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.