Choosing an identity card printer can be easy or difficult depending on your needs and requirements. Id card printers are one of the most important components in an ID card system and deciding which one to use is an important process that shouldn't be taken lightly. A myriad of different printers are available, some more complex and others that are as simple as loading the paper and pushing a preset button.

An ID card printer should come with software; if it doesn't, take it back, as you can't install your printer without the software. The software is normally fairly intuitive and user-friendly, and if you need help, many times the place where you purchase your photo ID system will have support readily available. The printer essentially takes data and encodes it onto the magnetic strip on the back of your ID card. It also prints the high resolution photo (and holographic over lamination, UV overlay, text, and other security features) you take with your digital camera.

Speaking of extra security features, this is one of the four most important things you should take into consideration when you're looking for an ID card printer. If you are looking for top of the line, high security printers, you should probably purchase a printer that has UV overlay and holographic over lamination. Keep in mind that these are necessarily more expensive, but worth the extra dollars for added security.

The second thing you need to decide is whether you want monochromatic or color images. This can make a difference in price and the type of printer you buy; there are printers that offer both color and monochromatic options, and there are those that offer only one color, such as black. In this case your image and card would be black and white.

The third thing to think about is whether you want a single or double-sided card. A double-sided card is more secure and might fit a large company or industry that requires greater security in their work environment. In other words, there is a reason your driver's license is double-sided. Small businesses, colleges, schools, and other educational institutions often use single-sided ID cards as they are more cost efficient and the extra side generally isn't needed.

Fourth and last, you should consider whether you want encoding on your cards, such as smart card or proximity card capabilities, or magnetic stripes. Institutions like banks, hospitals, and schools are excellent candidates for proximity cards, contactless smart cards, and magnetic stripe cards.