Dos:

• Buy an ID card printer with a good warranty. Look for a printer with at least a one year warranty. Ideally, a good printer will come with two or more years in warranty time.

• Consider the image quality the ID card printer will need to provide. If you require a resolution higher than 300 DPI, it is often better to get your card lithographically printed first and then use a card printer to personalise.

• Keep in mind the durability of the ID card printer you plan to purchase. You will want to ensure the printer can last for several years with only routine maintenance.

• Decide in advance whether you will need a single or dual sided ID card printer. Dual sided printers are more expensive, but they offer the advantage of being able to print both sides of an ID card in one pass .

• Consider the compatibility of your ID card printer with your computing software and hardware. Before purchasing a printer, read its operating system and connection requirements, and be sure your computer meets both.

• Keep in mind the short and long term costs of ribbons and supplies for your ID card printer. Not all printers use the same kinds of ribbons; over time, a printer that appears to be cheap can cost more than an initially expensive printer, depending on the resources it needs to stay in operation.

Don’ts:

• Don’t buy an ID card printer without reading prior reviews if at all possible. Try to learn from the experiences of other users.

• Don’t buy an ID card printer that you can’t afford. Remember the additional costs of printing such as cards, ribbons and cleaning kits.

• Don’t buy an ID card printer without knowledge of the card sizes it can print and the sizes you need.

• Don’t buy an ID card printer before considering the features you do and do not need from the printer.

As always on this blog, if you need any advice on choosing the right printer or if you wish to buy an ID Printer from plastic-id.com please come visit our website.

Magicard Pronto Card Printer

Magicard Pronto Card Printer

The Pronto Card Printer is the cheapest of the three printers, and is the only printer to feature a single card feed. The single card feed option means only one card can be entered into the printer at a time, unlike the 100 card feeding options of both the Enduro Card Printer and the Rio 2e Card Printer. The Pronto Card Printer can print a card in 35 seconds if printing in colour, and in 7 seconds if printing in monochrome. The Pronto comes with a 2 year warranty and can connect to a computer via USB 1.1. The Pronto weighs 4.4 kilograms, and is the lightest of the three printers compared here. The Pronto is marketed as an inexpensive printer that is also compact, reliable, simple, and high quality.

Magicard Enduro Card Printer

Magicard Enduro Card Printer

The Enduro Card Printer is available in both a single sided and a double sided, or duplex version, known as the Enduro Duo. The single sided model may be upgraded to the double sided model if a drop in upgrade is inserted. Enduro Card Printer can print a card in 35 seconds if printing in colour, and in 7 seconds if printing in monochrome.

The Enduro also comes with a 2 year warranty and, like the Pronto, connects via USB 1.1. The Enduro is priced midway between the Pronto and the Rio 2e. The Enduro weighs 5.5 kilograms.

Magicard Rio 2e Card Printer

Magicard Rio 2e Card Printer

The Rio 2e Card Printer is single sided. However, The Rio 2e Card Printer can print a card in 22 seconds if printing in colour, and 6 seconds if printing in monochrome, making it the fastest of the three Magicard printers in this comparison. The Rio 2e offers numerous features unavailable in the other two printers, including a built in Ethernet connection and a 2 year warranty that offers more coverage than the Enduro Card Printer’s warranty. The Rio 2e also comes with the option to connect via USB and Parallel.

The Rio 2e is the most expensive of the three Magicard printers compared here. The Rio 2e is also the heaviest of the three printers, weighing in at 7.2 kilograms.

For More Magicard Printers And Supplies Visit Plastic ID

All systems will include a card printer, and different models will be featured depending on what type of card printing jobs the system has been developed to produce. Types of printers that could form part of these packages include those that print single-sided cards, those that print double-sided cards and those that are configured to laminate cards. Also featured are printers that offer various levels of card security technology including proximity, smart card personalization, watermark, barcoding and magnetic encoding technology. Finally, printers could be configured to print in monochrome, full-colour or both. All of these printers should come with printer drivers that are compatible with Microsoft Windows ME, 2000 or XP, and some will also come with built-in ethernet to enable them to be set up to function as network printers.

Each system will also include a software package, which is usually either the Securit 4400 ID package or the Securit 5400 ID package and which will allow users to perform tasks such as designing their own ID card layouts, creating ID badges and creating ID card databases. A typical ID printer system would also include some type of camera, and those that normally come with printer system packages include USB webcams, USB cameras and 4.1 megapixel digital cameras. Most of the printers have the capacity to print photographs on the ID cards – either in colour or in black and white – and the cameras included with each system are those models that work best with the printers they are packaged with. Images can either be viewed live on screen or can be stored and then downloaded to the printer software later.

