Unlike the old cut-and-paste ID cards of yesteryear, today's photo IDs are printed on durable PVC plastic. The cards are typically about the same size as a credit card, but come in several different widths and forms, and can include special features for varying security needs.
In order to print on PVC plastic cards, an ID card printer is required. These printers are designed to work in harmony with the plastic cards, and are capable of producing crisp and detailed photo IDs that can range from the very basic to the highly advanced, depending on the security needs of the organization issuing the cards.
Basic ID cards typically include the cardholder's photo, name and title, along with background graphics or a logo. A bar code can also be included if necessary. On the other end of the spectrum, sophisticated, multifunctional ID cards can include a wide variety of features ranging from encoded magnetic stripes and smart chips, to embedded proximity antennas and biometrics, or a combination of these elements.