Idesco Corporation Blog

In today’s busy event spaces—trade shows, conferences, concerts, etc.—badging is more than a check-in ritual. It’s a first impression, a security layer, and a way to streamline attendee management. Standard badge sizes work, but oversized ID badges bring extra visibility, authority, and flexibility. That’s why Idesco offers a lineup of oversized ID card printers, designed specifically to give event planners and security professionals more power and presence right at the registration desk.

ID card solutions have become a necessity in schools today and are continuing to grow in popularity. As schools re-open this fall and the school year begins, administrators need to ensure they have the right ID Card solutions ready to go. Schools use ID badges to improve security and manage access to different areas of the campus. Student ID cards can include a photo, name, and other identifying information. They can also be programmed to allow access to certain buildings, classrooms, or other areas. This helps prevent unauthorized individuals from entering the campus and keep students safe and secure. By implementing an ID Card solution, schools can prevent threats to student safety by requiring that all faculty/staff, students, and visitors wear a valid identification card.

Schools are rewriting the lesson plan when it comes to security and safety. With a myriad of threats facing K-12 schools and college campuses, controlling access is a necessity. It’s important that schools invest in a layered security approach that consists of back-up systems. A truly secure campus will deploy an integrated security system that includes the latest in access control technology, video surveillance, and visitor management. Today, students are receiving access to more locations and amenities on schools grounds, which is creating a need for not only ID Cards, but mobile credentials. Mobile credentials offer several potential benefits for school safety and physical security, including convenience, cost savings, enhanced security, and contactless technology. 

The healthcare industry is under attack with violence escalating at an alarming rate. The industry is seeing an increase in threats against healthcare workers and looking for ways to be proactive and protect its staff and patients.In fact, The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the rate of injuries from violent attacks against medical professionals grew by 63% from 2011 to 2018, and hospital safety directors say that aggression against staff escalated as the COVID-19 pandemic intensified in 2020. Healthcare workers are experiencing a surge in workplace violence rates nationally, and hospitals are looking for cost-effective ways to combat it. A nationwide survey conducted by National Nurses United (NNU), the nation’s largest union and professional association of registered nurses, found that the majority of nurses have experienced workplace violence and nearly half have seen a rise in rates in the past year.

It’s a known fact that government agencies across the U.S. require a higher level of security due to the amount of sensitive information they keep on file. They must maintain control over their public facilities and require more stringent security practices than the normal building. With constant risks of attempted forgery and tampering, government agencies must ensure that only authorized personnel have access to public records and their facilities. A great way to take control and bring security to the next level is investing in a fully comprehensive ID card solution. Most agencies today are implementing an ID card policy to help ensure confidential information stays private.

Are you unsure whether to take the next step and upgrade your ID card printer? Today, ID card solutions are used by a variety of vertical markets and Idesco has been on the forefront of customizing those solutions for a wide range of industries. From stadiums to schools, hospitals, hotels, and office buildings; ID badges are being used to not only improve security; but help streamline operations and improve overall efficiency.

More organizations are looking for ways to achieve greater sustainability than ever before. Finding and using environmental-friendly products in their daily operations is the first step that a business can take to help protect our planet in the long run. With a strong focus on reducing environmental impact in our society, a great place to start is with oversized ID card printing supplies. These oversized cards are typically used at large-scale events to help keep unauthorized individuals out of a sporting event,

When it comes to card printers, several brands are known for producing high-quality devices. But which one is the best one? Is there such a thing? It's important to note that the "best" card printer for you will depend on your specific requirements, such as the volume of cards you need to print, the desired print quality, encoding capabilities, and budget. Let’s look at what is available on the market.

Mobile credentials, or the use of smartphones or other mobile devices to access secure areas, are increasingly being considered as an alternative to traditional keycards and ID badges in schools. However, while mobile credentials offer several advantages, such as convenience and cost savings, there are also potential drawbacks to their use. To help aid schools in improving safety measures, we will explore the pros and cons of using mobile credentials for school safety and physical security.

Property managers are always looking for new ways to keep their residential and office buildings secure. With the increase in crime rates, it has become more important than ever to ensure the safety of people. One way in which property managers are enhancing their security measures is by using ID cards. 

ID cards can increase a healthcare facility’s security by properly identifying doctors, nurses, staff, visitors, patients, vendors, contractors, and more. They can also help you streamline operations and improve efficiency by automating processes with the latest technology. 