Certain extras are also featured with most ID printer systems and these extras can include things like a colour ribbon and a set number – usually 100 – of PVC cards, openfaced badge holders and safety breakaway lanyards. The colour ribbons can be of different capacities and some are, for instance, set up to take 165 images while others can manage 350.

ID printer systems are usually divided between those developed for light printing loads, for medium printing loads and for heavy printing loads.

Control
Buying identification printers can give the head of a company plenty of peace of mind. Rather than trusting a third party with an employee’s data and personal information, the head of a company can feel comfort in handling this delicate information within their own hands. There will not be a single person who is not entrusted with the matter who will be handling the card stock or printing equipment, either.

The company has control over marking identification cards in their own desired way. For example, they may wish to make separate cards for their full time employees and make specially marked cards for those who work part time, temporarily, as an intern or for those who are merely visiting for a day.

Convenience
For the most part, id printers are very easy to use with a simple way to navigate the menus. Training to use these printers is often very simple, as well. Once the printer is delivered to the office, there is absolutely no reason why it cannot be immediately set up and set into service.

In addition to simple everyday usage, most maintenance can be performed by the company itself. That is, most maintenance is simple enough to handle on one’s own. However, should a more complex maintenance be required, there are an abundance of service technicians available who will know how to service it in a quick and efficient manner.

Increased Security
As previously mentioned, no third parties will have access to delicate information. This allows for much more security and deters thieves from stealing the identity of an employee. It is possible to train all or a group of employees to run the printer and maintain it rather than bring out an outsider, no matter how experienced they may be with the hardware.

To conclude, these are but a few reasons why a company would want to invest in one or more identification printers. Peace of mind, convenience and far better security are the prime reasons to go out and a printer today.

Visit Plastic-ID.com for more info on ID printing and Printers

Badge holders come in many different shapes, sizes, materials, and colours.  Some of them will even hold multiple identification cards.  There are badge holders that contain holes which enable the card to be worn with a lanyard.  Other options for badge holders include magnetic backings, credit card sized holders which can easily fit into a pocket or wallet, and small grips which enable the badge to be worn on a shirt or jacket.  Badge holders are an affordable solution to protecting ID cards and many of them also double as a way for employees to keep their ID cards visible at all times, making for a more secure workplace.

Lanyards are cords that are worn around the neck.  Businesses usually give these to employees so that they can wear their ID cards around their necks.  Lanyards come in many different colours and designs.  A business can have their logo or slogan printed on them and can colour coordinate them with ID cards.  Lanyards keep ID cards out of the way, yet within view, and can be a more secure way of wearing an ID card, as the card can not be lost as easily.

ID card accessories such as id badge holders and lanyards are generally bought in bulk.  They are affordable options to ensuring that a business is secure and it’s employees and visitors are easily identified.  Using badge holders and lanyards also help to protect ID cards from general wear and tear and will ensure that the cards will last longer.

For More Information And To Order Contact Plastic-ID.com

When ordering custom-made lanyards, you need to first decide what sort of clip that is need to hold the identity card onto the lanyard. There are 5 basic kinds of clips that can be used; dog clips, lobster clips, spring clips, trigger clips, or phone clips.

The next step in ordering promotional lanyards is to choose the sort of breakaway feature wanted on the lanyard. The breakaway clip makes it easier for the lanyard to be taken on and off. It also serves as an significant safety feature, allowing for the lanyard to be able to break apart if stuck around an object. There are two options for breakaways; sewn and T type.

When ordering custom lanyards, decisions regarding colors used must be decided. Anywhere from 1 to 3 colors can be used on both sides of the lanyard. The color options and combinations for custom made lanyards are practically endless. You may also wish to have your own unique logo, motto, or graphics put on your custom made lanyards.

There are 3 different measurements available for the braiding used to make the lanyards. 10ml, 15ml, or 20ml braiding can be chosen, depending on the actual thickness sought after.

Custom-made made lanyards are a sure way to make your workers or staff stand out at an event. Your custom lanyards will make your workers or volunteers look professional and unique, all while safely protecting your investment in I.D. cards.

Promotional Custom Lanyards can be purchased from Plastic ID – Your online supplier for ID Equipment

Article Directory: http://www.everyonesarticles.com/Article/Guide-to-Ordering-Custom-Lanyards/101892

Magicard LC1 Ribbon

ID card printers have become a necessary tool for many people within the business world. Plastic ID card printers enable businesses to conveniently print their own ID cards for security and identification purposes. Businesses save a great deal of time and money due to these printers, as they no longer have to outsource to printing companies in order to have their ID cards printed. ID cards can now be available for use almost instantaneously. These printers also need special kinds of ribbons of ink in order to be able to print onto the plastic surface of ID cards.

