ID Maker - ID Card Printer Comparison

Various types of id card printer options are explained

There are many different card printer manufacturers that provide various options with their printer product lines. The leaders in the market are Fargo, Zebra-Eltron, Evolis, DataCard and CIM.

Single Sided Printers

These printers will print only the front side of the card. All card manufacturers produce single side badge printers.

Dual Sided Printers

These dual sided badge printers print both single sided cards or both sides of the PVC card. All card manufacturers have printers that print dual sided cards.

Lamination Station Printers

These id card printers with lamination station allow a secure hologram or an overlaminate on the card after it has been printed with the information needed on the card. Overlaminates are often used for increased durability of the id card or for security reasons.

Mag Stripe Encoding

These printers will print the card with full graphics and encode the magnetic stripe on the back side of the card. This is completed in one process through the id card printer.

Smart Card Encoding

Smart cards contain a chip that con hold information. Smart cards can be printed and encoded with the information just like the mag encoding cards. This is completed in one process through the id card printer.

Network Printers

These printers can be hooked up to a network for access from multiple work stations.

Transfer Printers

The printhead prints an image of the card to a transfer ribbon in the printer. The transfer ribbon then applies the transfer ribbon image to the card. This method allows a full bleed of your card design to the card. The benefit of this printing capability is that the card design will print over the card edge. Standard direct to card printers often leave a small white edge around the outside of the card design when it is printed.

Visit our home page to view our id card printer systems and supplies