The ID Card Solutions industry has seen its fair share of changes over the years. Prior to the pandemic, the industry saw a surge of demand in the event industry as event planners were looking for ways to identify visitors, catering & service staff, security personnel, media representatives and VIP’s quickly even across a large venue or room. Being able to identify who works at an event can also help in emergency situations where an attendee may be looking to report an incident. However, during the pandemic we saw a drop due to the cancellation of live events.  

How can Stadiums/Venues benefit from Oversized Badges? With the return of events, we are seeing large crowds of people once again attending stadiums, theaters, and other arenas.  Going back to normalcy does not come without its own set of challenges. The existing security challenges that were present before the pandemic are still out there. 

With the return of school this fall, the time has come for the lazy days of summer to come to an end.  As students prepare to go on to the next grade level, administrators should also be graduating on to the next level when it comes to security. Schools need to use the summer months to prepare for the return of students and staff and implement new security and visitor management measures. 

Most states require that all licensed, certified, and registered healthcare providers wear a photo identification badge stating their name and professional license, certification, or registration. This helps healthcare professionals easily be identified by administrators, visitors, and patients. 

Now more than ever schools nationwide need to rewrite the lesson plan when it comes to securing their facility. Knowing who is entering your facility day or night is crucial to mitigating the risk of an incident taking place on your campus.   With a main goal of reducing risk exposure, schools are quickly learning that the best way to prevent an emergency event from happening is controlling access.  

As you know, the CDC put out an "Operational Strategy for K-12 Schools through Phased Prevention" as a guide to getting kids back to in-person classes. Some school systems brought kids back for full-time in-class operations during the second half of the school year, some chose a hybrid model of part in-person and part virtual classes, and others continued remotely.

If you don't currently have ID cards, here are a few reasons why cards offer security and functionality for your students and faculty. Not only do cards track metrics important to your operations, but they also provide a measure of security to make sure you know who is on campus at all times. Let's look at why ID cards are important for both students and staff.

Lanyards are some of the hottest ID card accessories available, especially for organizations that need cardholders to display badges easily. Some cardholders need their ID cards readily available for other actions like swiping through card readers, checking out equipment, etc. But most cardholders agree lanyards are not only popular but also effective.

Every time you run to the store and use the self check-out stations, you're using barcodes. Retailers rely on these machine-readable components to track everything from price to inventory and more. Barcodes are an efficient and effective option for small businesses and large corporations alike to contain easily verifiable information on ID cards.

If you're wondering what an ID badge holder is and if you need one, this article is for you. Today, businesses, schools, organizations, healthcare facilities, government agencies, and others consider a badge holder an essential accessory for their ID card programs. Here's why.

Many companies, when setting up an ID card program or upgrading an existing one, discover they need to store unique information about the cardholder. How do you decide between a card with a magnetic stripe or one with a simple bar code? 

Visitor management systems come with an array of elements, which can make choosing the best one a challenge. One priority stands clear above all others: you need a solution that provides high-level security for your employees or students while safeguarding assets. A good VMS is one of the most effective tools to provide that security. 

As the nation becomes vaccinated against COVID-19, stadiums, arenas, and other event locations and venues are opening back up. Remember those old, "Hello my name is" badges? Today's attendee demands much more from your event badges. Since an attendee's name and a few bits of other identifying information are typically the first thing someone sees on your event badges, you want yours to be extra special. 

One element of your employee ID card solution is identifying who belongs in your facilities and where/what they have access to in your organization. Regardless of what or where your employees need access, there's a badge or ID for it. From barcodes and magnetic strips to contactless smart chips, you can create the access ID solution that works best for your business, security needs, and budget.

If your company ID card program needs an overhaul, you can easily add data security and various levels of functionality with the HID iCLASS smart cards. Not only does this smart card protect your business and cardholder data with technology, but adds functionality in multiple ways. For example, you can use an HID iCLASS smart card for access to your facilities, to check out equipment, and also use it as a payment option in the cafeteria.

When selecting a new ID card printer for your business, one question is should you laminate your cards? Your answer drives what type of ID card printer you need, the type and cost of supplies, and whether you need badge accessories.

Hospital employees, healthcare staff, and those in clinics, laboratories, and urgent care facilities have long been aware of anti-microbial badge accessories. In today's global pandemic environment, if you have essential employees who need to display their ID badges, consider getting customized anti-microbial accessories like a special polyester lanyard that prevents the growth of germs.

Healthcare establishments have one of the widest arrays of people onsite at any given time:

• Medical care staff from various specializations and services
• Administration
• Maintenance, janitorial, housekeeping
• Patients
• Visitors
• Security

With this population changing daily, how can you simplify your personnel's identification in a busy medical environment? 

