It’s important to make sure you’re using the right ribbon for your printer. AlphaCard makes it easy to find which ribbons are compatible with your printer using the Supply Locator. But once you’ve found the right ribbons, what’s the difference between the various kinds of ribbons available? Here’s a quick and handy guide to navigating the nomenclature of printer ribbons.

A perfectly designed card needs an equally great photo, which can be achieved with a backdrop and tripod. By taking photos at a uniform height with a consistent background color, ID cards are harder to counterfeit and helps ensure the cards appear standardized.

Some things go together perfectly, including the ribbons and cards in our ID Badge Resupply Packs. Over time every ID card program will need new supplies, and it can be time-consuming to pick the right products. Designed to create smooth-running ID card programs, resupply packs take the guess work out of ordering.

If you need to travel with your printer, and worry that the printer may be damaged in transit, then a printer case may be right for you. Card printer cases help protect your valuable card printing equipment from the potential perils of travel.

Calling all ID accessory fashionistas: AlphaCard’s ID Accessory Packs are now available in an assortment of stylish colors. While basic black will never go out of style, those who are feeling more adventurous or simply want to match their company colors to their lanyards can now choose from an array of hues.

Whether you’re getting a head start on ordering for the next school year or you’re in the midst of planning a big corporate event, now is an excellent time to save on AlphaCard’s Custom Lanyards. Throughout the month of June save $30 off your purchase of 100 custom silk-screened lanyards.

Happy Earth Day from AlphaCard! We recently launched our new Green ID section of the AlphaCard Store and added information to our Learning Center on what it means to be green in the ID industry. In celebration of all things Earth-friendly, we’re sharing a few tips and tricks for how to give your ID card program an eco-conscious edge.

With the impending celebration of Earth Day, we’re launching a new way to introduce green practices into your office and into your ID card program. AlphaCard’s Green Accessory and Supply Pack is designed to offer an Earth-friendly solution for printing and displaying ID cards in one convenient bundle.

Even though it’s April Fool’s Day, we’re not messing around when it comes to our new promotion running throughout the month of April. Now through the end of the month when you buy any AlphaCard Photo ID System you’ll receive 100 black recycled lanyards for free.

The quickest way to spruce up your ID program and provide great exposure for your brand is to accessorize your ID badges with custom lanyards. Custom lanyards project a more professional appearance than generic lanyards and will prominently identify your business or organization. These custom-tailored ID accessories are ideal for applications where ID badges have to be on display at all times including employee ID programs, schools, and large events such as trade shows and conventions.

Sometimes the accessories make the outfit, and the same can be said for ID programs. While ID printers provide the basis for any ID card program the right ID badge accessories can elevate any program by offering a secure and stylish solution for displaying ID cards and badges. With AlphaCard’s ID Badge Accessory Packs everything you need is included in one convenient bundle to start putting your ID badges on display.

Proximity cards come with their own special set of challenges when it comes to figuring out a way to display them that is both secure and functional. Because proximity cards contain embedded electronics, extra care must be taken to not damage the technology cards by corrupting the electronics.

After going through the time and effort to design and print ID cards, every ID card program needs a secure way to display the fruits of its labors. ID card accessories can be just as important as printing supplies and equipment for keeping an ID card program running smoothly. With ID Badge Accessory Packs from AlphaCard, it’s easy is issue photo IDs that recipients can wear and display at all times.

AlphaCard is making it easy to accent your ID program with our selection of ID accessories. While the printer may be the main feature of any ID system, the accessories play an important role in how the recipients of these cards wear and display them.

If your ID program requires cardholders to visibly show off their IDs, you've got a choice of accessories, and it often comes down to lanyards and badge reels. Both of these highly popular accessories make it easy for you to wear your photo ID and access it when needed. In the AlphaCard online store, you'll find a wide selection of lanyards and badge reels fit for any ID card program.

While a slot punch is probably not the first thing that pops to mind when you think about ID card printing supplies, it is certainly an essential component for programs where ID cards must be visibly displayed. A slot punch, as its name suggests, punches a slot in your ID cards so they can be easily connected to lanyard attachments, strap clips, badge reels, etc. Alpha Card carries a variety of slot punches to meet the needs of ID card programs both large and small.

