Increase Card Security with Fluorescing Printing

A great way to increase card security of your program’s ID cards is to print parts of the card design with “fluorescing” ink. This special ink is only becomes visible when viewed under a UV light source, such as a black-light. Organizations and agencies often use fluorescing ink to print special codes or images to prevent counterfeiting. This common security practice is used with government issued cards and other high security card programs.

Safe-Card ID Services carries several card printers that are capable of using fluorescing ink , including the high-definition Fargo HDP5000, the reliable Datacard 360  and the direct-to-card Fargo DTC4500e printer.

To learn more about incorporating flurescing printing into your program’s cards give an expert at Safe-Card ID Services a call today!

Mylar Backed Vs Paper Backed Adhesive Cards

There are multiple types and brands of adhesive backed cards. One popular use of these cards is to attach a ID card to an access card so that one card can be used. This helps employees and other card holders from having to keep track of multiple cards.

You may want to know what the similarites and differences are between mylar backed cards and paper backed cards. Following is a brief explanation:

Similaries between the mylar backed and paper backed adhesive cards include the actual end result. The outcome of printing on either cardstock is a printed 10 ml card with an adhesive on the back that can be adhered to any type of card, including an access card. Both cards come in either a CR-79 or CR-80 size.

Differences between the cards relate to the thickness of the card and the ease of printing. A paper backed card has a thin layer of paper attached to the back to hold the adhesive in the correct place and away from other cards until it is needed. This paper layer is very thin and these cards often will flex or jam in an badge printer as they go through printing. This will cause printing quality issues or will cause the printer to jam.

The Mylar card may still have the printing issues of the paper card, but it is less likely. The mylar is thicker and more rigid. This allows them to pass through the typical 30 ml printer easier than the paper counterpart.

To view these two products, visit our webstore at these links:

Paper backed 10 ml adhesive backed cards
Mylar backed 10 ml adhesive backed cards

Tips for Effective Use of an ID Card Slot Punch

An ID card slot punch offers an affordable and effective way to create an attachment point on your ID cards for use with badge accessories, such as badge clips, badge reels or lanyards. Before you use a slot punch, it’s important to know how and when to use it.

Tip #1: A few test cards go a long way

It would be a waste to print hundreds of cards and then realize that the slot punch will interfere with the design of the card. Instead, print a few test cards and test location of the punch against your design. There are a number of models and prices of slot punches available with volume being the deciding factor in which to select.

Tip #2: Take extra precaution with access cards

Access cards have an antenna embedded into the card, so you will need to be sure to punch the slot in the correct spot on the card so as not to damage the antenna or chip. If the antenna is damaged, your access card will not work. Since these cards can cost anywhere from $3.00 to $6.00 or more per card, it would be a costly mistake to punch these cards in the wrong location.

Tip #: Slot punch already printed cards only

Slot punching makes the surface area of an ID card uneven and dangerous for your card printer’s sensitive printhead. If you slot punch an ID card and then feed it through your ID card printer, you may leave a small sliver of plastic behind that could possibly puncture a hole in one of the heat elements on the printhead. Damaged printheads result in distorted and poor quality images on your cards and can be $400.00 or more to replace. Slot punching the photo ID cards after they have been printed will not only ensure the quality of the card, but also the longevity of your ID card printer.

To determine which type of slot punch best meets your needs contact an expert at Safe-Card ID Services today. They carry a full line of quality slot punches that can hanle a few cards to those that can handle hundreds of thousands.

Fargo Ribbon Compatibility – C30 and DTC400 Series Printers

The new Fargo DTC series printers, the Fargo DTC1000 and Fargo DTC4000 printers have printer ribbons that can not be used straight out of the box in older Persona C30 and Fargo DTC400 card printers. With a firmware update, however, these older printer models can be updated so that they are able to print with the new printer ribbons.

To update the C30 or DTC400 series printer:

1. Visit https://fargosupport.com/
2. Locate your current printer using the drop down box.
3. Update both the workbench and the firmware.

Once these steps are completed, you can use DTC1000 printer ribbons with the C30 and C30e printers. You can also use DTC4000 ribbons with your DTC400 or DTC400e printer.

Direct to Card Printers vs. Retransfer Printers

Card printers have the ability to print crisp, life-like images but it is important to understand the two most common printing technologies and the results they produce before purchasing your printer.

