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The fundamental task of photo ID cards is to identify their holders by name and photograph.
Blank ID Cards
A blank ID card is the canvas of your ID card program. The possibilities are endless in terms of design and functionality. No matter the shape or scope of your program, deciding what information to include on your cards is a critical first step. Blank ID cards are typically made of durable PVC plastic and come in a variety of forms, from the very basic, to magnetic stripe cards and technology cards for high-security, multifunctional ID card programs. Learn More >
Magnetic Stripe Cards
A simple and secure way to enhance the functionality of your ID card program is to incorporate magnetic stripe cards. These cards are able to store information on a magnetic stripe which is read when the card is swiped through a special reader for applications such as cashless payment, access control, time and attendance and equipment checkout. Magnetic stripe cards are commonly used for student ID programs, gift cards, customer loyalty, employee badges, and many other applications. Learn More >
To be printed onto a blank plastic card, an image must be converted into the series of bits intelligible to the computer running your card design software. Cameras exist today that capture what's in front of them as a continuous stream of still images; photographers can let this stream run until an image that is satisfactory comes across their computer's screen.
Getting a satisfactory image depends largely on having the person's face illuminated correctly. Natural lighting works best. Full spectrum lighting - such as that provided by halogen and most incandescent lights - also works well. Illumination that comes from flourescent lights does not contain a full spectrum of colors, and therefore distorts the colors of people's skin (often turning it purple). It is not advised.
It is also important to consider the resolution of your photograph. As a rule, photo ID card printers cannot resolve images into detail greater than 300 x 300 pixels. Therefore photographs containing more than 3 mpg of information will - at best - be wasted; at worse they will quickly fill the database storing them to capacity and - when compressed to the smaller image size ID card printers require - result in a picture that is blurred. A good resolution to choose for your camera is 640 x 480 pixels.
Beyond identifying cardholder's by their appearance and name, the benefits that ID cards bring an organization depend largely on their integration into a complete photo ID card system.
The elements of a photo ID system includes: an ID card printer/encoder; a digital camera; a database; a computer; and card design software this computer can run. Getting the versions of these components that your organization requires depends on assessing its current and future needs accurately. These needs will vary with your number of employees, the level of security you need, the ID card dimensions you require, and your requirements for tracking people and transactions.
Getting the right system for photo ID cards also requires talking to an ID card representative who knows, inside and out, the range of products the industry provides. Photo ID systems can track something as simple as the card's expiration date, and something as complex as financial charges. A good system should be quick and easy to use, so that card holders are not kept waiting. It also provides the level of data management that your organization requires.
