News@SafecardID.com

How Long Can I Expect My ID Card Printer to Last?

Tim — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:57:53 +0000

As with any piece of technology, your card printer will not last forever regardless of how much money you spent on it new. The typical life of a card printer varies significantly from user to user, and in most cases has nothing to do with the actual number of cards printed but more with the maintenance schedule and the number of people using the printer. Most direct to card printers come with coverage for 2 years, like the Fargo DTC1000 and some 3 years like the Evolis Pebble or Dualys, so you should expect to have it for at least that long. For professional level systems and secure applications, choosing a re-transfer printer such as the Fargo HDP5000 will provide more peace of mind, since re-transfer card printers come with lifetime print head coverage.

So what happens when your printer stops working and the warranty coverage is up? Some repairs can be done onsite with guidance over the phone while others will require a technician to diagnose the issue. Advances in technology have pushed printer price down, so be sure to compare the cost of a repair to the cost of a new printer. Depending on the age of your printer, it is sometimes more cost effective for you to put your money towards a new printer.

In some situations you will be forced to upgrade since older printers and drivers will not work on Vista or Windows 7. When purchasing a printer be certian to ask about the availability of an extended warranty and a loaner program so you can minimize downtime.

Call an expert at Safe-Card ID Services to learn more.

How Long Can I Expect My ID Card Printer to Last? is a post from: News@SafecardID.com

Are the New Fargo Ribbons Compatible with My Fargo DTC400 or Persona C30

Jenny — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:29:16 +0000

Recently, Fargo introduced their new printer models, the Fargo DTC1000, Fargo DTC4000 and Fargo DTC4500. With the release of these printers, the former Fargo models, the Fargo DTC400 series printers and the Persona C30 series printers are slowly moving to the legacy printer models.

Maybe you are using a DTC400 or a C30 printer? You may be wondering if the new printer ribbons will be compatible with your printer. The answer to that is yes, if you update your printers firmware.

To update your firmware, use the HID/Fargo instructions provided here. Once upgraded, you will need to continue to purchase the new print ribbons and not revert to using the former print ribbons starting with the number “4.”

If you have a new Fargo DTC1000, DTC4000, or DTC4500 printer, the printer will not print with the older print cartridge ribbons intneded for the C30 and DTC400 series printers.

If you need assistance in selecting the correct printer ribbon, please contact our ID card experts at 888-485-4696.

Are the New Fargo Ribbons Compatible with My Fargo DTC400 or Persona C30 is a post from: News@SafecardID.com

Ways to Secure Your ID Card Program

Tim — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:02:36 +0000

Sometimes when printing secure ID cards we forget it is also important to secure the system that creates the cards. There are several printer models are available with advanced printer security features to deter theft and unauthorized access.

One of the easiest ways to safeguard your ID card printer is with password protection. The Fargo DTC4500 and Zebra ZXP Series 8 printers can be password protected. When activated, users must enter the security code in order to use the printer. ID software programs can also be password protected adding an additional layer of protection to your printing program.

To secure the printer to its workstation, some printers are set up to support a lock. This effective theft deterrent is available on several printers, including the Datacard SP75 plus and the Zebra ZXP Series 3.

Your card supplies are another important item to protect as replacing stolen supplies can be costly, especially expensive HID proximity or smart cards. Make certian to store them in a locked location so your printer supplies don’t get into the wrong hands reducing the risk of fraud.

For more information about ID Card Printer security, contact an expert at Safe-Card ID Services today.

Ways to Secure Your ID Card Program is a post from: News@SafecardID.com

PVC Card Printers and Encoding Technology

Tim — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:55:11 +0000

For many organizations or corporations data features, such as barcodes, magnetic stripes, contactless smart cards, and more, add versatility and security, allowing badges to serve as more than just visual identification. Encoding technology has advanced over the years and a variety of advanced encoding options are now available on basic printers like the Evolis Zenius or the Fargo DTC1000. Almost all card printers can print barcodes, but more advanced encoding features require a special module be added to the printer.

Even if you plan to use badges only for visual identification now, consider possible future applications as some printers can be upgraded after purchase while other upgrades need to be factory installed. You may not have the need or the budget for a card system that includes magnetic stripe or smart card encoding today, but you may in the next couple of years.

To learn if you can upgrade your existing printer or to learn more about encoding options contact Safe-Card ID Services today.

PVC Card Printers and Encoding Technology is a post from: News@SafecardID.com

Is A Laminating ID Card Printer Right For My Card Program?

Tim — Mon, 07 May 2012 12:57:52 +0000

Laminating printers, such as the Fargo DTC4500, HDP5000 or the Evolis Securion are ideal for companies or organizations that need a long-lasting, durable card. They also are required for some security features, such as custom or standard or holographic images applied as part of the lamination process.

