Magicard Printer

After years of laminating paper photo ID badges, you have decided that new plastic ID cards are needed. Gone are the Polaroid camera and the laminator. You have moved forward to acquire a Magicard printer and ID card making system from Magicard.

To begin the process of making your new plastic printed ID cards with your new badge printer, you will need to make sure that you have an existing computer system that can operate ID badge software and an ID card printer. Printers and software is Windows based. If you need a Mac enabled printer, you may research the Evolis printer models which incorporate both options.

Your new ID cards can be the perfect fit for your organization if you apply the following tips to your search:

Understand your organizational needs. By collecting feedback from all areas of your company regarding their ideas about identification cards, you can understand what is needed in every area of the organization and can best locate a system to meet current and future needs.

Understand the limits of your budget. Some companies have the capability and the desire to incorporate a high security, high volume card printer system. Other groups need a basic ID card printer. Ranges for card printing systems can be from under a thousand dollars to many thousand dollars. It is best to have an idea about your limitations prior to reviewing printer system options. Special items related to your specific needs many increase the total cost of the system. ID card holder options, special proximity card options, a high quality camera and other items play a factor into the final pricing of the system

Talk to others and search online for information about card printer systems. Lowest pricing is not always the best signal to base your purchase on. Service, bundled extras, warranties and support after the sale are considerations well worth looking into.

Verify your selected options will be compatible with the current computer system you intend to run the ID card printing process with. Software and printers are set to run on specific operating systems and computer platforms. Do not get caught with a system that will not run on your computer options. An ID card integrator specializes in making sure that your selected products will operate the way you intend and to produce the card output that will meet your requirements. It is beneficial to talk with an integrator about your specific needs.

Verify that once the system has arrived at your location that there is technical support from the integrator or manufacturer with the system setup. Sometimes the simplest question you think you may have will cause the system to malfunction or not to work from the beginning. Access to a technical expert is critical during the time of initial installation and set up.

Datacard Printer

The Datacard Group provides ID card printer solutions for a broad portfolio of clients. Whether the organization is printing its first IDs for a new facility or group of employees or whether the organization is large and requires the latest in secure printing technology, the Datacard printer selection can meet exactly what is needed.

The printer models are versatile. The Datacard Group technical developers create solutions that work together in different combinations to produce a system including a card printer, software and other components to create the perfect system for current and future needs.

There are many quality ID card printer manufacturers on the market. Prior to purchasing a Datacard printer; it is worthwhile to explore the options available with a Fargo printer, Zebra printer or Evolis printer. Each company claims cutting edge manufacturing technology with new printer models for almost every environment imaginable.

Unlike other ID card manufacturers, the Datacard organization specializes in complete solutions for ID card making. Innovative features in the products combine to increase the ID card product produced. Increased security, card durability, speed and card printing quality are focuses of the card manufacturer.

ID card printer systems need to be complete with everything needed to provide a secure identity process for your organization. Whether a plain PVC card is used or an HID card for building access, the ID card printer system needs to encompass the ability to produce the required card output.

Once the system is determined, a company may wish to select a standard sent of badge attachments, such as a badge clip and a badge reel. A uniform look to professional badges provides a secure feel and increases the value of your technology investment.

Datacard secure ID solutions include everything you need to build a more secure environment for your organization. Because they are engineered to work together seamlessly, Datacard secure ID solutions provide outstanding uptime and proven long-term reliability. So you can protect your people and facilities.

The Datacard Group provides high quality supplies and qualified services as benefits for their printer system customers. The certified supplies provided by the group features the Intelligent Supplies Technology which is trademarked by Datacard. This technology ensures superior image quality and consistent card printing. The supplies include the RFID technology that provides printers with the recognition of manufacturer produced supplies. With this technology the printer recognizes the product installation, adjusts the settings and tracks the product use.

Another benefit of Datacard is the DuraGard virtual edge to edge security laminates. These customized variable devices provide increased card security and card durability.

