Card printers are small, portable printers that provide quality, on-demand card printing solutions for a variety of card types. These small but powerful machines have a plethora of uses, and allow businesses to create their own customised ID cards, membership cards, gift cards, driver's licenses, membership cards, location passes, employee access cards, and student cards with a few simple clicks. Like any device, card printers come with a variety of built-in features that can increase the security and functionality of your ID badges like smart card and magnetic stripe encoding, ethernet connectivity, and lamination for higher security and card durability.
Unlike normal printers which print on textured paper, card printers are specially built to handle the smooth shiny surfaces of cards while leaving a durable, slow-fading print. The two main printing processes direct-to-card printing and retransfer printing. The former combines two additional steps - monochrome thermal transfer processes and dye sublimation - to create a seamless process using a ribbon (the equivalent of the ink cartridge in normal office paper printers) consisting of color panels (yellow, magenta, cyan, and black). In sublimation, the print head heats each color panel on the ribbon one after the other. These layers of color then vaporize and solidify on the top layer of the plastic card, after which the layers are superimposed to achieve the required colors. Next, comes thermal transfer, which is process of assigning the dye to the card by applying a single layer of color from a monochrome ribbon on the smooth, flat surface of the plastic card. This transfer is possible thanks to the print head, which, by increasing the temperature, heats up the areas to be printed on the colored layer of the ribbon before transferring it onto the card. A varnish is then applied to the card to maximize durability, and your printed card is ready for use.
More sophisticated models use a different process called reverse transfer printing to produce high-definition cards. In this two-stage process, the card design is first printed in reverse onto a transparent film by applying different layers of colour successively via sublimation, and thermal transfer for the black panel. Next, the film is transferred onto the card, which reverses it again to achieve the correct orientation.
Naturally, both methods have their own set of advantages. Direct-to-card printing is cheaper, easier to handle, prints faster, involves smaller equipment, and has an option to customize pre-printed cards for variable elements (photos, text, barcodes). On the other hand, retransfer printing boasts improved card durability, perfectly printed edges, print head preservation, and the ability to print on various card materials and on non-standard cards, for a more consistent printing experience with less errors like ribbon wrinkle, ribbon tearing, and color matching.
Ultimately, the type of device you decide to buy comes down to your business's needs.
If you need to print on both sides of the card, as in the case of certain access cards, driver's licenses, or ID cards, make sure to pick a 'dual-sided' or duplex printer to allow printing on both sides in a single print cycle. If you are unsure, consider a printer with a field upgradable dual-sided printing module to allow you the flexibility to switch between versions. If you're looking for advanced security, consider going for a machine that can print magnetic stripes. These dark stripes on the back of sensitive cards like your credit card or driver's license store data and are often used in time & attendance or access control applications. Most, if not all card printer manufacturers offer optional magnetic stripe encoding. Consider adding magnetic encoding up-front or select a printer that is upgradeable to magnetic encoding in the future.
If security is key, consider going for the next step up and investing in a printer with smart card functionality. This process involves embedding a memory chip into the surface of your card, allowing it to store information more securely than a magnetic stripe. As with magnetic strips, virtually all printer manufacturers offer smart card contact stations as an option. The only caveat is that most smart card contact stations cannot be added after the printer has been built, which makes this option an up-front consideration.
Also consider how many cards you expect to print in your daily operations. If you plan to print many cards per session or per year, look for a printer that is built to sustain high volume printing, which include input and output card hoppers that hold more than 100 cards. For durable cards that will be used outside, subject to chemicals or abrasive contact, or need to withstand continuous use, consider a card printer that is capable of lamination. In this process, a thin clear or holographic protective layer is adhered to the surface of the card, protecting its images and information. If you select a lamination-capable printer, be sure to use composite PET/PVC cards rather than 100% PVC cards since the former are designed to withstand the heat generated by the lamination process.
Other customisable options include encoding on contact and contactless chips or magnetic stripes, card lamination with or without holograms, and embossing.
At the minimum, look for a card printer that can personalize virtually every type of media, including blank and preprinted PVC cards, magnetic stripe, proximity, smart cards, and specialty key tags, to allow for a wide range of applications and better value for your money.
Interested in investing in a card printer? Get to know more about how this small device can benefit your business with a call to one of our experts in Doha, Qatar, listed below.