Answering the 6 Most Common ID Card Printer Questions:

In this blog we address and answer the most commonly asked ID card printer questions. Keep reading if you’re looking to have some questions answered regarding an ID card printer.

What is an ID Card Printer?

An ID Card Printer is a desktop printing machine that prints on a plastic (PVC) card. It is used to print employee ID badges/ID cards, membership cards, loyalty cards, building access cards, credit cards, and more. Can I print ID Cards with a regular printer? No. You need a desktop ID Card Printer that prints on plastic to print ID Cards.

Which Printer can I print ID Cards on?

There are two main types of ID Card Printers:

Direct-to-Card ID Card Printer: also known as DTC or dye-sublimation printers, direct-to-card ID Card Printers are the most common type of ID card printer, used to produce straight-forward usually 300 DPI photo ID cards, loyalty cards, membership cards, and more. How much do ID Card Printers cost? Direct-to-card printers have lower up-front costs than retransfer ID Card Printers. What is the best ID Card Printer? The Entrust Sigma Range of ID Card Printers is the top-selling ID Card Printer at CSID (CardServ ID Pty Ltd) on the market. Contact Us for an instant competitive quote!

Retransfer ID Card Printers: deliver a higher definition print quality usually 600 dpi, producing cards that are 3 times more durable than those printed with standard DTC machines. Retransfer ID Card Printers are perfect for print bureaus, government ID Cards, or highly secure applications where print quality is important.
These printers use a two-step reverse transfer printing process to securely bind the design to plastic cards. First, the design is printed onto an overlay film via the ribbon. The overlay is then fused to the card’s surface using a combination of heat and pressure, leading to increased durability. Retransfer card printers print over-the-edge, so there is no border left around the edge of the surface, ensuring printed ID cards have a truly professional look. These ID Card Printers can also print complex card designs containing block colours. How much do ID Card Printers cost? Retransfer ID card printers tend to have higher up-front costs than direct-to-card printers, however, offer much more value. What is the best ID Card Printer for Retransfer Card Printing? The Entrust Artista Range Retransfer ID Card Printers is the world-leading solution of Retransfer ID Card Printers. Contact Us for an instant competitive quote!

What Card Size does an ID Card Printer typically print at?

You may ask yourself how do I print ID Card sizes in a printer? Most ID Card Printers are made to print on CR80 Card size with some printing on CR79:

• CR79 Cards are 83.9mm x 51mm and are typically sold to have an adhesive back and are commonly used for printing and adhering to a clamshell proximity card (which is an access card). All ID Card Printers sold at CSID (CardServ ID Pty Ltd) print on CR79 cards.
• CR80 Cards are 85mm x 54mm (the same size as a credit card) and are the most used PVC Card size. These are available with magnetic strip and rewritable printing surfaces. All ID Card Printers sold at CSID (CardServ ID Pty Ltd) print on CR80 cards.

Note: CR100 are over-sized cards that are available on the market but require a special type of ID Card Printer to print these. For this reason, CSID (CardServ ID Pty Ltd) do not stock CR100 card sizes.

Card thickness: this varies and is measured in “mils”, which is equal to 0.001 inches. The card thickness will depend on what application you require for the card. As a rule, these are the following recommendations:

• 10mil – professional business card
• 13 mil – gym membership card
• 20 mil – bus or train pass card
• 30 mil – access control or corporate ID cards

Important Tip: Direct-to-card Card ID Printers (DTC) print cards that leave a small white border around the edge of the ID Card. Retransfer ID Card Printers can easily print over the edge, leaving a professional high-end solution.

CSID (CardServ ID Pty Ltd) stock a wide range of Blank PVC Cards:

• White PVC Cards
• Coloured PVC Cards
• Smart Cards
• 10mil Adhesive-backed PVC Cards
• Mylar Adhesive-backed Cards
• Magnetic-stripe PVC Cards

How to choose an ID Card Printer?

The right type of ID card printer for your organisation will depend entirely on your individual needs. These are the questions to ask when deciding on an ID Card Printer:

• What is your budget?
• What print volume will you be printing every year?
• Do you require single-sided or dual-sided printed cards?
• Do you want your cards to be monochrome (black-and-white) or colour?
• Do you require magnetic-stripe or smart cards (chipped) for access control into buildings?
• Does your card require an additional level of security against tampering or counterfeiting with our Tactile Impression Modules (TLM) and Card Lamination Module (CLM)?

