ID cards are commonplace in the majority of large and small businesses today. Many companies use a simple ID card to identify the employees of the company. The ID card may be displayed or may be carried in a wallet while a person is on the job.

Other companies use ID cards as much more than identification. Cards can be used to access buildings, access computer networks, check out equipment and tools, log in and out for payroll and many other reasons. These cards are multifunctional and will contain unique items or coding to allow the card holder to easily access secured areas for necessary business processes. Cards can also be used as a debit system to keep cash transactions from occurring throughout the workday. Financial transactions made with an equipped identification card can be logged without the exchange of cash during the workday.

The technology of choice for many card printing application is the direct to card (DTC) print. Popular DTC card printers come from the Fargo printer manufacturer. This is the common printing for standard identification cards that are printed on PVC plastic. Entry level and many professional level ID card printers provide the direct to card printing capability. This type of printing produces a high quality result with clear color logos and images that have been laid out in ID card software programs.

The direct to card printing process is started with the ID card software. The software provides the details needed on the card to the ID card printer. The printer then begins the process. The full color ribbon typically used with ID card printers is a YMCKO print ribbon. Each of the panels Y, M, C provides a portion of color as they pass the plastic card in the printer. The combination of the colors provides a wide variety of colors and full color images are able to be printed directly onto the plastic card. The specific section of the panel is heated and the color is actually burnt onto the plastic card.

The K panel is a black panel of color for any black text or black needs on the card. The O panel is an overlay panel that is clear. The panel covers the entire surface of the printed plastic card and helps to secure the printing and well as provide additional protection to the completed card.

Single sided cards can be printed from standard ID card printers in about 30 seconds or less. It is quite fast to produce plastic cards for today’s ID card needs as compared to the time it took to complete a cut and paste card produced with a printed photo pasted on a card that is laminated.

Quality plastic ID card manufacturers include Evolis, Fargo, Zebra, Datacard and Magicard. These manufacturers provide printers for simple ID card printing and span the various needs with various models that produce highly secure cards that need to be printed in high volume. With just a bit of research, it is easy to narrow down the printers available to a few that will perfectly meet the requirements of your organization.

Author Bio: For more details about Fargo Printer & id card printer, please visit http://www.safecardid.com/Fargo-5000.html.

Category: Computers and Technology
Keywords: Fargo Printer, id card printer