A Plus ID

Fargo DTC1250e vs Fargo DTC4500e 🔥

Trying to decide which ID card printer is right for your business? Here’s the quick breakdown 👇

✅ Fargo DTC1250e
• Compact & budget-friendly
• Great for schools, offices & gyms
• Fast everyday badge printing
• Easy to maintain

✅ Fargo DTC4500e
• Built for high-volume printing
• Advanced security features
• Larger card & ribbon capacity
• Ideal for enterprise environments

💡 If you need affordable everyday ID printing → DTC1250e
💡 If you need enterprise-level performance & security → DTC4500e

Both are excellent printers — it just depends on your printing needs.

Trade In Your Old ID Printer and Save!

Hanging on to your outdated card printer might be costing you way more than you think.

Here are the facts:

Consumables and parts for an outdated printer can cost you twice as much as supplies for a new machine.

New printers are faster, which means that you will increase productivity and therefore profitability.

The latest printers are more durable to significantly reduce downtime and issue highly secure badges.

The maintenance costs of a discontinued printer are substantial. Changing a printhead will cost you hundreds of dollars if your printer is out of warranty.

The good news is we make it easy to upgrade to a brand new ID card printer. Just follow these 3 steps and enjoy a brand new cost-effective ID card solution:

Choose your new card printer
Browse our large selection of ID card solutions or call 866-433-9737 to get a FREE consultation with an ID expert and find the right ID card system.

Get your Trade-In Rebate
We will contact you to confirm your rebate and process your printer order. For California Local, we can inspect on-site and.

Send us your old printer
Ship your old printer to A Plus ID and we will process your trade-in rebate as soon as we receive it. For California local, We can pick up the printer

We have partnered with all major card printer brands to get you unbeatable trade-in rebates.

https://www.aplusid.com/trade-in-your-old-id-printer-and-save/

Will The Smartphone Kill The Student ID Card?

Generation Z students expect their college or university to innovate and
adapt. The method of identification is one area in which institutions
need to evolve, taking into account 2 major challenges facing the
higher education sector: inclusion and security. Can digital technology
really meet these two challenges? Does the physical card still have a role
to play? Can digital and physical solutions coexist?

Read more here
https://shorturl.at/vJM05

Why Should Students Wear Identification Badges?

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, only 18% of high schools require students to wear ID badges. The numbers get worse when we look at middle schools (13%) and elementary schools (6%). There are several reasons why we find this surprising.

Safety. Photo ID badges are considered a security industry best practice for large facilities. When ID badges are required, staff can identify students with a single glance. This is especially important for emergency personnel, who are unfamiliar with students.

Detect unauthorized visitors. When everyone is required to wear a badge, it becomes easier to identify potentially dangerous situations and intruders.

ID badges are affordable. 90% of schools utilize security cameras. And while we are entirely in favor of security cameras, we recognize that cameras are expensive. It is cost prohibitive to place a camera in every classroom and hire a team to manage surveillance operations. ID badges, on the other hand, are inexpensive, especially when purchased in bulk.

ID badges can be used to purchase lunch. Students with free or reduced lunch will feel more comfortable swiping a card and their peers will not be able to identify income differences. Additionally, parents will be confident that students lunch money is going where intended.

Badges become library cards. Easily eliminate outdated borrowing methods with an ID badge. Popular library books and tools can be tracked. This data can inform staff on what materials might be needed for the future.

Event access. Instead of printing free tickets, allow students to use their ID badges to gain access to events. Sport, theater, and music events can be organized using student ID badges.

Access control. With ID badges, staff will not be required to attend every school entrance. ID badges let students to enter the building freely. School access can be controlled remotely and access hours can be set and changed with a few clicks. Additionally, access control allows staff to track truancy more easily.

Interestingly, most schools (70%) require faculty to wear IDs at all times. Why shouldn’t students be afforded the same protections as faculty? With so many different options available for badging, we highly recommend that schools implement an ID badge program.

For more information about badges for your school, give us a call 866-433-9737 or [email protected]

Your 7 step guide to choosing an ID card printer

Choosing an ID card printer may take some time and research, but finding the right ID card printer for your organization’s unique card needs makes it pain-free to print cards for years to come. Our seven step guide will walk you through every decision you’ll need to make when purchasing an ID card printer.