Magicard is one of many manufacturers which produce affordable ID card printers. The classic Magicard LC1 ribbon is one of the ribbons that is available to purchase for use with certain Magicard ID card printers. The LC1 ribbon can be purchased for about fifty pounds, excluding tax. This is a full colour printer ribbon and will last through the printing of about three hundred fifty images. Like most ID card printer ribbons, the Magicard LC1 ribbon’s three main colours are yellow, magenta, and cyan with a black overlay. The overlay offers protection for the card itself and also protects the image printed on the card, offering better wear and tear.

The classic Magicard LC1 full colour ribbon is compatible with several different Magicard ID card printers. The printers that use this particular ribbon are:

• Magicard Rio
• Magicard Rio 2
• Magicard Rio 2e
• Magicard Tango
• Magicard Tango 2
• Magicard Tango 2e
• Tango + L
• Magicard Avalon
• Magicard Avalon Duo

All of these printers are available at an affordable rate and are perfect choices for businesses who want to make their own full colour ID cards.

The Magicard LC1 colour ribbon, along one of the compatible printers, is the perfect choice for any business that wants an affordable way to make their own photo or full colour ID cards to use for security and identification purposes. The LC1 ribbon is one of many high quality ID card printer ribbons that can help your business or organisation produce its own plastic ID cards.

The Magicard LC1 Ribbon can be purchased from Plastic ID

The SP35 badge printer has a lot of features that make it an attractive answer for your badge printing needs. One of those features is its sizing. The SP35 badge printer Datacard only weighs about four kilos, which makes it a lightweight printing machine that is easy for you to relocation from place to place. Its small size also makes the SP35 badge printer good for running in close quarters. The physical dimensions of the SP35 badge printer are as follows: 419 mm x 198 mm x 229 mm.
In addition to being lightweight and small the Datacard SP35 id printer can print up to five hundred full colour cards and 120 one colour cards in an hour’s time. Using exclusive Datacard Advanced Imaging Technology, it prints cards with dazzling images, with a uniform background and enhanced bar coding images.
Here are some other features of the Datacard SP35 card printer: Windows 98, 2000, me and XP printer drivers, ribbon cartridges that are quick to change, automatic badge feeding, front facing one hundred badge input hopper, front facing twenty badge output hopper, the print head can be replaced by the end user, no pass restrictions, an easily reached badge path, and a continuous cleaning roller.
The Datacard SP35 card printer badge printer can be excellent addition to your office tools and can be a great help with your small volume badge printing needs.

Article Source: http://www.everyonesarticles.com/Article/About-the-Datacard-SP35-printer/94714

The three main colours when printing namely Yellow, Magenta and Cyan, with the addition of a separate black panel for a higher quality black print. An overlay / top panel is used to protect the card and printed image from wear and tear.

YMCKO – Yellow Magenta Cyan Black Overlay
YMCKOK – Yellow Magenta Cyan Black Overlay Black
KO – Black Overlay
Monochrome – Black, Red, Blue, Green, White, Gold, Silver
KdO – black dye sublimation
KrO – black resin
YMCK – Yellow Magenta Cyan Black
YMCKK – Yellow Magenta Cyan Black Black
YMCuvK – Yellow Magenta Cyan ultra-violet Black
YMCKT – Yellow Magenta Cyan Black Topcoat
KT – Black Topcoat
Black HQ – Black High quality
YMCKT-KT – Yellow Magenta Cyan Black Topcoat – Black Topcoat – Full colour with topcoat on front, black resin with topcoat on reverse.
KT – Black Topcoat KT Black ribbon with topcoat for Datacard
YMCKT-KT – Yellow Magenta Cyan Black Topcoat – Black Topcoat
YMCKF-KT – Yellow Magenta Cyan Black Fluorescent – Black Topcoat

Printer ribbon types blog entry

In all seriousness, if you require proof of membership for your organization and you need to present the members with a membership card.  This means you will need a printer that can properly create these types of cards for your needs. The Magicard Alto is, without a doubt, one of the very best ID/membership card printers on the market. That is why it comes with high recommendations and also why it is so very popular.

The detail presented on the membership cards ensures that the cards will carry all the vital information you require. And, of course, the detail in the photograph is so sharp (300 dpi) that there will be no trouble ensuring the person holding the membership card is the actual member. These attributes greatly enhance the value of the Magicard Alto card printer since it can virtually guarantee all your card production needs will be met.

The Magicard Alto from the Magicard Printer range of card printer is user friendly and can be operated by even a novice. It takes mere minutes to produce a membership card so there is no reason for your clients to wait unnecessarily. The cost of the printer is quite reasonable and purchasing one will not place any burdens on your company’s bottom line. Printing supplies such as the Magicard PCF6 – 100 shot YMCKO Ribbon and Magicard PCX-PF2 – 100 shot YMCKO Ribbon come complete with 100 cards and print with an overlay, which helps protect the cards from wear and tear.