If you are an entrepreneur, you certainly don’t want that any home printer and paper represent your brand. In such a case, PVC ID card printers come into the picture. Nowadays, ID cards are no longer limited to the education sector, but they are widely used in government, healthcare, finance, transport, retail – almost all sectors for on-site identification and security.
Therefore, learning about the PVC ID card printers is important if you are an agency or institute whose work incorporates making ID cards in bulk. These printers are specifically used for making high-quality ID cards. It is a one-time investment in this technology that can save hard-earned money and the hassle of printing professional prints for institutions or business owners.
This blog will shed light on how PVC ID card printers differ from regular printers and everything that is important for you to know before investing in them.
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What are PVC ID card printers?
They are machines that print on plastic instead of paper or other materials. Besides printing, these printers can handle lamination functions, too. These printers can print employee ID cards, membership cards, etc.
This printer works the same way the inkjet printer works. Just like an inkjet printer sucks the blank paper, prints it on it, and then spits out the final document or image to use instantaneously, PVC ID card printers take in the blank card and print the design on it. After that, they spit out the card. Therefore, you can use it immediately.
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How does it work?
The basic principle PVC ID card printers follow is the same as other types of printers. The one aspect that makes it different from the other printer is that it prints on plastic instead of other materials or paper.
Using such printers, you can print an ID card of 85.60 * 53.98mm. Let’s learn how this printer works.
The printing procedure is quite simple. A card is placed under a thermal printer head and colour ribbon. After that, the heat will transfer the colour onto the card as per the design made by the user. The resolution of the image can generally be 300 dots per inch. Using PVC ID card printers, users can add features such as a magnetic stripe or a fluorescent print according to the user’s needs.
How to operate PVC ID card printers?
Operating these printers varies as per the model and its built. However, the basic process remains the same. First, the printer will be hooked up to a PC and then operated with the help of software. The proprietary software provides users with the capability to customise ID cards as per the user’s requirement. When you buy such printers, you will get special cleaning kits and fresh colour ribbons with them.
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Design transfer methods
PVC, which stands for Polyvinyl chloride, is a synonym for plastic. We all know that plastic is durable and strong. Therefore, it can make the printing process smooth and stress-free with the help of PVC ID card printers.
These printers are widely known as ID card printers. They use the following methods to print the design on the ID card.
Dye Sublimation
This printing method is mostly used with the colour PVC ID card printers. It is the easiest and preferred method of ID card printing. All thanks to its easy learning procedure. This procedure requires low investment and is used for various products to transfer the design.
Reverse Transfer
PVC ID card printers use this method to produce a top-quality image with high security against the existing image.
Now, as you are aware of both methods used in this printer, let us understand the difference between them.
| DYE Sublimation | Reverse Transfer | |
| Over-the-edge card printing | No | Yes |
| Access control card printing | No | Yes |
| Can handle HD photos and graphics | No | Yes |
| Easy-to-duplicate or tamper | Yes | No |
| Strong enough to withstand wear and tear | No | Yes |
| Offers highly secure identification | No | Yes |
Hopefully, this chart will help you to choose the right type of ID card printer for your business at an affordable rate.
Benefits
Nowadays, producing ID cards have become quite a seamless and cost-friendly procedure. These printers make printing easy while enjoying the following benefits.
- High durability
- Security
- Top image-quality
- Professionalism
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How to select the right PVC ID card printers?
Do you want to get the most out of your investment? If the answer to this question is YES, you should invest in a printer that fits your requirement perfectly. For that, you need to keep in mind the following factors.
Cost
The cost of PVC ID card printers can vary from approximately Rs.80,000 to 8,00,000. Therefore, before settling down on any model, you must consider your printing requirement, how often you will use the printer, and what capabilities you expect from the printer.
Type
When it comes to the type of PVC ID card printer, there are three types.
- Single side – This type of printer can print on one side of the card as its passes.
- Dual side – Dual side printers can print simultaneously on both sides.
- Laminating – A laminating printer can print both sides, and along with it, it can add lamination in a single pass.
Therefore, select a printer that can handle your ID card’s design requirement.
Volume
Different models and built of the PVC ID card printers have dissimilar speed of printing and printing capabilities. If you require to print a large number of ID cards or to print a bulk batch of ID cards, ensure to select the PVC ID card printer that can match your expectations and handle the printing load.
Size
It is an important factor to consider. Of course, you don’t want to clutter your office by investing in the wrong size ID card printer. Therefore, consider your space and how often you will use the printer. You should invest in an easily portable printer.
Modularity
It might happen that the ID cards you are printing today do not meet your requirement tomorrow. Therefore, you should always invest in a printer that supports modular design. Therefore, you will be able to add or eliminate capabilities and can print ID cards as per the various complexity levels.
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Concluding Remarks
In a nutshell, investing in good ID card printers ensures that you will get top-notch quality and customizable prints while cutting-down long-term costs. However, while choosing it, you must keep in mind print speed, budget, versatility, and volume requirements, as discussed above.
Hopefully, this article has helped you understand everything that you need to know about PVC ID card printers. Still, if you have any queries, let us know in the comment section below.
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Nishva Gandhi
Content Copy Writer with over 6 years of professional writing experience and hold a Master’s Degree in IT. I help businesses grow organically with captivating content & strategic social media tactics.