Slot Punch

A slot punch provides a rectangular slot in a plastic card so that it can be worn using a badge holder or badge attachment such as a lanyard or badge reel. The slot punch is often part of a plastic card printer system that is purchased to make photo id cards in house. The punch is designed to cleanly punch a consistent hole in plastic cards without cracking the card in two. These punches are created specifically for plastic material and are not made to punch through paper as is a common hole punch at a craft store

Slot punches are marketed with or without edge guides. This guide provides a consistent distance that the hole is punched at. The guide can be set for horizontal or vertical cards and eliminates the guess work it takes to measure the center point of each plastic card when cutting the hole. By selecting a slot punch with guide, the IDs will have a slot that works with the badge holder selected. It will provide a uniform slot in each card which will enhance the professionalism of the printed cards.

Hand held punches are commonly seen with entry level id card printers. These punches are designed for use in a small production environment where only a few cards are printed at a time. High volume printing organizations would not want to obtain hand held punches as the physical requirements to make the slot punch would be wearing after a number of cards were processed.

Stapler style slot punches are easy to find and are easier physically than the hand held punches. Working like a stapler, the slot punch makes the professional hole quickly with a push of the top lever of the punch.

Table top slot punches are even easier to use as the top lever is pressed with your hand. The lever movement creates the slot punch with ease and consistency. The electric slot punch can be operated by electric operation directed from a foot switch. Insert the card and press the foot pedal with your foot to discover a perfectly punched ID card.

Slot punches designed for identification badges are of high quality and designed to last for many years. The punches are designed to restore themselves to their original status by spring load so that punching additional badges is not a difficult process to accomplish.

If you do not want to punch a hole in your card design, search for a badge holder such as a clear vinyl badge holder that encloses the card and does not require a slot hole to wear. Cards printed with ID card printers such as the Evolis printer, will provide a number of different security benefits for the organization that puts for the effort to begin and maintain a badge wearing or carrying policy. Both the quantity of cards printed and badge attachments selected will determine which slot punch will be best for your organization.

ID Card Software

There are a number of things that need to be considered when a company prints ID cards. The steps taken must be within the budget of the organization obtaining the system. When thinking about the ID card software and the card printers available, it is important to make sure that the quality and features are present in the products considered. Higher pricing does not always guarantee that the application will meet the needs that you have. Badge holders are an additional thought process that needs to be considered.

Software needs to provide the features required to produce a quality card with necessary security features. The ID card printer, such as a Zebra card printer or Evolis Printer, is a specialized printer that is not your standard inkjet or laser printer. The ID card printer provides a heat transferred image that permanently resides on a plastic card. The printer often has encoding capabilities that ensures the black strip on the back of the card contains the necessary information to open a door or clock in to the necessary facility.

Most ID card printers run on a Windows platform and most ID card software also runs on the same platform. It is important to make sure that you have software and printers that are compatible with each other and with the computer that will be operating the system. Some printers will use a Mac driver and will work on a Mac computer. Most ID card software on the market will not be compatible with the Mac. Check carefully with the software recommendations provided so that the system will work smoothly for you.

Some of the most popular software programs available are the following:

Asure ID Express Software – This version of software is a standalone software that has a number of upgraded features. This software is able to allow the operator to design and print cards at a single location.

Card Five – This software is often provided with card printer systems provided by Zebra Card. There are a number of versions of this software ranging from entry level to a fully functioning version that can provide most any feature.

ID Works – This group of ID software packages are often provided with Datacard printers. This software is available for use with other brands as well and provides a multi level ID card design software option.

ID Flow- This software originated from a company that also provides asset tracking software. The software is newer than some on the market and performs well for specific tasks.

EPI Suite – This granddaddy software has been around for a good many years. Design, print and encode your cards from one of the three packages available.

When looking at your options, check with ID card experts and also those you know who operate ID card systems in their place of business. They will often be able to provide insight into what works and doesn’t work for their situation.

Another task that is beneficial is to download the free version of the software that you are investigating. Most mainstream software manufacturers in the current market offer a trial download to test the look and feel of the software to see if it is best for your situation.