Campus ID News
Card, mobile credential, payment and security
FEATURED
PARTNERS

Understanding the card imaging process helps in printer selection

Chris Corum   ||   Sep 06, 2005  ||   , ,


For many,the card printing process is limited to, ‘the blank card goes in here and the finished card comes out here.’ This is a testament to the reliability of these printers—they work so we don’t have to know how they work. However, as any mid- to high-volume user will tell you, a little understanding can go a long way when students are lined up and a printer has broken down.

The process used by most card printers today is called ‘dye diffusion thermal transfer’ or ‘dye sublimation’ (dye sub). It involves the transfer of dyes from a ribbon to a plastic card via heat. The key pieces of this process are the print head and the ribbon.

The base for a dye sub printer ribbon is a thin, but durable, plastic sheet called a carrier film. The carrier film is stained with a waxy substance containing the dyes. In color processes, the ribbon has a series of different colored panels which, when combined in specific amounts on the card, create the full spectrum of colors. The printer applies the dye from these panels, one pass at a time. Most ribbons utilize four panels for applying images and text–cyan, magenta, yellow, and black–and another clear panel that serves as a protective overlay. With these distinct color panels, all colors in the visible spectrum can be created.

To envision the process, think of a painter mixing colors on a palette. A certain portion of cyan mixed with yellow will produce a green hue. Add more cyan and an aqua will emerge. The key is in how are the colors applied in different and controlled proportions. The answer leads us to a discussion of print heads.

The print head is the means by which the heat is applied to the ribbon, at specified locations and at specified temperatures, to produce the intended color transfers to the card. A typical print head consists of 6 separate heating elements per millimeter. Each element is capable of producing 256 temperature variations. Each variation transfers a corresponding amount of dye from the ribbon to the card. As an example, a mid-range temperature from an element transfers a mid-range intensity of dye from the color panel to the card.

Some printers transfer the dye to a clear overlay, rather than directly to the card. This overlay is then adhered to card as a single sheet with the images and text already included.

Each element creates or transfers dye to a single pixel or dot. Most card printers in use today print at 300 dots per inch (dpi). This means that in every square inch of card space, there are 9000 individual pixels (300 x 300). To create the accurate color specified in an image, a pixel may need dye from all three (or more in four and five panel ribbons) separate panels. As you can see, the printer must be a highly precise and reliable piece of equipment to control this process.

The majority of the card printers used on campuses are manufactured by Fargo, DataCard, Zebra, or one of handful of other makers. While most manufacturers will sell direct to end users, campuses frequently obtain printers via system integrators or resellers.

Each manufacturer offers a series of models with different feature sets. The key features to consider include:

Print speed - How much time does it take for the printer to accept data and produce a finished card? Be aware that the time listed by the manufacturer can vary greatly when placed in your operating environment. Talk to users of the printer to get their impression of the actual print speed.

Duplex printing capability - This is the printer’s ability to print both sides of a card in the same print cycle. For many campuses, this feature is unnecessary as the back of the card will be preprinted by the card supplier or via another print station.

Magnetic stripe encoding - Nearly every printer has this capability but it is not always included in the price of the printer. Make sure that you find out if this module adds any additional costs to the unit.

Smart card encoding - If you do currently, or may in the future, have a contactless or contact chip on your ID, you may wish to consider this option. Many printer models offer this capability as an add-on module that can be purchased and installed in the future.

Card sizes accepted
- Will the printer accept only CR80 cards (standard ID size) or will it also print other sizes? Some card offices print badges for seminars and events onlarger cards.

Edge-to-edge printing - In the past, desktop card printers could not print images that extended all the way to the edges of the card. These cards had a thin white band around the card. Many printers currently offer this full-bleed or edge-to-edge capability enabling more flexibility in the design of the card.

Footprint/size - Depending upon the size of your card office the physical dimensions of the printer can make a difference in your workspace. Very compact printers are available today as well as the traditional large, heavy units.

Printer drivers - Ensure that the printer drivers (software) required for the specific printer you are considering are available for use with your card production system. If the drivers are not freely available, do not assume that the price to purchase them will be inconsequential. Some drivers can cost more than the price of a low-cost printer.

Price - The price range for dye sub printers is extremely broad ranging from less than $1000 to more than $10,000. Examine your individual needs in terms of throughput and functionality before shopping for a printer.

A great way to begin the shopping process is to talk with integrators, vendors, and end users. Manufacturer web sites can enable initial comparison shopping but often the best information comes from peers who are actually using the printer.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter

RECENT POSTS

Genetec stats
Dec 01, 23 /

Hybrid cloud, cyber fears, supply chain hangovers lead trends in physical security

In its annual “State of the Physical Security 2024” study, Genetec surveyed more than 5,500 end users and channel partners to get their perspectives on the market in 2023. Of the respondents, 32% were from North America and the remaining 68% were split between other regions across the globe. Key findings saw cloud-based access control […]
Amazon One Enterprise turnstile

Amazon makes move into access control space with palm biometrics

  The Amazon One Enterprise solution is a palm-based identity service that enables employees and other authorized users to access to buildings and facilities as well as computers, data, and online services. In the announcement, AWS highlights its increased security and user convenience as well as the cost savings associated with ID card issuance and […]
Northern Arizona University mobile ID
Nov 28, 23 / ,

Mobile ID drives massive growth in mobile app usage at Northern Arizona University

Northern Arizona University’s JacksCard went mobile two years ago and never looked back. The mobile credential was initially released to students in Apple Wallet, but one year later in August 2022, Android availability was added to the mix. With the help of their transaction system partner TouchNet, they accomplished the initial launch of the mobile […]
CIDN logo reversed
The only publication dedicated to the use of campus cards, mobile credentials, identity and security technology in the education market. CampusIDNews – formerly CR80News – has served more than 6,500 subscribers for more than two decades.
Twitter

Join us, @NACCUorg, and @TouchNet to explore how campus card programs can successfully navigate the sales and procurement process. Join the webinar on June 6, 2 pm EDT. https://go.touchnet.com/l/652093/2022-05-18/lsndq

Webinar: Learn how the University of Arizona uses campus cards, mobile ordering, kiosks, lockers, and robots to revolutionize campus dining. April 7, 2-2:30 EDT. Register Now at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/7821245544009488910?source=campus-id

Load More...
Contact
CampusIDNews is published by AVISIAN Publishing
315 E. Georgia St.
Tallahassee, FL 32301
www.AVISIAN.com[email protected]
Use our contact form to submit tips, corrections, or questions to our team.
©2023 CampusIDNews. All rights reserved.