Choosing the Right ID Badge Printer

Business is constantly changing methodology with the new technology available almost daily. The way we obtain photo identification has changed dramatically from the past ten years and in house printing has replaced outsourced badge printing in the majority of businesses. The cost of ID card printer systems is so economical, that it makes sense to consider bringing this technology in house. The printer system provides flexibility as well, allowing for immediate card printing on the spot.

Choosing the right ID badge printer for your organization is important as there are many features available that may or may not benefit your business needs. You can select from single sided, dual sided or laminating card printers. Single side printers are more economical, but provide printing on one side of the card. The printer can be equipped with the capabilities of bar codes, magnetic strip encoding and smart card contact and contactless encoding. The dual sided printer offers all of this as options as well as offering the capability of printing on both the front and back side of the card. The laminating printer is either a single or dual sided that offers the capability of printing a protective layer on the card called an overlay. The laminate offers increased lifespan of the card and the option to include additional security measures on the card.

Research to select the right printer should not be as difficult as many people think. By knowing what you want from your card, you can easy determine which printer models would fit your needs. Questions you want to ask yourself prior to acquiring a photo ID printer system are as follows:

What objectives do I need to meet with this card?

What type of card needs to be printed?

Do I need to print single or double sided cards?

Will I print in full color or is a single color print an option?

Will I be putting bar codes on the card?

Do I have special needs for this card?

Do I need to laminate the card for additional card lifespan or security?

Does this printer have drivers for my computer?

Is it compatible with my ID card design software?

What type of warranty do I need?

Do I want additional installation and training support?

What is my budget?

By knowing the answers to the above questions, the selection of the printer model needed will be narrowed down to one or maybe two from most of the manufacturers. The manufacturers, including Fargo, Evolis, Zebra, Magicard and others, provide quality printers that vary in small ways that may be important to your business operations. Printer look, manufacturer warranty details, after purchase technical support availability, and expected remaining outlook for the printer model under review may affect the printer you choose.

Some manufacturers maintain technical support for some time after the printer model you choose goes out of production. This is an important thing to know if you will be purchasing a printer scheduled for replacement. Printer supplies, such as ribbons and cleaning kits, normally are manufactured long after the printer is no longer in the retail market. Purchasing supplies for your printer is not something to be overly concerned about.

By giving your ID card printer research a bit of attention, you will find the perfect printer for your business environment.