Plastic Photo ID Card Printers For Secure Photo ID Card Printing » Advantidge, Inc.

ID Card Printers

ID card printers use the latest imaging technologies to print directly onto plastic cards for personalization and are the major component of an ID card system. Today’s card printers use a process called dye sublimation which provides outstanding quality and durability, equal or better than that of photo printers.

Additionally, ID card printers can perform other processes at the time of ID card issuance, such as magnetic stripe encoding, reading a proximity card and even writing to the chip on a smart card. Photo ID software typically manages these encoding properties as well as provides the controls for the data that will be printed onto each card.

Retransfer ID Card Printing

Zebra has recently introduced Retransfer ID card printing, a superior printing technology, which prints on a retransfer film that bonds thermally to cards, resulting in superior image quality; true over-the-edge printing for better looking cards and more area to print on; the ability to print on uneven card surfaces such as on smart cards, as well as a wider variety of ID cards including non-PVC; and a more durable image that is built-in tamper proof with the use of retransfer film.

With its patent-pending simultaneous dual-sided image transfer process, retransfer film is applied to both sides of the card in a single pass, unlike retransfer printing of competitors, which flips ID cards over for two passes. Zebra’s Retransfer Printing is a reliable product with durable construction, featuring best-in-class engineering that meets customer demands, and minimizes maintenance requirements and the total cost of ownership.

High Definition Printing

With the release of Fargo’s HDP5000 the industry quickly changed to match the long list of features and benefits offered by this model printer.

High Definition Printing™ creates a superior print quality, even on cards with embedded electronics such as proximity cards, as well as on those with small blemishes, to give your organization a more impressive public image. Superior print quality, higher reliability and durability, and greater security — can all be yours when you produce your cards with the affordable and versatile HDP5000 Card Printer/Encoder.

Affordable pricing available on the new HDP5000 makes High Definition Printing available to card printer buyers everywhere. High reliability and durability lowers your total cost of ownership and it is now backed by a lifetime printhead warranty plus two-year warranty on the entire printer. Versatile modular design changes with your needs as you can easily upgrade to dual-sided printing, single- or dual-sided lamination and card encoding technologies. Simple printer operation requires only minimal training, and cards, ID printer ribbons and overlaminates come in cartridges that load in a snap to save you time and eliminate frustration.

Fargo HDP5000 Single Side Printer – Specifications:

  • Printing technology: HDP® dye-sublimation / resin thermal transfer
  • Resolution: 300 dpi (11.8 dots/mm
  • Colors: Up to 16.7 million / 256 shades/pixel
  • Print speed: 38 – 75 seconds per card, depending on ribbon type and lamination
  • Accepted standard card sizes: CR-80
  • Print area: Over-the-edge on CR-80 cards
  • Input card cartridge capacity: 100 cards (.030” / .762mm thick)
  • Output hopper card capacity: 200 cards (.030” / .762mm thick)
  • Options:
    • Card lamination module – single-sided or dual-sided (simultaneous)
    • Smart card encoding (contact/contactless)
    • Door and cartridge locks
    • Printer cleaning kit
    • Magnetic stripe encoding
    • 200-card input hopper (available soon)
    • Dual-sided printing

If you are considering a card printer for the first time, you should start with the following questions when choosing an ID card printer:

  • Will your cards be single or double sided?
  • Will any computer readable technologies be used? Are your printing barcodes or using other encoding methods, such as magnetic badges, proximity cards or smart cards?
  • Will any security features be needed, such as embedded Foil ID cards or holographic overlays?
  • How long do your cards need to last? Or what core materials are needed and what special features will be used to add durability?