In a laminating printer, a thin film (usually 1.0ml) is applied to the card with heat and pressure during the printing process. This layer of lamination offers protection against abrasion, fading, and dye migration. Thermal transfer overlaminates can also increase the security of ID cards with the inclusion of a standard or custom holographic image. . A just like printers without the ability to laminate, these printers can be either a single-sided or dual-sided printer.

For more information on laminating printers give an expert at Safe-Card ID Services a call today.

Is A Laminating ID Card Printer Right For My Card Program? is a post from: News@SafecardID.com

Magicard Introduces a Redesigned Enduro

Tim — Thu, 03 May 2012 13:14:03 +0000

Way back in 2008 Magicard introduced what was destined to become the brands most popular ID Card printer, the Enduro. In listening to the needs of customers like schools, universities, business organizations and other subject matter experts Magicard has redesigned the Enduro and has introduced the Enduro+.

The Enduro+ follows in the tradition of easy to use affordable card printers that provide professional fraud proof ID Card printing technology. The Enduro+ is perfect for swchools, colleges and medium size businesses that print up to 10,000 cards per year. The features that make the Enduro+ outstanding include;

Multiple encoding options
Rewrite technology
Upgradable from single to dual sided printing
Ethernet connectivity

For more information about the redesigned Enduro+ or any other Magicard printer give an expert at Safe-Card ID Services a call.

Magicard Introduces a Redesigned Enduro is a post from: News@SafecardID.com

Recent Design Improvements to the Zebra ZXP Series 8 ID Card Printers

Tim — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:33:02 +0000

Zebra Technologies has recently announced design improvements to the ZXP Series 8 retransfer card printer aimed at improving the overall user experience and print quality. These changes were implemented as part of driver update v4.0 and firmware update v3.0.

The firmware and driver updates are availible at http://www.zebra.com/id/zebra/na/en/index/drivers_downloads.html. Updates include;

- Improvements to the thermal stabilty to significantly address flash reduction and warping.

- A wider range of cards have been validated through testing

For a complete list of all the improvements in the new downloads refer to the release notes provided with the download or contact an expert at Safe-Card ID Services.

Recent Design Improvements to the Zebra ZXP Series 8 ID Card Printers is a post from: News@SafecardID.com

Recent Improvements to the Zebra ZXP Series 3 ID Card Printers

Tim — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:00:49 +0000

As an authorized reseller of the Zebra ID Card Printer Line – Safe-Card ID Services is pleased to announce in conjunction with Zebra Technologies changes to the Zebra ZXP Series 3 printers that will improve the print quality as well as the overall user experience.

Printers that began shipping in clude the changes that include;

- an improved printhead assembly for optimized monochrome print quality

- a common set of keys for the enclosure lock option

In addition to these hardware changes there is a new version of the firmware and driver set for the ZXP Series 3 Series. The firmware, v1.04, and the driver set, v2.02, provide the following;

- enhanced monochrome image quality

- a user interface similar to the ZXP Series 8 printers

- ICC profiles to provide a better color match between the monitor and the printer card

The latest driver and firmware updates are availible at;

http://www.zebra.com/id/zebra/na/en/index/drivers_downloads/firmware.html

For more information contact an expert at Safe-Card ID Services today.

Recent Improvements to the Zebra ZXP Series 3 ID Card Printers is a post from: News@SafecardID.com

Zebra Extends Last Order Date For P110i, P110m and P120i PVC Card Printers

Tim — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:15:35 +0000

Zebra Technologies has announced the last order date for the P110i, P110m, and the P120i PVC ID card printers and the associated QuickCard bundles has been extended to 6/30/12. The newly improved ZXP Series 3 will replace these value class printers on the afore mentioned date. Product support for the discontinued printers will continue until 7/30/17.

For additionall information contact an expert at Safe-Card ID Services today.

Zebra Extends Last Order Date For P110i, P110m and P120i PVC Card Printers is a post from: News@SafecardID.com

Add Some Color to Your Card Program

Tim — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:38:46 +0000

Almost all the ID cards and badges you see are a basic white for a very good reason. A crisp white card produces the best full-color print. And while that is desirable in most all cases there is another option for adding a little pop and another option to your card program.

Safe-Card ID Services offers plastic PVC cards in all sorts colors (see a few of the options at right). Color PVC cards may be a good option for you, particularly if you’re printing one-color cards. These cards are great way to;

- Add color to monochrome prints

- Classify groups of students or cardholders

- Distinguish visitors from employees

- Create membership cards that stand out in a wallet or purse building loyalty

Most printer manufacturers also offer different color monochrome ribbons, including gold and silver, to make the cards even more exciting. However, color cards are not for everyone as full-color images will not appear on color cards the way they do on a white card. Depending on your card design, color cards might even make it more difficult for you to identify a person. Check with an expert at Safe-Card ID before purchasing colored cards since some printers may not feed dark colored or clear cards due to sensor issues.

Add Some Color to Your Card Program is a post from: News@SafecardID.com