Reasons why Entrust is the market leader in card printers

Badges are increasingly popular nowadays because they play a crucial role in the identification and security of personnel. The easy identification of individuals from a crowd is possible through ID cards. These situations arise in events and conferences, seminars, etc. To find unauthorized individuals, we can easily trace them with identification badges. The printers used to print identification cards are called ID card printers. There are various brands of card printers on the market, such as Fargo, Entrust Datacard, Zebra, Heidi, SwiftPro, IDP Solid, etc.

Each brand of card printer has its advantages and disadvantages. So before selecting a badge printer, lots of factors have to be considered. We have first to check the purpose of the cards to be printed. Based on that, we can choose the technology for card printing.  

1. Direct-to-Card (DTC) Printing

• Process: Ink is transferred directly onto the surface of the card.
• Technology: Uses dye-sublimation or thermal transfer technology.
• Advantages: Economical, fast, and good for printing images, text, and barcodes.
• Drawbacks: Edge-to-edge printing is not possible, and slight white borders are left.
• Use cases: ID cards, membership cards, loyalty cards.

2. Re-Transfer Printing

• Process: Images are printed on a transfer film first and then transferred onto the card.
• Technology: Reverse transfer or over-the-edge printing.
• Advantages: High-quality, full bleed (edge-to-edge) printing, ideal for smart cards and cards with uneven surfaces.
• Drawbacks: More expensive than DTC printing.
• Use cases: Government IDs, driver’s licenses, high-security access cards.

3. Laser Engraving

• Process: Laser beams engrave text, images, or security features onto the card surface.
• Technology: Laser diodes mark directly onto the card material.
• Advantages: High durability, tamper-proof, long-lasting, suitable for high-security cards.
• Drawbacks: Expensive, limited color options.
• Use cases: Government IDs, financial cards, driver’s licenses, passports.

4. Embossing

• Process: Raised characters are pressed into the card.
• Technology: Mechanical embossing combined with ink for additional detailing.
• Advantages: Creates tactile features on cards (common in credit and debit cards).
• Drawbacks: Limited to specific text or design features.
• Use cases: Financial cards (credit/debit), some high-security access cards.

5. Inkjet Printing

• Process: Liquid ink is sprayed directly onto the card surface.
• Technology: Uses inkjet technology, similar to traditional paper inkjet printers.
• Advantages: Suitable for bulk production, fast, and affordable.
• Drawbacks: Lower image quality compared to DTC or re-transfer printing.
• Use cases: Event passes, disposable membership cards, promotional cards.

6. Thermal Transfer Printing

• Process: Heat is applied to transfer a resin or wax ribbon onto the card.
• Technology: A printhead applies heat to the ribbon, which then bonds the ink to the card.
• Advantages: Durable, resistant to wear and tear.
• Drawbacks: Generally limited to monochrome (black and white) printing.
• Use cases: Barcodes, text, and simple designs on access control cards.

7. Screen Printing

• Process: Ink is pushed through a screen stencil onto the card.
• Technology: A mesh screen and stencil are used to apply ink in specific areas.
• Advantages: Good for solid colors, cost-effective for large quantities.
• Drawbacks: Less detailed image quality, mainly suitable for simple designs.
• Use cases: Gift cards, membership cards, loyalty cards.

8. UV Printing

• Process: Ultraviolet light is used to cure ink onto the card surface.
• Technology: UV lamps solidify the ink immediately, creating durable prints.
• Advantages: High durability, high-resolution images, and faster production.
• Drawbacks: Requires specialized printers, relatively expensive.
• Use cases: high-end ID cards, luxury cards, and cards with intricate designs.

Entrust Card Printers

Entrust card printers are the market leaders because there quality of card printing. Entrust Sigma card printers are known for the exceptional print quality and speed of card printing. Below we are discussing the popular models of card printers from Entrust Datacard.

Sigma Ds3 Card Printers

The Sigma DS3 Card Printer is part of Entrust’s Sigma series, known for producing high-quality ID card printing systems. These printers are designed for organizations that need secure, reliable, and fast card issuance, including universities, corporations, and government entities.

Here are the key features of the Sigma DS3 Card Printer:

High-Resolution Printing:

• Offers sharp, vibrant color printing with edge-to-edge card coverage.
• Supports printing of text, photos, barcodes, and security features.

Dual-Sided Printing:

• Prints on both sides of the card in a single pass, saving time and allowing for more design flexibility.
• Ideal for cards that require additional information on the back, like employee IDs or membership cards.

User-Friendly Design:

• LCD touchscreen for easy navigation and control of printer settings.
• Compact size and intuitive setup for plug-and-play functionality.
• Remote issuance capabilities allow for card production from any location.

High Security:

• Features advanced encryption to protect card data.
• Secure boot ensures that only authorized firmware is used.
• Includes optional UV printing for added security measures, such as covert text or logos.

Durable Printing with Re-Transfer Technology:

• Prints over the edge with superior image quality.
• Re-transfer technology ensures long-lasting prints that are resistant to scratches, fading, or wear and tear.
• Ideal for cards with embedded electronics (smart cards or contactless cards).

Optional Modules:

• Lamination Module: For extra durability and security, offer overlay or patch lamination to protect against tampering.
• Magnetic Stripe Encoder: For cards requiring encoded data like banking or access control cards.
• Smart Card Encoding: Supports encoding of contact or contactless smart cards.

Fast printing speeds:

• Capable of printing up to 210 full-color single-sided cards per hour.
• Quick processing time is ideal for high-volume card issuance.
• Environmental Considerations:
• Designed with eco-friendly materials and low-energy consumption features.

Sigma Ds2 Card Printer

The Sigma DS2 Card Printer is part of the Entrust Sigma series, offering robust, high-quality ID card printing solutions for various industries, including corporate, education, government, and healthcare. Like the DS3, the DS2 is designed for secure, efficient, and user-friendly card issuance but is generally positioned as a slightly more affordable and simpler model compared to the DS3.

CR805 Card Printer Entrust

The Entrust CR805 Card Printer is a high-end retransfer card printer designed for organizations requiring superior print quality, security features, and durability for their ID cards. It’s part of Entrust’s high-performance series of card printers, offering flexibility for a wide range of card types, including those with embedded electronics like smart cards and RFID cards.