Whether you're new at printing employee/student ID cards or a pro with several batches under your belt, you need to know when it's time to clean your printer. You risk printing sub-par ID cards and potentially damaging your ID card printer if you don't keep it clean.

Here's everything you need to know about cleaning your ID card printer.

Are you considering moving to a smart card from a magnetic stripe model? If so, you may wonder how to tell if you need a contact or contactless smart card. First, research how the cards work and what type of equipment you need for each. Then figure out what you should budget for a new system to determine which smart card is right for you. 

A common contact card that most people use today is a debit or credit card with a microchip. To activate the card, you must insert it into the scanner/reader for identification purposes. On the other hand, you only need to be within range of a scanner for a contactless card to work. If you look closely, you can see the antennae around the embedded chip in a contactless card.

If you're not familiar with the term, an ID card badge reel lets you zip out your card from where it's connected anywhere on your body to swipe or scan. A badge reel has a housing that holds a retractable cord. You connect one end to your ID card and the housing to your clothing, belt, etc. When you need to scan your card, you grab it and "reel" it out. The retractable cord in most reels is between 27 and 36 inches long. The spring mechanism automatically rewinds the cord when you're done swiping. It couldn't be simpler or more convenient.

Orientation for the influx of new students to your college or university fall semester is just around the corner. It's also the time you issue photo identification cards for students, faculty, volunteers, staff, and others. It might be time to upgrade your ID card software program if you want to get even more mileage out of your cards. Students, faculty, visitors, and others can use their ID cards for more than mere identification. You can add functionality to your cards that lets cardholders.

Do your employees need rugged ID cards to withstand the elements, intense heat or harmful UV rays, dirt and debris, and other environmental wear and tear? If so, laminating your employee ID cards will extend their lifespan, meaning you spend less time and money reissuing damaged cards over the year. And many ID card printers have lamination module upgrades you can choose, and some even have field upgradable kits that you can install yourself in minutes.

Are you issuing adhesive "Hello, my name is…" badges for your visitors to stick to their clothing? Are you still manually tracking visitors through hand-written paper visitors' logs where they fill in their name and other pertinent information?

Can you tell at a moment's notice who is visiting your facilities and those who have left?

You finally have an ID card printing solution complete with extra supplies and everything you need to issue amazing, professional ID cards. It's great to be ready when it's time to replace your ribbon, clean your printer, and issue ID cards and badges on the fly. But, you might not know that your printer supplies might expire before you can use them. If you've made Christmas cookies and baked goods every holiday season, you know that certain spices, syrups, extracts, and other ingredients expire after a specified amount of time. 

"Professional photographers use tripods in studio photography." "A tripod ensures you get the same shot each time."

There's a lot of good advice out there about why you need a tripod for your photo ID card solution. They make sense, and if professional photographers consider them a necessity for portraits or landscapes, you should probably use one, too.

Don't forget that your ID cards have two sides, a front and a back. That's a lot of prime real estate you can add more functionality to. For example, you could add personal information on the backs of your cards to make cardholder identification easier.

Take advantage of both sides of your ID cards to add pertinent information or add technology for more functionality. Either way, adding dual-sided printing to your card printer means you're making the most of all available real estate on your ID cards.

Security is more than a buzzword in today's business environment. It's paramount to ensuring your employees, visitors, contractors, and others feel safe when they're on site. Beyond using your ID cards to ensure unauthorized individuals can't access your facilities, boost your entire company's security by taking proactive measures to reduce the likelihood of a security breach and to ensure everyone's safety.

The ID card software program you choose is almost as important as the ID card printer you select. Not only does the software decide how your ID cards look when printed, but it also determines the level of security features you can add. So, if the printer is the workhorse behind producing your employee ID cards, the software is your program's brain. It controls what goes on your ID cards, so it's important to weigh the software program you choose as well.

While the science behind expiring badges is interesting, it's not like flipping a switch. For example, if you choose 24-hour expiring badges, the badge doesn't stay vibrant and valid for 23 hours, then suddenly at hour 24, change to "void." Rather, what it means is that the badge will subtly change over a 24-hour period until at the end, it is obviously expired.

Another point to take into consideration is that temperature affects the timing of the expiration process. For example, heat makes the badges change quicker. So if your visitors or guests are in a hot manufacturing facility, their badges may expire faster than someone in an air-conditioned office building.

You've probably heard about both overlays and laminates for ID cards but may be uncertain when to use either. Let's take a quick look at common scenarios for using both.

An overlay differs from a laminate as it's a thin panel that's part of your ID card printer's ribbon. It actually gets printed on the top of your card to protect the printing from getting smudged or damaged. It doesn't protect the card itself but keeps the printed material on the card protected from getting scratched or harmed by UV sunlight.

