ID cards are no longer common for just employees and students. IDs Aadhar, PAN card, voter ID cards are used for identification and security purposes everywhere these days. ID cards are often printed on PVC plastic and hence laser printers are not used for them.
ID card printing machines are useful for bulk printing of ID card in a short time. it is great for institutes and agencies whose work involves frequent printing of ID cards.
purchasing a good ID card printing machine ensures that you get quality and customizable prints while reducing long-tern costs. But which ID printing machine should you use or upgrade to? some of the best options in the market based on versatility print speed, budget, volume requirements are discussed here.
Table of Contents
. How to us an ID Card printing Machine?
. Top 7 ID card printing machines in India
. How to Buy the Best ID Card printing Machine?
How to Use an ID Card printing Machine?
ID card printing machine usually comes with camera, PVC cards, refills, software subscription, and other accessories. Using an ID card printing machine is similar to using a normal printer.
Follow the installation instructions provided by the company you buy ID card printing machine from. once you install and configure the software, you can easily start with the operations. Basic steps for setting up any printing machine include:
. Installation of printer driver [usually available on official website]
. Choose the location for the printer printer and add card carefully into it. You can also insert the stacker in the front [optional].
. Open the printer to prepare the cleaning roller and install the dye film.
. Close the printer and plug it into the power supply switch.
During maintenance, be careful with the print head. Avoid using a per-punch card for opening it or accidentally hitting it with another part while changing ribbons.
Top 7 ID Card printing Machines in India
The best ID card printing machines in India are:
. Magicard Enduro 3e - Best low noise printer for small to medium batch capacity
. Evolis primacy Dual Sided Printer - Best eco-friendly machine for personalized prints
. IDP Smart 21 Card printer - Best lightweight desktop ID card printing machine
. Datacard SD360 - Best auto-duplex desktop printer for versatile card printing
. Fargo DTC1250e - Best affordable printing machine for low volume, color- rich prints
. Zebra ZC100 TL - best cross compatible machine for remote access printing
. Epson Inkjet - Best Inkjet printer that supports ID card printing
. Magicard Enduro 3e
Magicard Enduro 3e series is an easy, secure, reliable printing option for those who want to print up to 5,000 cards of thickness ranging from 0.51mm to 1.02mm per year . The machine uses direct to card [DTC] technology.
Magicard Enduro 3e series Features
. Multiple encoding options like iClass, Contact chip, etc.
. Support for custom designs
. support for both manual and hopper feeding systems
. Color mapping with optical sensors to get better surface coverage
. Holograms to prevent cloning of badges
Magicard Enduro 3e series Specifications
. Brand: Magicard
. Dimensions: 60.45.4 x 25.4 x 29.97 cm
. Weight: 5.44 kg
. Resolution: 300 dpi
. OS : Linux, Windows
. Time: 7s [monochrome], 35 s [colored]
. printing technology: Thermal dye Sublimation
. Connectivity Technology: USB
Magicard Enduro 3e series pricing:
The ID card printer is available at a beginning price of INR 56,644.
cons
. Non- modular
. software available separately
. Evolis primacy Dual Sided ID Card Printer
Evolis Primacy ID card printing machine in India enables users to print more than 30,000 personalized cards per year including national ID cards, payment cards, student cards, etc. the software can easily integrate with your existing systems and provides control over printing options. you can print on both sides of the card simultaneously.
Evolis Primacy ID Card Printing machine features
. easy to use color ribbons
. In-built LTD screen for errors and maintenance information
. Touchscreen option
. pre-designed templates in its software
. Optional electro-mechanical locking system for security
Evolis Primacy ID Card Printing Machine Specifications
. Brand: Evolis
. Product dimension: 30 x 20 x 250 cm
. Weight:4.5 kg
. Resolution: 300 x 600 dpi [color],300 x 1200 dpi [ monochrome]
. printing technology: Thermal, Dye Sublimation
. Connectivity Technology: USB, Ethernet
. Time: 20 s
Evolis Primacy ID Card Printing Machine Pricing: pricing of Evolis Primacy is available at a starting price of INR 62,999.
