An ID card printer is a key investment. With a variety of models and features, however, finding the right one can be a bit daunting. Our step-by-step guide below helps break down the process of buying an ID card printer. Step 1: Assess the Cost How much your ID card printer is going to cost will depend on what you’re looking for. For instance, single-side printers are more affordable, so if you’re a small business and new to card printing, they’re probably your ideal choice. If you need to increase visual security or add information to the back of your card as well, you’ll be better off with a dual-side printer. Assess your organization’s needs and determine what you’ll need on your card. Step 2: Determine What Kind of Card You’ll be Printing On Should you use a blank photo ID card, or an access control ID card? Again, this depends on your organization’s needs. If your needs are less complex and you only require a simple design, with no door access capabilities, a standard PVC card will suffice. If you need more complex security and design features, a composite PVC access control card would better serve your needs. Step 3: Determine Which Printer Best Meets Your Needs Now that you’ve determined what should go into your card, you’ll need to find a printer that meets these needs. What is the image quality and print volume you’ll require? What about the level of card security? There are many types of ID card printers, which include: Direct-to-card Retransfer Inkjet Step 4: Single- or Dual-Sided? You will also need to determine whether you need a single- or dual-sided printer. For businesses looking to introduce visual security measures into the workplace, such as photo ID, a single-sided printer is a good beginner’s option. Dual-sided printers, however, give you greater flexibility by offering print on both sides of the card. Once again, it all depends on what you’re looking for. Step 5: Determine the Volume of Cards You’ll Need to Print Knowing the volume of cards y