Your proximity card is one of the most common forms of access control. For example, proximity cards grant keyless entry to hotels, fitness centers, apartment complexes, amusement parks, and so much more. They work relatively simply: the card is "read" by a card reader and if the data on the card is correct, it unlocks the door.

Finding the right supplies will not only help keep your ID card printer solution running, but will also help extend its life—if you buy the right supplies.

It's often hard to overlook generic brand printer supplies that cost less than manufacturer brand ones. But this is a short-sighted view that can cost you much more in the long run. Manufacturers designed your printer to work specifically with its brand ribbons, laminates, cleaning kits, and more. 

When you think of quality photographs, you automatically think of digital SLR cameras. And while their quality is unsurpassed, that doesn't mean they're the right fit for your ID card solution.

Sure, you can use a high-quality digital camera easily found anywhere on the market today. But you'll spend too much time trying to make the picture fit into your ID card design software. Here's why.

When security is your number one priority, you may need ID cards for more than just employees. If you have visitors, temporary workers, contractors, vendors, and others requesting access to your facilities daily, you need to classify and track them accordingly. Here's how to determine the different categories of ID cards you may need and the best way to print and issue those cards.

ID card printers were never designed to last forever, but trying to pinpoint an exact lifespan is impossible. It would be easy if you knew your ID card printer would print X number of cards during its life or would break down after X number of years. Since you can't rely on either of these, you need to know how to extend your ID card printer's life to get the highest longevity.

Whether you're behind the camera snapping shots or the person in front of the camera, you want to take the best picture possible for your ID badges. For examples, if you're behind the camera, learn the tips and techniques to taking the best photo IDs for employee or student IDs, passports, driver's license, and other forms of identification.

If you use lanyards or badge reels for your employee or student ID cards, punching a slot for attaching them can break your proximity card if you aren't careful. And punching slots before printing can irreversibly damage your ID card printer's printhead.

In the past, companies tracked visitor badges and collected them at the end of each visit. This resulted in a burden for those responsible for collecting badges and tracking them as visitors moved around your facility. While this is one visitor badge management option, it's difficult to use and offers a less secure method of tracking visitors.

One consideration that many don't think about is how long your ID card printer supplies last. Because just like a lot of other products, ID card printer supplies expire on a certain date. They don't last forever on your shelves.

You've likely heard of lamination, but did you know it can extend the lifespan of your employee or student ID cards by sometimes years compared to a normal card? Especially if your cardholders use their cards several times a day to swipe or scan, you can reduce your replacement card printing costs by hundreds of dollars a year—simply by laminating cards.

Shopping for an ID card printer isn't quite as significant as choosing your next motor vehicle but to your organization, it might be up there. And if you're not intimately acquainted with the various brands, options, features, and functionality offered by today's card printer manufacturers, this can be quite the daunting experience.

The purpose of ID card software is to design and print the most professional cards possible. How you get there differs depending on the software program you choose. Here's what you need to know about ID card software to make an educated purchase decision.

If your organization requires employees, guests, and others to display ID badges, you'll definitely need accessories to help cardholders wear their badges for visual identification. But how do you choose badge accessories that meet everyone's needs? Here are a few pointers to help you select the right ID card badge accessories that make the most sense for the majority of your cardholders.

Companies need not be top-secret government facilities or high-tech organizations protecting national security secrets. In fact, even the most average company needs employee ID cards. The top reasons you need employee ID cards aren't always what you think.

Companies around the country grapple with this question daily: do we need to capture visitor ID information? Beyond special security and compliance regulations, is there a strong need for your organization to monitor visitors? While your organization's specific conditions are unique, here are a few reasons to capture visitor ID information.

Let's dispel the myth: Regardless if you take pictures with a high-end digital camera or a superior ID card camera, you will get premier quality. The difference is in getting the photograph from your camera to your ID card printing software. At a minimum, a high-end digital camera requires multiple steps to import pictures while an ID card camera incorporates pictures into your customized software program immediately.

Regardless of your industry, ID badge purpose, or security needs, there is a basic ID card printer bundle that covers all bases to help you create amazing employee ID cards. The basic ID card program includes these elements, and depending on your security and other needs, you can build from here.

A reputable ID card solution provider carries a variety of manufacturers' models to help customers just like you find the right one. But if this is your first time setting up an employee ID card or badge system, you'd probably like to know more about each manufacturer and their models. Here's what you need to know about the major manufacturers and their ID card printer models.

When you Google, "How to customize employee ID cards," you'll find thousands of options, many of which want to control the process and print the cards for you. Most companies today, however, need an ID card/badge solution that you control on-site. You'll need something different.