Pros
. Easy to operate
. Free tech support
Cons: software issues possible
Suggested Read: Best 3D Printing Software for Beginners in 2022[Free&Paid]
IDP Smart 21 Card Printer Specifications
. Brand: IDP
. Product dimension: 16.8 x 25.9 x 17.9 cm
. Weight: 2.7 kg
. Resolution: 300 dpi [color], 600/1200 dpi [monochrome]
. Printing technology: Thermal, Dye Sublimation
. Connectivity Technology: USB
. OS: windows, Mac, Linux
. Time: 24 s
IDP Smart 21 Card Printer Pricing: As it is a recent launch, you can contact the manufacturer for pricing details of this IDP card printer. 31S model is available at INR 61,177.43.
Pros
. Easy operation
. lightweight
. Free software
Cons: Warranty only up to one year
. Datacard SD360 ID Card Printer
SD360 ID card printer is used for two-sided printing by SMBs, educational institutions, etc. This desktop card printer ensures that PAN, Aadhaar, PMSYM, Voter IS, etc. have good image quality and high clarity when printed. you can easily load the cards and use the drop-in cleaning roller for maintenance.
Datacard SD360 ID Card Printer Features
. TrueMatch technology for high quality color prints
. TruePick anti-jam feature for cards
. Browser-based manager for printing
. Touch control panel with LCD screen
. Magnetic strip encoding option
Datacard Sd360 ID Card Printer Specifications
. Brand: Datacard
. Dimensions: 53.9 x 17.5 x 22.4 cm
. Weight: 5.4 kg
. Resolution: 300 dpi
. OS: Windows
. Time: 23s [color]
. printing technology: Dye
. printing technology: Dye sublimation, Thermal
. Connectivity Technology: USB, Ethernet
Datacard SD360 ID Card printer pricing: its approximate pricing is INR 55,000.
Pros
. Smooth leaning curve
. Management possible with different IT environments/applications
Cons: warranty period lower for India [18 months standard, 12 months printhead] compared to that in other regions [36 months].
Fargo DTC1250e is a good investment for quick, high-quality single or double-sided printing for cards with a thickness range of 9-40mils. this ID card printing machine in India comes with ribbons for 250 prints to help you get started. you can go for the Eco cartridge option later if you want to refill. The smartScreen notifies users about every important information.
Fargo DTC1250e Features
. Customizable encoding and printer option
. Multiple encoding options like iCLASS, DesFire, MiFare, etc.
. Erase and rewrite for temporary cards
. AES-256 decryption for security
Fargo DTC1250e Specifications
. Brand: HID Global
. Printing Technology: Dye Sublimation, Thermal
. Dimension:22.4 x 34.8 x 20.1 cm [single], 24.9 x 47.5 x 23.4 cm [dual]
. Weight: 3.4 kg [single], 4.54 kg [dual]
. Connection: USB, Ethernet, wi-fi
. print speed: 6 s [monochrome], 16 s [colored]
. OS: Windows, Mac, Linux [soon]
Fargo DTC1250e pricing: pricing for single-sided printer starts at INR 84,108.25.
pros
. Easy setup
. Customer support
. Includes HD camera
cons: Its software could be better.
. Zebra ZC100LT
Zebra ZC100 LT is a compact, advanced option for high quality single side printing. the card feeder automatically adjusts based on card thickness. With remote access printing, you can connect to your printer from anywhere and print on the fly.
Zebra ZC100 LT Features
. Simple manual card feed
. Host authentication and data encryption
. Automatic detection and ribbon authentication
. LEDs for printer status
. Cover lock for security
Zebra ZC100 LT Specifications
. Brand; Zebra
. Printing Technology: Dye-sublimation thermal transfer
. Connectivity Technology: USB Ethernet, Wi-Fi
. Resolution: 300 dpi
Zebra ZC100 LT Pricing: Its price starts from INR 139470.
Pros
. Easy setup
. QR code for quick help documentation access
. Multilingual support
Cons: driver access only when printer is connected to a system.
. Epson inkjet PVC IC Card printer
Epson L-805 Inkjet printer is popular for printing Aadhar card and other IDs for educational institutes, companies, etc. it supports both unidirectional and bidirectional printing for high print volumes.
The software enables users to customize their layout and make image corrections. iPrint app enables users to print iOS devices.
Epson L-805 Inkjet Printer Features
. Friction feed
. Borderless printing
. 6 inks for color options
. Remote print driver
Epson L-805 Inkjet Printer Specifications
. Brand: Epson
. Dimensions: 60 x 30 x20 cm
. Weight: 8.5 kg
. Resolution: 5760 dpi
. OS: Windows, Mac
. Time: 12s [4R photo]
. printing technology: On-demand Inkjet
. Connectivity Technology: USB, Wi-Fi
Epson L-805 Inkjet Printer Pricing: Its starting price is INR 18,149.
Pros
. Supports direct printing on CDs/ DDVDs
. photo printing
Cons: Required special ink as inkjet technology works better for paper prints instead of plastic.
Suggested Read: Best Free Photo Printing Software for All -Size Images [PC & Mac]
How to Buy the Best ID Card Printing Machine?
Not doing proper research before buying may result in you ending up with an ID card printer that you did not need. some of the main parameters you must check before buying are:
. Printing sped: If you are looking to invest in an Id card printing machine, it automatically means that you have a large requirement and require bulk printing. In such a case, you should check the printing speed of the printing machine you are buying. For regular use, an average speed would be sufficient.
. Quality: The better quality of print your machine generates, the better it is able to verify the person from the ID card and have a visually attractive design. you can check the dot per inch [DPI] to know how good the print quality is.
. Printed size: It is good to go for a printer that is compact and can be easily accommodated anywhere you want. just ensure that it has adequate features and performance ability too.
. Volume: Your printer must be able to handle the every year. You must have an approximate idea before buying to select the right printer.
. Technology: Card printing machines use either direct to card [DTC] or reverse transfer [retransfer] technology. DTC method is faster but provides lower resolution [300 dpi] compared to that of retransfer method [600 dpi].you can print on uneven surfaces without leaving any white area on paper.
. Design: If there are a few details that can be printed on one side, go for the printer that supports single-sided design. However, if you want to include many details and designs, prefer the option that has dual side printing feature too.
. Protection: Some printing machines come with hologram layers and lamination to provide confidentiality, security, and long-lasting protection. Thicker Iamination coating implies better protections.
. color: If you just want to print cards quickly in simply black and white format, you can choose a monochrome printing machine. However, if you want to have colored prints, you will have to go for more expensive and slower printer that can maintain the visual appeal.
Conclusion
Each brand mentioned here does the same work but offers different features to suit the need of different types of users. choosing the right ID card printing machine can save your time and money significantly.
Maintenance also plays an important role in how ling your printer keeps working. so, ensure that you di not damage the fragile and sensitive components of the machine while cleaning or operating it.
FAQs
1. What king of printer make ID cards?
printers that support PVC[ polyvinyl chloride] printing are suitable for making ID cards for identification. regular printers cannot print on plastic which is necessary for ID cards.
2. Which ID card printer is the best?
choice of best ID card printer depends on the design, volume, printing speed, and other features that you want. some examples include IDjet, Zebra ZC100 LT and, Magicard Enduro 3e series.
3. What is the ID card printing machine price in India?
A good ID card printing machine in India starts at an approximate price of INR 10,000 and can go up to several lakhs. you can get lower prices if your feature requirements are not much.
4. Where to buy ID card printing machine?
you can contact the official manufacturers, or the dealers listed on their official websites to get an authentic item.
5. What is the ideal size of an ID card?
Standard size of an ID card is 3.375" W x 2.125" H. minor variations exist in sizes for different purposes.
6. Can regular printers be used for printing ID cards?
No. In a regular laser printer, the heat can melt the plastic. while regular inkjet printer may be used in an emergency, you can only get good results with a machine specifically designed to print ID cards on plastic.
7. Can Id Card printing machine work on plastics?
Yes , ID card printing machines are designed to work on plastic [PVC]. They use thermal or dye sublimation techniques for printing, unlike a regular inkjet printer or laser printer.
