Buying an ID card printer: The ultimate guide
By James Kelly on January 20th, 2020
Buying an ID card printer is a big investment for many businesses and organisations, and making the right purchasing decision in the first place can seem a little daunting – especially with so much varying technologies and different manufacturers.
Happily, we’ve created an ID card printer buying guide to ensure you don’t get yourself in a jam. We’ve covered the basics, broken down the technical lingo and considered your exact requirements: all critical things to ensure you make the correct purchasing decision.
1. What is an ID card printer?
Despite sharing a few common components with that old inkjet sat on your desk, an ID card printer is uniquely designed to print straight onto plastic cards.
In fact, while they’re commonly known as ID card printers, they can print pretty much anything onto a plastic card. The gift cards at the end of the aisle in a supermarket? Those will have been made using a plastic card printer, as will membership and loyalty cards.
But the machines we supply are primarily bought as a security measure. Buying an ID card printer is a step that can safeguard your building, office or organisation, no matter how big or small it is. Smartcard Store has helped thousands of customers find the right ID card printing solution for them.
2. Which type of ID card will you be printing?
Before even thinking about the card printer, you should consider the type of ID cards that’ll suit your needs best.
A simple blank white or coloured plastic card might look the part once it has been printed on, but with magnetic stripe cards and smart cards offering access control technology, it’s worth considering the exact needs of your business or organisation before settling on an ID card printer.
Why? Because ID card printers are capable of encoding magnetic stripe cards, smart cards and proximity cards, allowing them to store data and function as access control cards.
Smart cards and proximity cards use RFID technology and store encrypted data to allow quick and easy contactless ID and entry. The card types you’ll be able to encode will vary from printer-to-printer, and you’ll have to purchase an encoding module as an optional extra in most cases.
We’ve written a comprehensive guide on access control card options to help you out if you’re unsure which technology options are best. However, here’s a brief overview:
Plain photo ID cards are fine if:
- You require a simple ID card design with a photograph, staff details and a barcode.
- You do not require access control from your ID cards.
- You don't need to store encrypted data on your ID cards.
Magnetic stripe cards work well if:
- You want to add an access control option that is easy to encode.
- You need to store encrypted data on your ID cards.
- You don't need to print lots of information on both sides of the card.
RFID proximity cards are great if:
- You want the most secure access control options, including high-frequency proximity cards.
- You require an extremely durable card that is long-lasting and less prone to damage than magstripe cards.
- You need to store large amounts of data on your ID cards.
There are a whole host of makes and models of ID card printers available, but at the end of the day there are only two main types of plastic card printing technology: Direct-to-card (DTC) and Retransfer (Reverse Transfer).
The main difference is that DTC printers print edge-to-edge cards, while retransfer printers are capable of printing over-the-edge-cards. Edge-to-edge cards always have a small border around the edge of the card, while over-the-edge cards print… well, over the edge!
As their name suggests, direct-to-card printers use a ribbon and a printhead to press ink directly onto the cards themselves. These printers will always leave a small amount of white border around the edge of the card. (Unless your ID cards are a different colour, in which case the border will correspond to whatever colour the card happens to be).
Because the printer comes into direct contact with the card, they shouldn’t be used to print on to smart technology cards or access control cards; their raised surfaces can damage the printhead during the production process. If this isn’t an issue, then a direct-to-card printer will suit you just fine.
They offer some plus points too; they can print cards faster than retransfer machines and are cheaper to buy, as are their consumable parts. Some popular examples of DTC printers include the IDP Smart 51, the Magicard 300 and the Fargo DTC1250e.
Direct-to-card ID card printers are best if:
- You just need simple card designs with basic photos, logos, barcodes and text.
- You want to keep the cost of consumables such as printer ribbons to a minimum.
- You aren't planning on printing ID cards onto proximity and smart cards.
Retransfer ID card printers are best if:
- You will be using smart cards with internal technology (the card surface is slightly raised).
- You want the highest-possible image quality and the most professional finish available for your ID cards.
- You require a more durable, long-lasting finish without using lamination.