Why are ID card Printers so expensive?

ID card Printers are more expensive than paper printers. Although you may be able to purchase a paper printer from Kmart for $100, most believe that ID Card Printers cost the same as a paper printer. ID Card Printers cost more than this because it takes a different technology to print onto a plastic card.

How much do ID Card Printers cost? ID Card Printers range between $1,500 to over $10,000. It is important to know the difference between an “expensive” ID Card Printer as opposed to a “cheap” ID Card Printer. There are plenty of “cheap” ID Card Printers on the market!

A “cheap” ID Card Printer can be purchased for $1,500. While $1,500 is a lot of money, it is not what you expect to pay for a robust, reliable ID Card Printer that prints quality ID Card Prints and that will last. As the saying goes “You get what you pay for”. When making a large asset investment in your organisation, such as an ID Card Printer, be sure it will perform as you need it to and be sure it is the right printer for your application.

A robust, efficient, and quality ID card Printer costs between $2,000-$3,000. Then you need to factor an additional $1,000 (approx..) on top of that for the remaining items such as software, cards, printer ribbons, camera, and supplies (lanyards, card holders, etc..).

At CSID (CardServ ID Pty Ltd) we don’t receive calls from customers who regret spending more money upfront for a good ID Card Printer. However, we do receive many calls from customers using “cheap” printers who end up purchasing a new ID Card Printer – the printer they should have purchased initially. Contact Us today so we can help you purchase a quality ID card Printer which will last you for years to come.

What are Common ID Card Printer Issues and Solutions?

• Card Jams:
  Issue: When a card gets stuck inside the ID Card Printer
  Solution: Open the Card Printer and carefully remove the jammed card. Ensure the cards are clean and not stuck together. If applicable, double check the card thickness settings and make sure they match the type of card you are using.
• Poor Print Quality:
  Issue: The printed cards have unwanted lines, smudges, or uneven colours.
  Solution: Clean the internal printer rollers and print head of the ID Card Printer with a cleaning kit recommended by the manufacturer. Check the Card Printer Ribbon for wrinkles or damage and replace it if necessary. Adjust the print settings in the printer driver to improve quality.
• Ribbon Breakage:
  Issue: The ribbon snaps or breaks during printing.
  Solution: Ensure the printer ribbon is correctly installed in the ID Card Printer and that the tension is not too tight. Inspect the ribbon for any defects or damage and replace it if needed. Avoid touching the ribbon surface with your fingers to prevent contamination. Driver heat settings on the printer may also need to be adjusted, so double-check these.
• Card Feeding Issues:
  Issue: The ID Card Printer does not pick up the cards from the hopper.
  Solution: Ensure you have not overfilled the Card Hopper, otherwise they will stick together. Clean the card feeder rollers from dust and debris and double-check that the card thickness settings are correct.
• Software and Driver Issues:
  Issue: The ID Card Printer does not recognise the PC or the printer software is not working correctly.
  Solution: Ensure you have installed the latest drivers and software updates from the printer manufacturer’s website. Restart your computer and the ID Card Printer. If the issue persists, uninstall, and reinstall the printer driver.
• Print Alignment Issues:
  Issue: The print is misaligned on the card
  Solution: Calibrate the ID Card Printer using the manufacturer’s calibration tools. Adjust the print settings in the software to ensure the alignment is correct. Always ensure the card is properly seated in the printer ID Card Printer picker.
• Networking Issues:
  Issue: The Card Printer is not connecting to the network or wireless setup
  Solution: Double-check the network settings to ensure the ID Card Printer is configured correctly. Check the wireless connection and cables are connected properly. When all else fails, restart the Network devices and ID Card Printer.

When to call the experts? If all of these troubleshooting steps have been done and the issue with your ID Card Printer has not been resolved, then always seek CSID (CardServ ID Pty Ltd) Technical Support. Our Service Technicians are qualified and certified, so ensure you don’t void your warranty by using external Service Technicians who are not certified for repairs by the manufacturer. They may provide remote, onsite, or back-to-base to resolve the issue with your ID Card Printer. Consider taking out a SMA (Software Maintenance Agreement) or HMA (Hardware Maintenance Agreement) which is an annual “insurance” that covers you for Technical Support for your ID Card Printer.

Contact Us today and let the CSID Team assist you with finding the perfect ID Card Printer for your organisation’s needs!