It's no secret that PVC card printers produce high-quality photo IDs, but did you know many customers also use these machines to print professional business cards? It's a great idea if you want to find a second use for your card printer.

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.

Ribbon breakage is one of the more common issues faced by users of ID card printers. Thankfully it's a problem that can be easily avoided with some simple routine maintenance.

While most ID card systems come with standard PVC cards, it's important to realize that there are times when composite cards are the preferred choice. There's a reason composite cards cost more than regular PVC cards. Composite cards are stronger and more resistant to heat. So while ordinary PVC cards work great for most applications, if you're laminating your IDs you'll want to use composite cards because they can withstand the heat and pressure involved in the lamination process.

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 Alpha Card offers a wide selection of badge accessories that are perfect for ID programs requiring cardholders to visibly display their IDs.

Did you know Alpha Card 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 Alpha Card 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.

If your ID program requires the use of multifunctional magnetic stripe cards, you have two options: HiCo or LoCo cards. What separates HiCo and LoCo cards is not the amount of data they can carry, but rather how secure and durable they are.

Visitor management is one of the most effective ways you can increase safety in and around your facilities. By controlling access at the point of entry, you can keep a thorough record of all those who come and go throughout the day. In the days of yore, most visitor management systems consisted of nothing more than a ball-point pen and a sign-in sheet. But now you have much more sophisticated and effective options at your disposal, including Alpha Track visitor management software, a powerful platform that provides tools for secure badge design, employee and visitor tracking, and access control.

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. Alpha Card 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 Alpha Card 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. Alpha Card 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.

When we think about high-definition card printers, the first thing that comes to mind is the enhanced print quality. High-def printers such as the Fargo HDP5000 and the new Zebra ZXP Series 8 are know for their ability to produce photo-quality cards with vivid colors and sharp images and text, but that's not their only benefit. These printers are also built to last, and they offer the flexibility to print on multiple card types.

While the ID card printer is the most glamorous component of an ID card system, software is equally important. Photo ID software provides the tools that allow you to design your cards and manage the ins and outs of your ID card program.

Recently we introduced you to the new Zebra ZXP Series 8 retransfer card printer, Zebra's first foray into the world of high-definition card printing. We're pleased to announce that the Zebra ZXP Series 8 is now available for purchase in the AlphaCard.com online store.

Did you know that almost all Magicard printers come with a special feature that lets you apply a secure watermark across the face of each printed card? It's called HoloKote, and it's a great way to increase the level of card security and visual authenticity for your ID program.

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.

If you're looking to launch a professional ID card program, but don't quite know where to start, try giving our new ID System Selector a whirl. We created the ID System Selector tool as a way to quickly present you with the most suitable ID card solutions for your specific needs. All you have to do is enter a few key requirements for your desired system, and the ID System Selector will produce a list of the best available options.

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.

If your company or organization is looking to launch a new ID card program, you've got a lot of choices when it comes to ID printers, software, and supplies. Sorting through the different printer models and other components can be a challenge, especially if the technology is all new to you. That's why Alpha Card has assembled complete photo ID systems designed to meet the needs of ID programs of all shapes and sizes, from low-volume card programs, to large-scale high-security applications. These systems eliminate the guesswork when it comes to choosing the right equipment for your ID card solution.

The central elements of an ID card system have been the same for a while now - computer, printer, cards, camera, cables, as well as the security features a card can have - holographic overlay, magnetic stripes, RFID antennas, smart card chips, bar codes. Most of the ID card machines available today are able to produce these kinds of security measures easily and at high rates.

The British Army, one of Alpha Card's customers, recently forwarded on a couple of pictures from their current work in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Officers are using an ID card printer to make secure badges for the new Afghani police force.