The most frequently asked question by a first-time ID card printer customer: which printer do you recommend?
There are many factors to consider when buying an ID card printer. Before we can recommend a printer, we generally need to ask more questions. It's important to get a complete picture of what you need your ID card program to do for you and your organization. To get the ball rolling, follow these helpful tips:
1. Understand what information you want to put on your card.
For many businesses, an employee's name, their employee number, and a photo – coupled with a company's name, logo, and colors – will suffice. For other organizations, additional data may be required, such as an employee's signature, their title, security-level access rights, a barcode – these are just a few of the many things that can be featured on an ID card.
Learn more about the information you can feature on your ID cards>>
2. Decide if you'll need to fit all of the information on the front of the card or if some data can be placed on the back of the card.
Figuring this out at the very beginning can make determining whether your card issuance program will require a single-sided printer or dual-sided printer pretty straightforward.
Find out if dual-sided ID cards could be the right choice for you>>
3. Determine if you want to include a photo of the cardholder on your cards.
If featuring a photo is a must-have for your card program, a camera (in conjunction with your printing application) will be needed to capture the images and transfer them into the ID card template software. That being said, have you determined the specific needs that you want to be able to accomplish with your ID card software? Many users opt for database type software where a copy of each badge designed and printed is stored. This creates easy reprint capability instead of manually having to create the badge all over from scratch.
Get details on the different types of ID software>>
Many first time users want to purchase an entry-level printer simply due to the low price without taking into consideration their expectations of that machine. It is important to consult with an expert who can listen to learn more about what your application is and what capabilities you expect out of your printer prior to acquiring it. They can then walk you through different options and recommend items that are appropriate for your application now, and if need be, determine if they will be appropriate down the road should your needs change.
These are just a few tips we recommend you consider before buying your ID card printer. For help with determining your ID card program requirements, give an ID Professional a call at (800) 321-4405. At ID Wholesaler, we know ID. It's what we do!