One of the easiest and most effective ways to keep your card printer running properly is to clean it on a regular basis. Cleaning your card printer is a simple procedure that prevents many of the most common difficulties experienced by users, including broken ribbons, streaky printing, and card jams. You can easily avoid these problems, and any expensive repair costs they might entail, by staying on top of printer maintenance. In other words, treat your card printer like your car. You take care of it, and it will perform up to its best capabilities.

Drury University has installed new card readers in four campus buildings to increase security while granting students 24-hour access. Students can now use facilities such as the school's music building and fitness center all hours of the day and night without having to worry about intruders gaining access.

Over in New Delhi they've found a unique use for ID cards that's so innovative, we don't even have an industry page for it yet: Tiger identification. But when you think about it, it makes perfect sense. Not only are these big cats predators, but they're also at risk. Creating a photo ID system to keep tabs on each tiger helps to strengthen tiger conservation at the ground level, while enabling authorities to closely track their movement.

We're very pleased to announce a new member of the AlphaCard software family. Alpha Card Light is an easy-to-use software platform geared towards smaller ID programs and basic card applications. The software is very affordable, and gives users powerful tools for card design and management in an intuitive interface. If you're looking for a smart photo ID software solution that won't break the bank, we strongly recommend AlphaCard Light. In fact, we now include it with many of our all-in-one photo ID systems.

On a college campus, nothing's more frustrating than trying to do your laundry. Why do you think so many kids choose to haul massive bags of dirty clothes home on the weekends for their parents to deal with? The frustration stems from two key factors: first, you need to have a large supply of quarters on hand, and second, you never know when the machines are going to be available. Some schools, such as Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA, are making things easier by integrating student ID cards into coin-free laundry systems. At Susquehanna, the system is called "eSUDS."

For many ID programs, keeping cards protected from illegal duplication is extremely important. You don't want people to be able to forge or copy your IDs. There are a number of ways to prevent this from happening, and one such method is the use of a secure watermark. At Alpha Card, we recently released a pair of budget-friendly ID card systems that make it easy to enhance card security. Our Ultra Secure ID Systems include everything you need to design and print secure IDs featuring a custom HoloKote watermark that ensures your cards can't be illegally duplicated.

Public transit riders in the Seattle area will soon be able to pay for buses, ferries, and trains with a single RFID card. They call it the "ORCA Card" which stands for "One Regional Card for All." And if you've ever been to the Pacific Northwest, you'll be quick to pick up on the fact that the ORCA name also pays homage to the region's beloved orca whales.

Looking for a way to make your cards more vibrant and eye-catching? Consider color PVC cards. They're perfect for applications such as membership and loyalty programs, gift cards, reward card programs, name tags, employee badges, and more.

Students at the University of Georgia no longer have to pick up paper tickets to attend Bulldog football games. This is a big deal, especially in the Southeastern Conference, where a football ticket on gameday is more valuable than the most precious of jewels. For the first time last Saturday, UGA students were able to attend a Georgia football game simply by having their student IDs scanned at the gate. The new system is electronic. Students purchase their football tickets online, and instead of receiving paper tickets, a record of the transaction is stored in the school's computers. When the barcode of the student ID card is scanned on gameday, the electronic ticket is verified and the student is granted entry.