Sometimes it's hard to know which ID card printer is right for your organization, especially if you see your card program possibly growing or evolving down the road. AlphaCard carries a number of card printers that can actually be upgraded in-field to meet those changing needs. From the innovative modular design of the Fargo HDP5000, to the unique upgrade capabilities of the Magicard Enduro, many printers now provide users with quick and easy ways to enhance functionality without having to buy a new machine.

When it comes time to choose badge accessories for your ID program, there's a good chance you'll consider lanyards as an option for displaying IDs. Lanyards are extremely popular for a vast range of ID programs. They're affordable, easy to wear, and offer a simple solution for environments where ID badges must be visible at all times. Lanyards are available in standard or breakaway format. The breakaway design offers an important safety feature, in that the lanyard will snap off and quite literally break away if it gets pulled or snagged on something.

Badge accessories are a key component of any professional ID card program. While a lot of attention is paid towards designing and printing the cards, it's also important to factor in how those cards will be displayed once you issue them. That's where the badge accessories come into play. Thankfully AlphaCard offers a wide selection of badge accessories that are perfect for ID programs requiring cardholders to visibly display their IDs.

Did you know AlphaCard carries a full selection of time-expiring badges that can help you run a more effective visitor management system? These low-cost temporary badges are super simple to use and come in a variety of styles. Most include a special pattern that fades over a certain amount of time. This makes it easy for you to spot visitors and quickly see whether or not their badge is current.

We're pleased to introduce our new and improved Supply Locator tool, designed to help you quickly find the supplies you need to keep your ID program up and running smoothly. The AlphaCard Supply Locator is a super-convenient web tool that allows you to enter your specific printer model, then instantly view a complete list of supplies, including replacement ribbons, blank cards, cleaning kits, laminate films, and printheads.

Does your ID program require cardholders to frequently scan or swipe their ID cards? If the answer is "yes" then you're a prime candidate for heavy duty badge reels. AlphaCard carries badge reels built specifically to hold up against the wear-and-tear of everyday use. Our heavy duty badge reels are made from highly durable materials and feature reinforced straps and cords that guarantee long-term performance.

Recipients of the AlphaCard email newsletter already know about our special year-end discount on ID card accessories. Now it's your turn to get in on the action. Simply head on over to our Holiday Discount page where you'll find a promo code good for 10% off all ID card accessories. This is a great deal for those looking to stock up and save on accessories such as lanyards, badge reels and strap clips. But you better act fast because the offer expires on January 1st, 2010. Want to be the first to hear about exclusive deals and other exciting promos such as this one? All you have to do is sign up for our email newsletter and we'll keep you in the loop.

If you're looking for a budget-friendly way to increase the visual authenticity of your ID cards, you might want to consider hologram stickers and overlays. AlphaCard offers an assortment of self-adhesive stickers that can help you enhance ID card security. These self-applied stickers and overlays are a great option if your budget is too tight for card printers featuring holographic lamination.

It's no secret that lanyards are the most popular accessory choice for displaying photo IDs. While generic lanyards certainly do the trick, going the extra mile and customizing your lanyards helps you to further promote and brand your company or organization. Plus, they look so much cooler. Custom lanyards are commonly used for student and employee ID programs, for sporting events, conventions, and countless other applications. Now Alpha Card is making it easier than ever for you to order your own custom lanyards.

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.

If you're in the market for card supplies or badge accessories for your ID program, head on over to the AlphaCard online store, where we recently expanded our already-impressive catalog. Our new product offerings include everything from custom badge reels and pre-printed lanyards, to heavy-duty badge holders and eco-friendly accessories.

Evolis has announced new and improved features for its Tattoo2 printer. The entry-level printer creates customized badges and ID cards that feature pictures, text, logos and bar codes. The printer can print one at a time or print ID cards in small batches using the detachable 100-card feeder, or the manual feed option. The new features available include: direct transfer onto thermosensitive cards, ISO-compliant magnetic encoding, and printing on paper tickets. These new features help to increase the versatility and functionality of the Tattoo2.

One of the most unique entry-level ID card printers is getting a minor face lift. Evolis has announced that the Tattoo2, their newest and most innovative card printer solution, has added a new module with improved print quality to produce high quality cards for a wide range of small-scale needs, including loyalty cards, gift cards, and more.

HID Global, a worldwide leader in ID card printers, announced yesterday at ISC West 2008 that it would be adding a line of ID card accessories to its current offerings.