Step One: Determine Your Budget

ID card printers can range in cost from under $1,000 to over $5,000 – and once you add in card design software, blank cards, printer ribbons, and cleaning kits, the costs will continue to add up. Knowing your budget going into the purchasing process will help you narrow down your search.

Step Two: Single or Dual-Sided Printing

Before you buy a printer, you should have a general idea of the card design you want to print – or at the very least, if you want single or dual-sided printing. While some printers can be upgraded later on to dual-sided printing if you change your mind, that’s not an option on every printer.

Step Three: Select Print Method

Most ID card printers use one of two printing methods – dye sublimation or reverse transfer. Which type of printing technology you want will depend on your card design and how you’ll use the cards.

Step Four: Volume Requirements

Are you a small organization that will only printer a few cards at a time? Or are you a large organization or school and you need to print hundreds of cards at a time? Knowing how many cards you’ll printer in a year will help you find a printer designed for your expected uses.

Step Five: Lamination, Visual Security & Encoding

Do you want to laminate your cards to make them last longer? Will you encode your cards so they can be multi-functional cards that can pay for parking, lunch, or printing? These features often cannot be added after you purchase the printer, so knowing what you want before you buy is important.

Step Six: Determine Connection Type

How will you set up your new ID card printer? Will it be used by the same person at his or her desk, connected only to one computer? Or do you need multiple people to print cards from several different computers? Depending on your office setup, you may need USB, Ethernet, or a WiFi connection for your printer.

Step Seven: Other Considerations

Finally, you’ll need to consider some other options including field upgrade options if your card printing needs change down the road, operating system compatibility (not every printer is Mac compatible, for example!), and the manufacturer warranty.

What Can You Do With an Old Printer?

If you’ve ever owned or operated an ID card printer, you’ve probably wondered, “When should I replace my ID card printer?” “What should I do with my old printer?” or “How can I recycle or donate my printer?” Dispose of your old machine responsibly with an organization that will recycle the components or upcycle it into a refurbished unit that will live to see another day. Here are answers to common printer recycling questions.

When Should I Replace My ID Card Printer?

Because of ever-advancing technology and business needs, it’s typical for most organizations to upgrade to a new badge machine every 3 to 5 years. Reasons to buy a new badge card printer vary, but often it’s because newer printer technologies become available – technologies that utilize better energy consumption and greener supply components that result in an eco-friendly printer. Besides the satisfaction of owning an environmentally responsible printer, the latest ID badge printers come with enhanced card security features, plus conveniences like easy operation and faster production speeds. An aging printer can result in costly repairs – and costly interruptions to your badge issuance program – that make a new investment the logical choice.

What Should I Do with My Old Printer?

You’ve made the decision to ditch your old card printer, but did you know you can recycle your printer and upgrade into an improved model at the same time? Better yet, you can save money while doing it. A Plus ID offer printer trade-in promotions. When you purchase an eligible ID card printer, we will accept your existing printer and even offer a credit toward your new printer purchase. Card printer discounts for trade-ins can range from $100 – $700, depending on the model. The manufacturer will ensure the printer is either refurbished, reused for parts, or recycled appropriately. What could be better than getting new and improved equipment that better suites your needs while also helping planet Earth?

Protect your company with ID Badges

With security on almost everyone’s mind these days, Photo ID badge systems have become relevant for everyone. Photo ID badges are the first line of defense in many organizations’ security programs. Fulfilling the basic need to know “who’s who” is just the starting point: Additions like printed bar codes and encoded magnetic stripes help these organizations get the most out of their badges.

ID cards help resolve security and efficiency issues for governmental entities. Organizations are using Fargo Card Identity Solutions to make ID badges, time and attendance tracking, payroll processing, and access control of facilities and information more secure and cost-effective. ID card printers are great for fitness centers, health clubs, schools, retirement homes, hospitals, and any organization that needs to know “who is who”.

Let us help find the right ID system for your needs, we have the knowledge and experience. We stock a large variety of ID systems, including the Fargo Electronics line. Fargo ID badge printers are top of the line and have a great warranty.

What’s Behind You – Check Out the Photo Backdrop System

Check out the Photo Backdrop System that includes a backdrop (available in a variety of colors) an adjustable stand, retractable, motorized, or wireless control. The metal stand adjusts from 28” to 78” high to accommodate sitting or standing poses. The backdrop is made of wrinkle resistant nylon microsuede material and attaches to the included stand with velcro to ensure a tight fit.

