The majority of organizations we work with at ID Wholesaler choose to feature a photo on their ID cards. Along with taking your time to research and evaluate the right ID card printer for your needs, don’t forget the ID camera! When choosing the best photo ID camera to use with your card printing system, we have a few tips to make it easier.

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For many companies, the primary purpose of an ID badge is identification; a clear, easy-to-verify photo on your ID badges is key to your company’s security. It’s important to make sure that the quality of your ID badge photo is the very best it can be. When designing and planning your ID badge program, keep the following tips in mind to ensure that your cardholders’ photos will be easy to authenticate.

Camera Quality
Today’s ID card printers are capable of printing crisp, high-quality images. Take advantage of this technology by using an equally high-quality camera to take your ID photos. Webcams may be inexpensive and conveniently sized, but they typically do not have a high image quality.

Photo Backdrop
Consider the color and style of the background of your photos. White backdrops help the image pop and keep the overall look of the card clean. Colored backdrops may be a way for you to visually classify groups of people, by department or security access for example.

Lighting
Set up the camera in a private area with good lighting, preferably natural sunlight. If possible, avoid fluorescent lighting as it can wash people out and result in photos with a bluish tint.

Photo Size
Larger photos typically print in higher quality and are easier to verify. When designing your ID badges, play with both a horizontal and vertical format to see if one orientation allows you to use a larger image along with the other information that will be placed on the card.

An important (and often forgotten) element of an ID badge photo is the background. A photo backdrop system is a quick way to set up a make-shift “photo studio” and ensure consistent and professional-looking ID photos.

We’ve all seen it: the student standing in the office waiting for a photo to be taken for his school ID…or the employee standing in front a non-descript wall knowing the glare from the flash on the wall will stand out more than the photo itself.

So how can you overcome this all-too-familiar scenario? How can you make a 1-inch or 2-inch square photo more interesting and more reflective of what the person actually looks like in real life? How can you give ID photos a softer, cleaner look with dimension?

A properly chosen photo ID backdrop will provide the answer to these questions. Photo backdrops come in a variety of materials, sizes, and colors which provides the options you need to create your desired outcome. Backdrops are also available in a variety of styles including:

• wall-mounted
• free-standing (stand-alone)
• pull-down

For example, check our Photo ID Backdrop System; it includes a full-size backdrop and an adjustable stand for varying heights. Available in a variety of popular colors, it’s made of wrinkle-resistant nylon microsuede material for adding a smooth, professional look to photos. It easily attaches to the included stand with velcro to ensure a tight fit. The metal stand adjusts from 28” to 78” high to accommodate sitting or standing poses.

Nearly every week, one of my customers tells me they want to make a better-looking photo ID card. This process most often begins with a card design update and a much-improved photo. A photo backdrop is at the heart of the solution.