quality cards possible with its rich, vibrant images that cover the entire surface of the card.

You need a printer with a low cost of ownership
Retransfer printers offer great protection of your investment. There is less wear and tear on the printhead because the image is printed on transfer film rather than the card. Most retransfer printers also come with a lifetime printhead warranty. Plus, due to the superior print process, there is a low waste factor in card production, which is particularly important when printing to expensive technology cards.

To learn more, check out ID Wholesaler’s Reverse Transfer Printer page or call an ID Expert at (800) 321-4405.

Do you own a retransfer ID card printer? If so, please share why you chose this technology in the comments below!

Written by Kate Curtis on July 20th, 2011 | Tags: Retransfer | Category: ID Card Printers & Systems | Leave a comment

Retransfer (also known as “reverse image transfer”) is a type of printing process that is used in some ID card printers. While the direct-to-card printing process prints images directly on the card (as the name implies), retransfer printers print onto a film which is then heat rolled to the face of the card.

So what are the benefits to this technology? Here are our top 3 reasons to choose retransfer:

1. Vibrant, Sharp Images: Retransfer printers create crisp, vivid images. It prints your images on a transfer film that is then fused to your card, making it ideal for printing on technology cards. It’s also great for intricate, detailed card designs.
2. Durable Cards: Cards printed with retransfer technology are more durable and secure. The film acts as a buffer from everyday wear and tear. It’s highly tamper-evident; if a counterfeiter attempts to peel apart the layers, the image will be destroyed.
3. Reduced Cost of Ownership: Retransfer printers offer great protection of your investment. There is less wear and tear on the printhead because the image is printed on transfer film rather than the card. Most retransfer printers also come with a lifetime printhead warranty.

BONUS! Includes a FREE iPod touch®
There’s never been a better time to choose retransfer technology! In addition to the benefits above, you’ll also receive a free iPod touch when you buy a retransfer printer from ID Wholesaler before August 31, 2011. Check out our retransfer promotion page for details!

Do you own a retransfer ID card printer? Share your experiences in the comments below!

Written by Kate Curtis on July 15th, 2011 | Tags: Retransfer | Category: ID Card Printers & Systems | Leave a comment

Retransfer (also known as “reverse transfer”) is a card printing technology that produces vibrant, saturated color on ID cards. While direct-to-card printers print images directly onto the surface of the card, retransfer printers print images to retransfer film. This results in vivid, photo-realistic quality images and durable, long-lasting cards.

There’s never been a better time to buy a retransfer printer! Now through August 31st, you’ll receive a FREE iPod touch with every retransfer printer or system purchase at ID Wholesaler! To learn more, visit our Retransfer Printer Promo page.

Want to learn more about retransfer technology?

• Check out the variety of Retransfer Printers offered by ID Wholesaler.
• Read Technology Used by ID Card Printers, an article within our Learning Center that explains the differences between direct-to-card and retransfer printing.
• Call an ID Expert at (800) 321-4405 to discuss if this technology is ideal for your application.
• Finally, keep tabs on this blog! We’ll be posting a number of articles in the coming weeks about retransfer printing – including more on the benefits, who should consider a retransfer printer, how to maintain a retransfer printer, and more! In the meantime, read a number of articles on retransfer printing that have already been posted!

Written by Kate Curtis on July 6th, 2011 | Tags: Retransfer | Category: ID Card Printers & Systems | Leave a comment

Looking to purchase a retransfer or laminating ID card printer? Make sure you include composite ID cards rather than standard 100% PVC cards with your order.

What is a composite ID card?
Composite cards are a combination of 60% PVC and 40% PET, a durable material with greater flex and impact strength. Composite cards can handle the higher temperatures that retransfer printing and lamination produce without distortion. They also provide a longer card life than standard 100% PVC cards and are less susceptible to cracking or tearing from bending and handling.

What can happen if you use a standard 100% PVC card in a retransfer or laminating printer?
Your card may bow, warp or, worse yet, melt into the printer or lamination unit! The moral of the story: invest a little bit of extra money up front for the composite cards and you will save yourself a lot of money and headaches down the road!

Composite cards are available with the same access control technologies as 100% PVC cards and can be customized with high quality full color graphics, security, and anti-counterfeiting features. To learn more about composite cards and if they are the ideal card for your application, call an ID Expert at (800) 321-4405.

Do you have any advice for printing with a retransfer or laminating printer? Share in the comments below!

Written by Kate Curtis on January 10th, 2011 | Tags: Lamination, Retransfer | Category: ID Cards | Leave a comment