Instances of workplace and school violence happen too often, making security a prime issue today. To protect your employees, students, assets, and more, you need good building security strategies. One of the easiest to implement and manage is a visitor management solution.

Determining whether to laminate your ID cards is a key question to answer before you choose an ID card printer. Why? Because not all ID card printers can laminate, which will somewhat restrict your choices. Beyond that, laminating cards offers a variety of benefits, adds extra costs, and takes more time than non-laminated cards. Weigh each option carefully before you make your decision.

The most common types of event credentials are badges and wristbands. Attendees usually wear badges on a lanyard or another holder around their neck or pinned to their clothing. They're considered more "professional" or "business-like" than a wristband.

Wristbands, while more informal, are perfect for venues where your attendees move around a lot or participate in activities. They come in a one-size-fits-all, are easy for anyone to wear, and you can color code them for easy visual identification.

A lot of environmental factors can affect your ID cards like strong sunlight, frequent swiping and handling, high heat environments, dust and dirt, and so much more. For example, some employees toss their ID cards on their car's dashboard which can cause cards to fade or the dye and images to seep. Combined, these factors reduce your ID cards' lifespan, meaning you reprint cards more often, adding to the total of your employee ID card program costs.

How many visitors do you see on a daily basis? If you only see two or you process dozens, it's challenging to manage these appointments and keep detailed records of who's visiting, who they're seeing, and where they're going. Especially if you're trying to keep manual paper logs, you're losing not only control over who's on site, but you're giving up records of who's visiting who, for how long, and whether they were planned or unplanned. Each of these elements may bring information your management needs to know.

The COVID-19 outbreak is impacting all of us in unprecedented ways. While we are currently in full operation, we continue to monitor this situation and have implemented precautions to ensure the health and safety of our staff and customers.

Some of these precautions include:

• Advisories of personal hygiene and social distancing techniques;
• Provisioning our workplace with sanitary supplies to inhibit the spread of the virus at work and in the community.
• Work-from-home options have been instated where possible for our staff.

To "shield" something means to protect it. You can imagine employee ID cards needing protection from adverse weather, heavy wear and tear, or excess heat and humidity. Most normal badge holders will help with those conditions. So, what might you need to shield your employee ID cards from that requires a special badge holder?

Discover our wide range of visitor sign-in books record visitor entry and exit confidentially, protecting everyone's privacy and providing visitor badges for secure identification. Two new Visitor Badge designs can help you identify and contact your visitors. Both come in books that make it easy to Sign-In and Badge visitors.

All ID card printers are similar in that they use a color ribbon to produce images, graphics, and text on a PVC ID card. However, getting that information on the face of an ID card is different depending on the ID card printer you choose. Let's look closer at the two different ID cards printers and how they work.

Now that you've picked your ID card printer and figured out a design for the perfect badge, it's time to turn your attention to the perfect badge accessories. But how do you determine what's best for your employees/students/others, what meets their and your company's security needs, and works within your company's budget?

Here are a few questions you should ask (and answer) before deciding on the perfect badge accessories for your ID card program.

ID cards and badges are important for a variety of reasons. You may need visual identification for security personnel to know who belongs in your facility and who doesn't. Some companies need more functionality from their cards like access control and payment ability. These are just a small peek at what an ID card can do. More options make it hard to determine what's most important to consider when picking out an ID card printer.

Your employees or students may need their ID cards to provide access to rooms or labs, or they may need a card to track attendance/hours. Or both! Others need ID cards or badges for security reasons, so personnel can see at a glance who belongs and who doesn't. Also, encoded technology is a big reason for issuing cards to employees, students, customers, contractors, and more. Technology lets you control access, offer payment options, verify membership, and so much more.

You might not consider how nefarious individuals’ scheme to steal your personal information, but it happens with the popular RFID cards that transmit information anytime they come in range of a reader designed to access the information. Today's credit cards and employee ID cards (particularly for governmental entities) used RFID technology to transmit information and allow access to sensitive data and/or security clearance information restricted by the government.

Whether private, public, government, NGO, or non-profit, most organizations today require employee ID cards for identification purposes. From small businesses with less than 50 employees to enterprises with thousands, security is a real issue. And an easy, cost-effective security measure you can put in place is the perfect employee ID badge.

If you're like most, however, you don't give a lot of thought to your ID cards' design. But your design is important for several reasons: safety and security measures, access control, customer relations, and even company branding.

