Here at ID Wholesaler, one of the most common questions the Account Management team gets asked is: “What is the best ID card printer?”
Since there are many different options for badge printers, the answer to this question will depend on each organization’s individual needs and requirements. That's why it's always a good rule of thumb to speak with one of our dedicated Account Managers to help ensure that you choose the machine that ultimately fits your card printing needs.
And what's the second most common question our customers ask? "Are all ID card printers the same?”
They are not, actually. There are two distinctly different types of technology for ID card printers, namely direct-to-card printers and retransfer printers.
Direct-to-Card Printers
Also referred to as "dye sublimation printers," these are the most common and use ink ribbons and cards to print. The printhead inside direct-to-card printers contains little glass pixels that press the ink onto the cards and prints directly onto the cards.
With this type of printing process, you will have a small white border around the edge. This is because the printhead is not able to go over the edge of the cards. Direct-to-card printers will give you faster print speeds and lower cost per card than the reverse transfer (retransfer) printers.
Direct-to-card badge machines were designed for printing onto regular PVC cards as well as adhesive-backed cards.
Retransfer Printers
Also called a "reverse transfer," "over-the-edge," or "high-definition" printer, retransfer ID card printers are a relatively new technology on the card printing scene. These printers were specially designed to print on technology cards, 
cards with uneven surfaces, and regular non-technology cards.
This style of printer uses ink ribbon and film to print onto cards. When the cards go into the printer, the printhead does not come into contact with the cards. Instead, the ink gets printed onto the reverse side of a clear film, and that film is then laid and heated onto the cards. This allows the ink to be printed on the entire surface of the cards, commonly called “full bleed.”
Retransfer printers will be slower than direct-to-card printers and will have a slightly higher cost per printed card due to the fact that they use three consumables. This type of printing will give you the best image quality as well as more durable cards than the direct-to-card printers.
However, it is recommended to use composite cards for printing. This is because of the higher heat printing process; standard PVC cards will warp or bend, and composite cards will not.
If you're still not sure which ID card printer technology is right for your business needs, you can depend on the expertise and experience of our ID Professionals. Call us today at (800) 321-4405.