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Mac ID Printers
Mac Compatible ID Card Printers
Compatible with multiple Mac OS operating systems, use CARDPRESSO or Adobe design software, including Photoshop and InDesign, to design graphic quality cards. For most accurate color matching and to print photographic quality cards, then choose one of our best RETRANSFER PRINTERS. However if your main focus is to protect your cards from fading and extend the life of your cards, then choose our top selling LAMINATING CARD PRINTERS.
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Have Questions about ID Card Printers? We Have Answers!
What is the Difference Between a Single-Sided Printer and a Dual-Sided Printer?
Simply put, a single-sided printer prints on one side of your cards and a dual-sided printer prints on both sides of your cards in one process.
Choose a single-sided card printer if you will be creating ID cards with limited cardholder information.
Choose a duplex card printer if you want the front of your cards to remain clean and uncluttered; printing some of your card-holder info on the back of your cards will keep the front of your cards looking their best!
Unsure what your future holds? Some single-sided printers can be upgraded to two-sided printing very easily. Plus, many single- and dual-sided printers offer easy upgrades to magnetic encoding and even lamination capability. 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 printer that offers upgrade options when you'll need them.
What is the Difference Between a Direct-to-Card Printer and a Retransfer Printer?
Direct-to-card printers print directly to the surface of cards, while retransfer printers print your card image to a clear film (retransfer film) that is fused onto the surface of the card. Direct-to-card printers cannot print to the very edge of the card without risking printhead damage so they leave a small, unprinted border around the edge of the cards. Retransfer printers, on the other hand, offer full-card coverage. While the image quality of a direct-to-card printer is very good, a retransfer printer creates cards with even more vibrant, saturated colors. Retransfer printers also offer greater color control for more precise color matching.
Choose a direct-to-card card printer if print quality is not a priority as the printer leaves an unprinted edge on cards.
Choose a retransfer card printer if you require high quality, vibrant images with full-card coverage.
Why Would I Need to Laminate my Plastic Cards?
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:
- Lamination extends the life of your card by protecting it from wear, such as being swiped in a magnetic stripe reader.
- Lamination protects your cards from fading and dye migration when exposed to the sun.
- Holographic lamination increases the security of your cards by making them difficult to copy.
Choose a laminating card printer if your cards will be swiped in a mag stripe reader or will be worn in harsher environments, such as in the sun. Lamination will protect your cards from fading and extend their life--so you'll need to reprint cards less frequently, saving you time and supplies costs!