A dual-sided ID printer typically costs $400 to $600 more than a single-sided printer.

Yes, it’s possible. You’ll save money in the beginning, but you’ll also add printing time and labor hours. Two separate print jobs will be required to be sent to the printer.

An unlaminated plastic card usually has a lifespan of 2-3 years before showing signs of fading. The durability is influenced by factors like UV exposure, environmental conditions, and the use of protective badge holders. On the other hand, laminated ID cards can endure for over 10 years, comparable to a driver's license. They are particularly suitable for settings where the card will come into contact with cleaning agents regularly, such as a hospital ID card.

Clamshell access cards cannot be directly printed on using any ID badge printer. However, you have the option to print on adhesive-backed PVC cards and subsequently affix them onto the clamshell cards. This is particularly beneficial in high turnover settings where access cards need to be re-issued multiple times for access. Or your organization can switch to a printable proximity card.

Direct-to-card printing is less expensive, generally $1,200 to $1,600 less than retransfer ID printers, but is slightly lower quality. In particular, solid blocks of color and small detailed images can be an issue for organizations with strict brand guidelines. Like your home inkjet paper printer, DTC can be inconsistent when saturating large areas. We don’t want you to get the idea that the printing of a DTC printer is terrible; you can still reliably print photos, logos, non-detailed backgrounds, and text. Reverse transfer, often shortened to Retransfer, printing is a two step process. First, the image is printed on the inside of a film, backwards. Then that film is adhered to the card. This also allows for true edge to edge printing that can even be considered, over-the-edge. Although a little more complex, retransfer has some advantages. The image quality is stunning, and those solid printed blocks that can show flaws in the DTC process will come out better.