Simply put, a single-sided system prints on one side of your cards and a dual-sided printer prints on both sides of your cards in one process.

Unsure what your future holds? Single-sided Fargo DTC4000, DTC4500, and HDP5000 systems can be upgraded to two-sided printing by adding a field-upgradeable duplex module. If you are unsure whether your needs may change in the future, or perhaps you may be planning to expand how your cards will be used, we recommend shopping for a Fargo printer that offers easy upgrade options when you'll need them.

View dual-sided card examples

If you recall the old days of cutting and pasting an ID card together, lamination may confuse you a bit. You might wonder why you would need lamination when printing directly to plastic.

In plastic card printing, lamination is a clear protective layer that is applied over the top of your printed cards by a printer with lamination capability. It offers three primary benefits to a plastic ID card:

How the sun can affect a non-laminated card

This non-laminated ID card was placed in a badge holder in direct sunlight for 30 days. Due to the heat, the printed card image transfered from the card to the badge holder.

Back How wear and tear can affect a non-laminated card

Lamination adds a layer of protection from everyday wear and tear. The cards at the right illustrate the durability of lamination.

Both cards were printed with a retransfer printer. The card on the left, however, is laminated, while the card on the right is not laminated.

Both cards were scratched with a set of keys. The laminated card is unscathed, while the non-laminated card is visibly damaged.

The Fargo DTC4500 and HDP5000 systems both offer options for single- or dual-sided lamination.

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Many experienced card printer users are familiar with the white border that direct-to-card printers leave around the edge of cards. Retransfer printers, on the other hand, produce "over-the-edge" prints that cover the entire surface of your cards.

Direct-to-card printers print directly to the surface of cards. Any uneven surface of a card--including coming in contact with the edge of a card--can cause expensive printhead damage.

Retransfer printers, like the Fargo HDP5000, print your card image to a clear film (retransfer or HDP film) that is then fused onto the surface of the card. With this process, the printhead does not come in direct contact with your card, allowing you to print over the edge of your cards and to a wider variety of card surfaces including proximity cards, smart cards, pre-punched cards and key tag cards. Another benefit: retransfer printers produce imagery with rich, vibrant, saturated colors.

View full card example of direct-to-card vs. retransfer