Direct-to-Card (DTC) Printing

Direct-to-card technology is currently the most common form of card printing. The direct-to-card printing process transfers images directly onto PVC cards. Direct-to-card printers are available in a wide price range, with varying features and capabilities. Direct-to-card printers, like those from Evolis, Magicard and Zebra are an economical choice for those where print quality is not as much of a priority as the printer leaves an unprinted, white edge on cards.

Retransfer Printing

Retransfer technology is the latest printing technology, and is growing in popularity. Retransfer printing applies images onto a special clear film that is then fused onto the surface of a blank card. Retransfer printers like the Fargo HDP5000 allows greater flexibility to print on a wider variety of cards, including proximity cards, smart cards, pre-punched cards, key tag cards, or any type of card with an uneven surface. The fact that retransfer printers print images to a clear film, its print quality is vibrant and crisp. Retransfer is an ideal choice for those requiring high quality, vibrant images and those with a need for advanced technology. It’s ideal for high security and large applications, especially when smart cards or other technology is being used.

To better understand the difference in these two printer technologies and which best suits the need of your organization, give a call to an expert at Safe-Card ID Services today.

Two Important Questions to Ask When Looking For an ID Card Printer

One of the most important questions you can ask yourself prior to purchasing an ID card printer is how many cards will you be printing initially and then over the course time. The answer to that question will help guide you to a printer suited to meet you project needs. Some printer models are equipped to print larger volumes of cards than others. Another important question is how durable do your ID cards need to be? An average PVC card will last 1-2 years. Swiping bar codes or magnetic stripe card readers can wear on a card. It’s an important factor to consider, particularly for large organizations, as card replacements can add up over time.
You can extend the life of your cards with an overlay or lamination. This requires a printer with a laminating module such as the Fargo DTC4500 and the Fargo HDP5000 or an additional laminating ribbon similar to the Evolis Pebble and Dualys. Another option would be increase the thickness of the card you are printing to (standard thickness is 30ml, but you can print on 10ml to 40ml on most printers) or composite card that offers more durability and warp resistance.

Check your printer’s specifications or talk with an ID Printer Specialist at Safe-Card ID Services before purchasing cards to ensure that the card will feed into your printer and meet your needs.

Tips for Printing Adhesive Backed Cards

You have decided to use adhesive backed cards for your identification card printing. This will allow you to combine your access card with your photo identification card so that employees will have one less thing to keep track of.

When this decision is made, it is beneficial, but often there is printing issues with either the paper backed adhesive card or the mylaor backed adhesive card. Card jams, the quality of printing, and multiple card feeding are just some of the issues we receive calls from our customers about.

Following are some simple tips to keep in mind as you begin printing with these cards:

1. Double check your adhesive cards to ensure that they look good. Check to make sure that adhesive is not leaking out of the edge of the card causing problems in the printer and also cards that stick together.
2. Ensure your printer settings are correct and that your printer is capable of printing your selected card stock. You may need to reset the thickness guage or set the printer for CR-79 cards.
3. Ensure your printer is extremely clean. Check the printer ribbons and transport rollers regularly. Blow the printer out occasionally to remove any dust left in the printer mechanisms from paper backed cardstock.

To view and find out more information about the cardstock options, visit these links:

Paper backed 10 ml adhesive cards here.
Mylar backed 10 ml adhesive cards here.

A Few Common ID Card Applications

There are a number of ways to utilize the PVC cards printed on an ID card printer. From identification cards for business to membership cards for a health club, ID cards are easily adaptable to various industries and applications. Why spend the extra money and time to have them outsourced when you can do it yourself? Common applications include:

Employee Identification

Accurately track time and attendance
Control location access
Store employee information

Student Identification Badges

Accurately track time and attendance
Cafeteria debit card
Library or equipment checkout
Control student, staff, and faculty access

Membership Cards

Offer membership perks
Allow access to the facility during set hours

Loyalty/Reward Cards

Offer discounts and savings to all or segmented customers
Encourage customers to visit frequently
Track valuable data to monitor inventory, item popularity, seasonal trends

Gift Cards

Issue store credit, debit, and gift cards on the spot
Access individual customer shopping history, such as items purchased and prices

Figuring out which ID Card Printer and software works best for your ID card project or projects give an expert at Safe-Card ID Services a call today.

Datacard Printers – Change the Supplies on a SD Series Card Printer

See how easy it is to change ribbons and cleaning rollers using the Datacard SD series card printer models. This free training video provided by the Datacard Group will demonstrate how to properly change the ribbon and rollers.

Safe-Card ID is an authorized provider of SD series card printers manufacturered by Datacard. If we can assist you with Datacard printers or supplies, we would love to hear from you.