Whether you are part of a large company campus with multiple buildings, a hospital, school or university, or a small business, you are responsible for the safety of everyone on site. This includes not only employees and students but contractors, guests, delivery personnel, and others as well. Today's reality is that you must keep your workplace, school, hospital, etc., safe from violence. Your first safety measure should be a visitor management system. These systems are comprehensive and include plenty of safeguards to help you manage, track, and identify everyone in your facility. But that's not all you need.

The short answer is: You can, but it's tricky.

Standard office printers handle business-specific printing jobs, mainly on standard A-4 paper. Whether your office uses a laser or inkjet printer, they're both designed for paper of a certain dimension. And most office printers can only handle paper of a certain heaviness and thickness. A PVC card such as employee ID cards, debit/credit cards, loyalty cards, and more are considerably thicker than paper.

You don't need the "best of the best, sir" with an ID camera for your employee or student ID card program. But you need a camera that will capture true images of individuals that others can easily and quickly identify as being the card holder. Here are a few features you must have on your ID camera to make sure everyone's cards meet your company's needs and your security force and one that others can quickly identify who belongs and who doesn't.

Whether you're a school system, a hospital, or a corporation, no one should have access to all your facilities. In fact, you should restrict access to reduce risk of violence and subterfuge. Today's world needs ID cards to restrict access to labs that contain volatile substances or to corporate proprietary information. A proximity card restricts access to only those areas for which you clear the cardholder. Nefarious individuals can't get into a college lab that contains hazardous chemicals, nor would such persons be able to gain access to patient rooms and other locations in a hospital—if they don't have the right access privileges.

If you thought a visitor badge meant an adhesive label with "Hello, my name is…" on which visitors hand write their name, it's important to know that you have options. Dozens of options. And the option you choose depends on your security needs and a few questions to answer before making your decision.

The following simple questions will help you decide what type of visitor badge best serves your needs.

Well, actually, you can. But it takes several more steps than using ID software tailored for creating and printing beautiful ID cards for your employees, students, guests, and others. We looked at both Microsoft (MS) Word and an ID-specific software program. Here's what we found.

Every business today needs a custom badge that identifies him or her job title and restricted areas he or she has access to. Beyond needing badges that promote your brand, you must keep safety and security foremost when issuing badges. Here are a few reasons to consider custom badge accessories to help you manage your security needs, cardholder privacy requirements, and promote your organization's brand and message.

Just like you would research different car models to compare features and benefits, research ID card printers before investing in new equipment. At a minimum, you need to know the following terms and their impact on your decision BEFORE talking to a salesperson.

Just when you think it's easy to set up an ID card program for your employees, students, or others, you discover there are different types of ID cards from which to choose. How do you know what you'll need for your program today and for your future needs?

The simple answer is: It depends on the supplies.

Ribbons and cleaning kits are manufacturer-specific. You shouldn't try to swap out less expensive or generic options because these two factors greatly affect your ID card printer's veracity and quality. ID card printer manufacturers engineer both printer ribbons and cleaning kits for their specific models. You're best served to choose manufacturer-recommended ribbons and cleaning kits to keep your ID card printer in tip-top condition for years to come.

Where you can finagle a bit is with the PVC cards you use.

Some people don't like their pictures taken; others don't mind. But for an organization, employee ID cards with color photographs serve a few purposes. Here are five reasons your employee ID cards need pictures.

You'll find plenty of information online about the questions you should answer before you choose the right ID card printer for your organization's needs and budget. For example, do you want to print on a single side or both sides of your ID cards, how many cards a year will you print, do you want extra security features, etc.? But what no one shares are the questions you should ask the vendor before you buy an ID card printing solution.

Customers just like you ask Idesco's ID Experts why not just use an inexpensive digital SLR camera instead of a photo ID card program-specific one. Our response is always, "Let us explain what your options are so you can make the best decision based on your needs."

A digital SLR camera takes wonderful pictures, but using it adds several unnecessary steps when compared to an ID card camera. 

If you're implementing an employee ID card program for your organization, the myriad of bits and pieces that go along with an ID card printer can be overwhelming. Most people just want to know the foundational pieces they must have to get started. Then they can decide later on if they need bells and whistles.

Here are the key ID card printer supplies you need to start your employee ID card program.

Schools, hospitals, and other organizations have visitors on premises at varying times throughout the day. More than likely, you've decided that you need visitor badges for either security reasons or to more easily identify who is on site at any given time. Depending on what your visitors do on-site, you may need either plastic or paper visitor badges. Let's look at each to get an idea of their viability and uses.

Your next corporate event could be something as simple as a sponsored conference or as complex as an annual global conference. One of the many decisions you must make months in advance is choosing event credentials for attendee access. And depending on the security and technology requirements for your event badges, you'll need the right credential printer.

