Most card design software supports photo and barcode printing. However, the support for cameras and types of barcodes will vary with each application. We can help make sure you choose the software that meets whatever printing requirements you have.

Encoding of any type must be supported by the software as well as the printer that you choose. If encoding is supported, it is a simple step to select the encoding option in the application and inputting the data you want on the card.

Magnetic Stripe: This type of card is capable of storing data on a band of magnetic material. The magnetic stripe (also known as swipe card or magstripe) is read by physical contact when swiped past a magnetic reading head.

Contact Smart Card: A contact area of approximately .15 sq in. comprised of several gold-plated contact pads are embedded onto the card. These provide electrical connectivity when touched to or inserted into a reader.

Contactless Smart Card: These contain a re-writeable smart card microchip that can process and store data. They communicate with a terminal via radio waves with a read range of up to around 5 in.

Gen 2 UHF RFID: RFID Cards store data that can be read through radio waves at wider read ranges (typically 3 to 10 ft.), allow multiple card reads at the same time and are extremely secure.

Lamination on an ID Card printer can provide the following benefits:

• Security: Lamination provides an extra layer of security for your ID Card, by reducing the possibility of counterfeit cards and eliminating any tampering with the information contained in the card.
• Durability: Lamination provides extra durability for standard ID Cards. Purchasing a printer with a laminating option is ideal for cards in harsh conditions/environments and situations where continual use provides excessive wear and tear on the cards.
• Cost savings: Although printers with laminating capabilities can have a larger upfront cost, they yield significant cost savings down the road due to the elimination of security incidents and reduction of replacement card printing.

Database support varies from one application to the next but it falls into one of the following categories:

• Database Connectivity: This option refers to the function in the software that can pull data from an external database to populate various fields in the design of the cards. If you already had a database of employee names and departments, you could automate your card printing process by pulling the needed data from a database into the card design software.
• Internal Database: Applications that have an internal database keep a record of every card designed with all the needed data fields, including photos. This allows for easy reprinting of cards, finding specific records, as well as reporting on all your records.
• External Database: This function is the same as an internal database but uses an external database that may be shared with access control or attendance programs. This keeps all your data in a single location that multiple applications can access. This function is best for systems that need to integrate with other security systems.

Yes, but this is not a standard feature of all design applications. Most design applications will keep track of all the cards you have created but not the actual usage of them. There are dedicated applications to help manage and track all the ID cards you have in your facility as well as design and print them. We can help you choose the best fit application based on your needs for printing and tracking.