Cheap Plastic ID Card Printer

Introduction

For businesses, schools, and other organizations, having an easy and affordable way to print plastic identification cards for employees, members, or visitors is a must. In this article, we'll take a look at the various kinds of cheap plastic ID card printers, how they work, as well as the accessories you might need to get started.

Plastic Card Printers

Plastic card printers come in two main categories: direct-to-Card (DTC) printers and retransfer printers. DTC printers are the simpler, more affordable option, perfect for printing single-sided cards with basic text and/or images. The single-sided printable card is inserted into the DTC printer, where it is printed in a single pass. Retransfer printers, on the other hand, are more expensive and slightly more complex. A retransfer printer prints the design onto a thin film which is then transferred onto the card. This allows for both single-sided and dual-sided printing with more detailed designs, logos, and pictures.

Features of Plastic Card Printers

The features of plastic card printers vary, but all allow for printing on plastic cards. Most printers now come with a magnetic stripe encoder, allowing you to quickly add magnetic stripes to your cards. Many have extra features such as built-in wireless connectivity or an automated card feeder. More expensive models may have dye-sublimation capabilities, allowing for the printing of full-color images directly onto your cards.

Pros and Cons of Plastic Card Printers

• Pros: Generally more affordable than other card printing technologies. Easy to use and require very little maintenance.Print quality is typically quite good.
• Cons: Printer speed is slower than other card printing technologies. Not ideal for printing dual-sided cards with complex designs.

Case Studies

Here are two case studies that show how organizations have successfully used plastic card printers for their card printing needs.

Organization 1 - Student ID Cards

An international university wanted to print durable, photo ID cards for all its students and staff. They chose to use retransfer printers because they needed printing on both sides of the cards and wanted a high-quality glossy finish. After purchasing and installing the printer, they were able to quickly print thousands of cards for students and staff.

Organization 2 - Membership Cards

A non-profit organization wanted to print plastic cards for its members. They chose a DTC printer, as they only needed single-sided cards with basic information. The printer was easy to install and use, and they were able to quickly print membership cards for their members.

Card Printer Accessories

In addition to the printer, there are a few other accessories you might need for printing plastic cards. A card feeder is useful for quickly loading cards into the printer, and a card cutter allows you to easily cut cards into the desired size. There are also clip holders for holding the cards in place while printing. You might also need magnetic stripe encoding or contactless card readers.

FAQs

• How difficult is it to set up a plastic card printer?

  It isn't difficult to set up a plastic card printer. Depending on the type of printer, you might need to install drivers or software, but most are plug and play.

• Can a plastic card printer print on both sides?

  It depends on the type of printer. Direct-to-card printers can only print on one side, but retransfer printers can print on both sides.

• Are plastic card printers expensive?

  The price depends on the type of printer you choose, but most are relatively affordable.

Mistakes People Make

When choosing and setting up a plastic card printer, there are a few mistakes that people make. One is not researching the type of printer and the features it offers before buying. Another is not making sure the printer is compatible with their card design software. A third is not testing the printer before actually printing cards.

Best Practices

When choosing a plastic card printer, it's important to make sure that the printer is compatible with your card design software. It's also important to consider the types of cards you need to print, how many cards you need to print, and the features you need (such as magnetic stripe encoding or contactless card readers). Make sure to research and compare different printer models and read reviews to make sure you're getting the best one for your needs. Before actually printing cards, be sure to do a few test prints to make sure everything is working correctly.

Final Notes

Plastic card printers are a great way to quickly and affordably print cards for a variety of uses. Before choosing a printer, make sure to consider your needs and do some research to get the best printer for the job. A plastic card printer is a great way to quickly and affordably print identification cards for employees, members, or visitors.

If you're looking for the perfect printer for your organization, we highly recommend looking at the cheap plastic ID card printers in our store.