For durability, quality and security options, retransfer printers are the better choice. Also known as over-the-edge or high-definition printers, they use a two-step process.
Unlike DTC printers, the printhead in a retransfer printer doesn’t make contact with the card at all. Instead, it transfers the print onto a thin, transparent coating (also known as a substrate).
This is then heated and applied to the card and results in a more durable finish that doesn’t leave a white edge around the edge of the card.
While they’re more expensive, they are capable of printing high-quality professional-looking ID cards than DTC printers.
Best-selling Retransfer printers include the Fargo HDP6600 and the Magicard Ultima.
What about lamination?
Adding a laminated layer to your security card helps to enhance its durability and prevent it fading over time – two key elements when it comes to ensuring ID cards remain secure for as long as possible. Lamination also increases the card’s lifespan, so reduces ongoing re-issuance costs too.
It’s a great idea for cards that’ll be used in harsh working conditions or an outdoor environment. Lamination isn’t a standard feature on many printers, so you might want to think about this a little more before settling on your product.
This is arguably the biggest point of consideration before taking the plunge and settling on which printer is for you. Depending on the size and nature of your organisation or business, the printer will fall into one of three types:
Low, medium or high-volume?
- Low volume printers: These are designed for small and medium-sized businesses and are fine for printing up to 1,000 cards per year.
- Medium volume printers: These are designed for more regular, heavy use and can print up to 10,000 cards per year comfortably.
- High volume printers: These are made with large businesses and organisations in mind and can easily print tens of thousands of cards per year.
Hand-fed or batch-fed?
Deciding whether to invest in a hand-fed or a batch-printing ID card printer will also depend on the volume of cards required.
Some less expensive printers such as the Magicard Pronto will only offer hand-fed printing, which means they don’t have input and output hoppers. You’ll need to load each card one at a time manually, which is fine if you’re only going to be producing a few cards each day.
However, if you need to print a higher volume, you’ll want a printer with batch printing capabilities. With most card printers, you’ll put blank cards into an input hopper before printing, while the output hopper will hold cards as they come out of the printer. These hoppers will limit the amount of cards you can load at any one time. Some printers will allow you to upgrade the hopper, especially those designed for high-volume print runs.
Print speed?
ID card printers take anywhere between 12 and 35 seconds to print a card. This depends of the printer itself and of course the kind of card you’re producing. Print speed might not seem important if you’re producing a couple of dozen cards per week, but for organisations that print thousands of cards in a single run, it’s an important point to consider.
Some of the fastest, high-volume ID printers include the Evolis Primacy (225 full-colour cards per hour) and the IDP Smart 51 (210 full-colour cards per hour).
5. Single-sided vs dual-sided: Which ID card printer is for me?
So you’ve decided on the quality you require and know have an idea of the quantity of cards you’ll be printing. But should you opt for a single-sided or dual-sided ID card printer?
Let’s just state the obvious here: a single-sided ID card printer can print on one side of a card at a time, while a dual-sided printer can print on both sides simultaneously.
Of course, if you’re printing one-sided cards, a single-sided printer will suit you just fine. However, if you need a card with printing on both sides, picking a dual-sided printer will save you a significant amount of time.
The majority of ID card printers are available as both single- and dual-sided models, and dual-sided models generally cost between £150-200 more. Because of the extra ribbons a dual-sided printer uses, the cost of operation is also higher. Many printers give you the ability to upgrade to a dual-sided set-up down the line, but it’s always best to consider it before buying your printer because it’ll cost you less in the long run.
6. What about ID card printer compatibility and consumables?
Will my ID card printer be compatible with my computer?
Before you settle on a big ticket item like an ID card printer, it’s crucial to know whether the printer and software will be compatible with your operating system.
So, it’s worth bearing in mind the vast majority of printers and software are designed for use with a Windows operating systems rather than Mac. This is because the majority of companies, sectors and organisations that require plastic card printing use Windows systems.
EasyBadge, for example, which is Smartcard Store’s ID card software of choice – is only compatible with Windows operating systems. Software for printing ID cards on Mac systems are available, but you can negate the problem by installing Windows on your Mac: this will give you a much larger range of ID card software printing options.