Customers have given this system rave reviews:

Security from Reston, VA says that the stand is a “very professional background for company badge photos.”

Big Foot from Walworth, WI has found more than one use for their system: “We purchased the two-sided screen (white/blue). The white side is a great emergency projector screen.”

Government Worker from Sterling, VA reports that “it’s a great product that … can be easily moved from different locations.” (Tip: To make transporting the system even easier, a convenient carrying case is available.)

https://www.aplusid.com/product-category/id-supplies/photo-backgrounds/

Including Preferred Pronouns on ID Badges

As the world becomes more accepting of individuals personal preferences we have been seeing an increase in this also being included on employee and school ID badges. Inclusive bosses and institutions are now taking a step further to accommodate employee’s preferred pronouns. By including them on employee ID cards individuals can now express their preference in the workplace making for a much more comfortable experience for them.

Schools especially seem to be taking on this new addition to their ID badges citing the desire to show students that gender identity is respected and embraced among the schools views. To accompany the addition of the student’s preferred pronoun, Syracuse University has also implemented Preferred Name on their ID badges – a highly requested feature among staff and students alike.

If you are looking to add preferred pronouns to your ID badges you can contact [email protected] with your request and we will be more than happy to make this adjustment for you!

Not all PVC ID Cards Are Created Equal

Here at A Plus ID we believe that the best way to empower our clients is through education about ID printers and the best practices when it comes to printing badges and PVC ID cards. After all, technology is just part of the equation – the other part is using the right supplies and methodologies to leverage your printer to its fullest potential. One aspect of this is choosing the right blank PVC ID cards. We cannot overstate this aspect enough: the right blank cards can significantly improve the quality of the final ID badge and extend the useful life of your printer. Let’s take a closer look at why choosing high quality PVC cards is so important.
PVC ID Card Surface

One of the problems with low quality PVC ID cards is an uneven card surface. Although the irregularities may seem tiny, they can cause big problems when they come into contact with the intricate technology of an ID card printer.

Remember, your printer only makes the process look easy. In reality, it’s a result of tens of thousands of hours of research, design and development. All of the components are designed to work together in a seamless manner. So even small irregularities like bumps or blemishes on a cheap PVC ID card can cause a lot of issues, such as:

Bumps: If you’re using a direct-to-card ID printer, even small bumps can cause damage to the print head. Remember, with direct-to-card printers, the print head comes into direct contact with the surface of the card. Bumps can scratch the surface of the print head, and in some cases can even damage its internal mechanism.
Blemishes: Cheap PVC ID cards can also have blemishes caused by a low quality manufacturing process. Unfortunately, in many cases these blemishes won’t just be covered up with ink pigment, especially with direct-to-card printers. This is because the surface of the card is integral to how the ribbon ink adheres to it. Thus, blemishes may still be visible after the printing because they’ll make the pigment look lighter or darker.

Both bumps and blemishes can significantly impact your daily operations. For example, saving just a few dollars with a pack of low quality ID cards can end up costing you hundreds of dollars in printer repairs.

Blemishes, on the other hand, can have a strong subconscious impact. For example, if you’re issuing temporary passes to your customers or patrons, blemishes can affect their perception of your brand and even how they perceive their experience with your company.

This is a very big deal, as numerous studies have shown that product packaging can have a strong impact on retail sales…Your ID badges or passes are part of your company’s “brand packaging” and therefore act as part of the customer experience with your company. If the “packaging” is lackluster, it will affect how your patrons perceive their experience.
PVC Card Sizing Issues

Another issue of concern with low quality PVC cards is the sizing of the cards. If the cards are not manufactured to the highest standards, the card dimensions may be a bit off, causing problems during printing.

For example, a size difference of just one millimeter can cause the card to jam or the ribbon to tear.

Further, those using retransfer printers may find that some of the images or text are cut off, because of incorrect card dimensions.
Get the Right PVC Cards

Here at A Plus ID we know just how important it is to use the right supplies in your ID printing process. That’s why we carry only high quality PVC cards from the best brands in the country. If you need help selecting the right cards for your printer, please give us a call at (866) 433-9737, or send us an email through the Contact Form.