If you're setting up your organization's ID cards and badging program, you'll need an ID card software program to design and print your cards. While there are several viable programs available, they will all design and print ID cards and badges. That's like saying a Chevrolet is comparable to a Rolls Royce because they all have wheels and windshields. There are levels of design and functionality that separate a basic software program from the premium version.

An option you might consider when issuing multiple cards with the same design is having them pre-printed. Then you can customize each card with the information you need, saving time, money, and effort.

For example, some companies' ID cards have their full-color logo and maybe a tagline printed on each card. It takes more time to print each card, uses more consumables, and your support staff waste time they could better spend on customer-facing activities.

Companies use clamshell proximity cards for a variety of purposes. Their shell construction is perfect for harsh environments, making them highly durable, and they're also convenient, affordable, and reliable. More importantly, companies turn to clamshell proximity cards because they work well with diverse applications. They provide access control, PC login, biometric authentication, time and attendance, cashless vending, public transportation, airline ticketing, customer loyalty programs, and more.

Your campus, facility, or organization needs ID cards or security badges. You might even need to print different badges for employees, visitors, contractors, vendors, volunteers, etc. How do you know when it makes sense to purchase an ID card printing solution with everything you need to issue badges on-site? Or should you outsource them to an expert ID card printing service? While there are several considerations for both sides of the equation, your decision ultimately depends on your specific needs.

Every business, organization, educational system, and governmental entity needs one thing for their ID badges or cards: a way to hold it. Most expect cardholders to display their IDs either for security reasons (e.g., so security personnel can tell at a glance who belongs). Others use holders that make it easy for cardholders to access their cards for swiping or coming within proximity of a card reader.

As there are many types of ID badge holders available, how do you choose the right one for your cardholders' needs? Let's go over a few deciding factors.

Is safety of employees and company assets a primary concern for your company or organization? How do you make sure you restrict access to your facilities only to allowed individuals? A good visitor management system helps you manage the visitor process. Here are a few tips to help you set up a suitable visitor ID program and to figure out what you should display on your visitor IDs.

If you're new to ID badging, you may find the array of available equipment and accessories overwhelming. Where should you start? What do you really need for security, identification, or access control? Idesco makes it easy by offering ID card printing solutions comprising printers, blank cards, consumables, a camera, software, and more, depending on your needs. 

Whether to "slot" is a design issue every organization faces when implementing their ID card and badging program. Besides all the other design decisions you must make like whether to print on one side or two, consider how your employees or students will carry their cards.

The answer to that question might require a slot.

TWAIN is an application programming interface (API) that regulates how digital imaging devices like a camera communicates with a software program. What this means in layman's terms is TWAIN drivers let you connect a digital camera directly to your ID card software program.

You may have heard of expiring ID badges or self-expiring badges; many companies today have gone away from the paper visitor log and guests badges that need returned to the receptionist. They are now combining a visitor management system and expiring ID badges to control and monitor guests. Visitor management solutions today require a photo ID to verify a guest's identity. These solutions scan IDs and enter them in a company's system which uses software to streamline the visitor management process.

Companies, universities, and organizations of all kinds use key fobs to help secure employees, students, and assets. These key fobs function a lot like the keyless entry systems for motor vehicles, allowing the fob holder’s to enter into a building or other restricted areas. Key fobs are small electronic devices you can add to your key ring or keep in a pocket. They work with your overall access control system to manage entry through a single automatically locked door or throughout your entire facility.

Are you still using the old-fashioned paper log to track your visitors and issuing adhesive "Hello, my name is…" badges to guests? First impressions are everything. Make your company's first impression professional with an innovative, electronic visitor management system. When your guests step through your front door, they won't focus on your antiquated systems; instead, you'll impress them with an engaging and enjoyable visitor experience.

Are you responsible for special events like concerts, trade shows, conferences, sporting events, and more? Whether you're in the hospitality or event management industry, an oversized ID badge printer can be a game-changer for credentialing guests at your event. If you're looking to upgrade a current ID card printer or invest in a new one, you want the top oversized ID badge printer for your needs. But with several oversized ID card printers to choose from, how do you know which is the best? Here's what to consider when choosing a printer to buy.

You don't have to be an event company to understand the benefits your organization will reap from putting on an event. From hosting a conference to inviting your clients to a golf outing, companies use events to get their brand front and foremost.

In addition, have you discovered the benefits of trade shows? Not only can you test new products at trade shows, but you get access to a large population of your ideal customers which results in a lower cost per sale.