What do I need to purchase to run and maintain my ID card printer?
You’ve purchased your ID printer. So now what? To print cards as professionally as possible and ensure a high-quality print, it’s important to purchase the right consumables. In most cases, that will mean purchasing the correct variety of printer ribbons as well as the corresponding cleaning kits.
ID card printers don’t use ink cartridges like paper printers – they use printer ribbons instead.
The number of printer ribbons you’ll be purchasing will depend on the amount of cards you print, but ID card printer ribbons designed for medium- and high-volume printing are larger, meaning they won’t need to be changed as often.
On average, most printer ribbons have a yield of between 250-500 cards, but it will depend on the printer you choose.
The cleaning of ID card printers is critical to ensure it remains in A1 order and can provide top quality printing. But most people don’t maintain them correctly. You’re able to purchase cleaning kits for your chosen printer, and we recommend that you keep them in-stock to reflect your printing needs.
7. Do you require extra security options with your ID card printer?
There’s two types of security to consider when choosing your ID printer: the security of the printer itself and the level of security its printed ID cards can provide.
You’ll have already considered the latter when you chose which type of card you’ll be printing on. For example, an encoded smart card that provides access control is a lot more advanced than a simple plain ID card with a printed barcode.
However, you can increase security further with features that are unique to manufacturers and models. Here’s some examples from some popular ID card printers.
Different makes and models of ID card printers will have their own unique security features such as hallmarks, watermarks ribbon protection. We’ve listed some of the most well-known ID card security features below.
Magicard
- The Magicard range features HoloKote as standard. This prints a transparent image into the overcoat panel during printing, creating a secure watermark that is visible under certain light conditions.
- You can also add HoloPatch - a highly visible gold square that highlights the watermark.
- Some Magicard printers are available with digital shredding, eradicating the risk of a data breach via the printer ribbon (which can contain sensitive data)
IDP Smart
- The IDP Smart 51 range features SmartMark – an advanced visual card security feature. It's visible and can be customised to include text, a picture or logo. This helps to decrease the risk of card cloning.
- The IDP Smart 51 Secure GDPR takes security to the next level with its physical printer ribbon lock. This keeps the sensitive data on your ribbon safe at all times.
- The 51 Secure GDPR features a Kensington lock, ensuring the printer itself cannot easily be stolen from a desk top.
Fargo
- The Fargo DTC4250e features UV ink-printing capabilities, providing a cost-effective means of increasing security.
- The DTC4250e is available with optional password security via its SmartScreen display panel.
- The Fargo DTC1250e features Resin Scramble data protection, meaning no sensitive information is stored on its printer ribbons following a print run.
8. How much does an ID card printer cost?
It’s natural that you’ll want to find the best deal available when it comes to purchasing an ID card printer, and that’s what Smartcard Store aims to do.
But prices will vary depending on your needs. This guide has hopefully given you an good idea of the sort of printer that will meet your requirements, and helped you figure out if you’ll need things like dual-sided functionality and an encoding module.
The hand-fed Magicard Pronto is a single-sided direct-to-card printer designed for low-volume card printing and suits SMEs and small organisations fine. Prices start from less than £500 (exc. VAT).
At the other end of the scale is Magicard’s range-topping Prima 802. This range-topping retransfer printer is designed for high-volume printing and is available with a full range of encoding options for smart cards (at additional cost). It’s priced from less than £2,750 (exc. VAT).
So, the cost of an ID card printer varies drastically and the amount you spend will depend entirely on the needs of your business. Now you’ve read this guide, however, you should have a fuller idea of what you need to think about before purchasing.
9. Ready to find the right ID card printer for you?
Whether you’re ready to shop or need further guidance, Smartcard Store can help.
You can find more guide, tips and support in our in the Smartcard Store Knowledge Hub or, if you’d like to speak to one of our experts, call us on the number below to get further advice about ID card printers.
Prefer to Talk?
Our team have more than 25 years of industry knowledge and are happy to help. We're available Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm.