ID Card Printer VS Inkjet Printer

ID Card Printer VS Inkjet Printer

You want a professional image? Don’t let a household printer and paper represent your brand. 

As the regularly require ID cards for identification and security - Education, Finance, Government, Healthcare, Retail, and Transport sectors around the world, so does the number of ways you can create them. 

Recently, inkjet kits have been launched which make it possible for inkjet printers to print onto PVC cards. From functionality to quality, there’s a significant difference between PVC card printing and inkjet card printing. We should look at how this compares to printing an ID card on a specially designed card printer which comes with security built-in. 

 

INKJET PRINTER 

The inkjet printing is water-based. Regular inkjet printers will not print on standard PVC plastic cards without smudging. Recently, suppliers have started offering kits, these kits come with special inkjet-specific PVC cards and a replacement tray that works in conjunction with an inkjet printer. 

Inkjet card kit printing simply lacks the security of PVC ID card printing. Security options are limited. 

Print quality is also an issue, the home printer ink will lay on top of the card which means it can be easily rubbed off, creating a potential for fraud and requiring more frequent replacement. 

VS 

ID CARD PRINTER 

Dye sublimation is the process where the printhead heats the printer ribbon and the ink vaporizes and bonds with the plastic card. This type of printing produces average quality cards at higher print speeds. Also, provides a more durable and color-rich result. 

Many ID printers have security options built-in. Magicard printers offer the patented, original HoloKote® and Custom HoloKote® security features as well as holograms and lamination. 

The HoloKote image is frosted into the clear overcoat application of the standard print process resulting in a watermark like layer that can be visually verified when the card is tilted in the light. 

The average lifespan of an ID card printer is 5 years. Some have seen theirs last longer! How long does your standard inkjet printer last? 

 

If you’re looking to create robust, highly secure cards that are counterfeit-proof then using a specifically designed ID card printer is the only way to be confident in the results. 

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