ComputerWorld reported in 2018 that Macs comprised 10 percent of personal computers. With the rise in Mac use, ID card printer solutions are keeping pace. While not as slim as a decade ago, the choices for ID card printers with Mac iOS print drivers and Mac-compatible software programs have improved with the times.

If you're new to the ID card scene, you may wonder what you need to set up a full-scale employee or student photo badge solution. You're sure you'll need an ID card printer and some cards, but everything beyond that isn't quite clear.

We put together a handy checklist to help make sure you're fully stocked and ready to ramp up your ID card process as soon as you get your new printer.

Employee or student ID cards are the norm today, but choosing what to put on your cards isn't. With a bevy of options, how do you keep your card from becoming so cluttered, it's almost unidentifiable? Let's walk through a simple process to help you determine what information you should print on your employee or student ID cards.

Lanyards are one of the most popular badge accessories for employee or student ID cards. They're a convenient way to display your credentials, and lanyards aren't easy to misplace like other badge accessories. 

The ID card software you choose needs to meet all of your needs, now and in the future. For example, a basic employee ID template helps you print out a few cards a week, so you may not need something powerful with a full database. 

Are you in search of an ID card printer for your employee, student, visitor, attendee, or other badging program? One of the first things you must consider is whether a direct-to-card or retransfer printer works best for your business needs and budget.

Do you need a badge so customers can easily spot employees when they need help? Or maybe you need to track student attendance and access to facilities. Perhaps security of proprietary information, products, etc. is an issue and you need to restrict access to your offices and factories. Each of these work environments call for a different type of employee ID card.

Do you currently use proximity cards or maybe you're considering switching to a proximity card system for your access control needs? Proximity cards provide the security you need to maintain who should access to your facility. 

Security is one of the most important priorities in any organization. From small businesses to large enterprises, and from local school districts to big-campus universities, issuing ID cards helps keep people and assets safe. But there's a difference between a simple ID card and one that's secure.

If you're considering all your options for an ID card printing solution, a popular—and secure—option to look at are plastic cards with a magnetic stripe. For a variety of reasons, these cards are used extensively today in both the US and around the world. 

You know you need secure access control in your facility or office building, but you're not sure how to decide between a proximity or smart card. Which will better meet your security needs, be easy for employees and others to use, and fit in your budget? We help you answer those questions in this article.

Many people dread having their picture taken. We have all seen or had a hideous driver's licenses that gets tuck in the backs of our wallets. But for employee ID badges, student ID cards, and other photo IDs, most wear or display them prominently in clip-on holders, lanyards, or some other badge accessory. 

Do you know who's in your building right now besides your employees? How many visitors have you had over the past week or month? Who showed up at your office or facility on May 26, 2017?

When considering an ID card printing solution, one consideration is whether your company needs laminated ID cards now or in the future. Lamination puts a thin plastic layer over your ID cards during the printing process that offers quite a few benefits.

Self-expiring ID badges aren't magic; they don't disappear or turn colors at the stroke of midnight. Rather, they use a chemical reaction to gradually change colors or reveal a message over a select period. 

What's one thing many don't consider when implementing their first ID card printing solution? How to choose the right ID card software that works for your security requirements, your future ID card needs, and your budget.

Have you ever wondered what all the acronyms in the ID card industry mean? "ID" is easy to figure out; it's short for "identification." But what about RFID? Or PVC? Do you know what CR80 or HID cards are? And how about those crazy printer ribbon abbreviations, like YMCKO?

Do you already have an ID badging system you want to upgrade or are you starting a brand new program? You may wonder what the difference is between contact and contactless smart cards and how they compare to the other ID cards available.

You may think that printing ID badges on reliable and durable plastic cards is enough to get your ID program off the ground. Consider purchasing a few accessories to make your solution not only easy to use but also easy to store, protect, and display ID cards.

You're most likely familiar with ID cards the size of a typical credit card that can control access, offer visual security, and help you manage both employees and guests. But did you know you can print oversized event badges that are even more functional for your large venue events?

HID cards offer a high-tech option for your security needs. Whatever type of secure smart card IDs you need, HID has the perfect solution. But with so many choices, finding the right card may seem confusing. The following is a complete guide to HID cards to help you choose the right security solution for your needs and your budget.

Asking which card is better is like asking which instrument in the orchestra is better, the violin or the cello. Both have distinctive sounds, but they aren't interchangeable. 

ID card printers use one of two ways to print: retransfer or direct-to-card. Let's look closer at retransfer to see why it provides one of the best, and most secure, images.

If you've just purchased a new ID card printer or you have an existing system, it makes sense to protect your investment.