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How many IDs will you print per year

PVC Printers

PVC card printers, or plastic card printers, are designed to print on durable plastic ID cards using a specialized printing process. PVC printers are available from many manufacturers with a wide range of features.

What are PVC ID Card Printers?

A PVC card printer is just another term for an ID card printer. PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, is a popular synonym for plastic and while it most immediately brings pipes and construction to mind, PVC is a durable plastic that is also good for creating and printing ID cards. A PVC card printer, therefore, can refer to any type of photo ID maker.

How do PVC Card Printers Work?

PVC plastic card printers can use any number of methods to transfer a design on to an ID card. Some of the most common techniques to print on PVC cards include dye sublimation and reverse transfer.

Dye Sublimation
Probably the most popular method of ID card printing, dye sublimation printing uses a ribbon which has panels of the three primary colors (Yellow, Cyan and Magenta) along its entire length. As the card is printing, a print head with heated thermal elements passes over the ribbon and evaporates the ink on the ribbon where appropriate, and transfers it to the PVC card. Dye sublimation is a term commonly used with color PVC card printers – for a black and white PVC card printer, this process is called resin thermal transfer.

Reverse Transfer
One of the more secure forms of plastic card printing is called reverse transfer. With reverse transfer printing, the card itself isn't printed, but instead a thin mylar or film overlay is printed with the reverse image of the card. After printing, the film is carefully applied to the PVC card. Reverse transfer printing is popular for smart cards and proximity/RFID cards because these cards are oddly shaped (not flat like normal PVC cards) and running them through a normal dye sublimation printer can cause a warped or bleeding image. The film from reverse transfer printing makes it easy to print secure ID cards without having to worry about compromising image quality. The film overlay on the card also makes it nearly impossible to alter or damage an ID card. Any attempt at alteration (like scratching out a number or trying to change a name) would be blatantly obvious.

Lamination & Holographs
Reverse transfer printing is similar to Holographic and Lamination printing, where a holographic overlay (laminate film) is placed over the card at the end of the printing process in order to protect the card from being tampered with. Add more security to your PVC cards by designing a custom holographic image unique to your organization.

What are the Best Plastic Card Printer Brands?

PVC card printers are available from a wide range of manufacturers. Shop the wide range of ID card printers available from AlphaCard:

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ID CARD PRINTERS

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TOP CARD PRINTERS

  1. Authentys Pro RT1 Retransfer ID Card Printer - Dual-Sided Printing
    Authentys Pro RT1 Retransfer ID Card Printer - Dual-Sided Printing
    Price $4,995.00 MSRP $5,005.00
    + Wish List
  2. Authentys Pro RT1 Retransfer ID Card Printer - Single-Sided Printing
    Authentys Pro RT1 Retransfer ID Card Printer - Single-Sided Printing
    Price $3,995.00 MSRP $4,005.00
    + Wish List
  3. Entrust Datacard Sigma SL2 ID Card Printer - Single-Sided
    Entrust Datacard Sigma SL2 ID Card Printer - Single-Sided
    MSRP $2,292.00
    Price
    + Wish List
  4. Entrust Datacard Sigma SL3 ID Card Printer - Dual-Sided
    Entrust Datacard Sigma SL3 ID Card Printer - Dual-Sided
    MSRP $3,177.88
    Price
    + Wish List

Not sure how to choose
an ID card printer?

  1. Approximately how many cards will you
    print per year?
  1. Do you need to automatically print on
    both sides of the card?
  1. Do you need a magnetic stripe?

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35 Items

  1. Fargo DTC5500LMX ID Card Printer 56301 - DISCONTINUED
    Fargo DTC5500LMX ID Card Printer 56301 - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: FAOE56301
    MSRP $7,346.99
    Price
    You Save: $1,262.00
    + Wish List
    Double-Sided ID Card Printer, Mag Stripe Encoding, Standard Input Hopper, Single-Sided Lamination, USB & Ethernet Learn More
  2. Fargo DTC5500LMX ID Card Printer 56300 - DISCONTINUED
    Fargo DTC5500LMX ID Card Printer 56300 - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: FAOE56300
    MSRP $6,726.99
    Price
    You Save: $1,272.00
    + Wish List
    Single-Sided ID Card Printer, Standard Input Hopper, Single-Sided Lamination, USB & Ethernet Learn More
  3. Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Dual-Sided - No Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Dual-Sided - No Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: 89640
    MSRP $5,745.00
    Price
    You Save: $2,250.00
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  4. 89696 image
    Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Dual-Sided - Dual-Side Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: 89696
    Price $10,272.99 MSRP $13,452.40
    You Save: $3,179.41
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  5. 89695 image
    Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Dual-Sided - Dual-Side Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: 89695
    Price $9,663.99 MSRP $12,672.40
    You Save: $3,008.41
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  6. 89691 image
    Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Dual-Sided - Dual-Side Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: 89691
    Price $10,272.99 MSRP $13,452.40
    You Save: $3,179.41
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  7. 89689 image
    Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Dual-Sided - Dual-Side Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: 89689
    Price $9,663.99 MSRP $12,672.40
    You Save: $3,008.41
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  8. Fargo HDP5000 89681 Small Image
    Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Dual-Sided - Dual-Side Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: 89681
    MSRP $8,495.00
    Price
    + Wish List

    Double-Sided ID Card Printer, Mag Stripe Encoding, Double-Sided Lamination, USB

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  9. Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Dual-Sided - Dual-Side Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Dual-Sided - Dual-Side Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: 89680
    MSRP $8,495.00
    Price
    + Wish List
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  10. 89676 image
    Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Dual-Sided - Single-Side Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: 89676
    Price $9,254.99 MSRP $12,152.40
    You Save: $2,897.41
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  11. Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Dual-Sided - Single-Side Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Dual-Sided - Single-Side Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: 89675
    Price $8,645.99 MSRP $11,372.40
    You Save: $2,726.41
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  12. 89671 image
    Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Dual-Sided - Single-Side Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: 89671
    Price $9,254.99 MSRP $12,152.40
    You Save: $2,897.41
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  13. Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Dual-Sided - Single-Side Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Dual-Sided - Single-Side Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: 89669
    Price $8,645.99 MSRP $11,372.40
    You Save: $2,726.41
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  14. 89661 image
    Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Dual-Sided - Single-Side Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: 89661
    Price $8,238.99 MSRP $10,852.40
    You Save: $2,613.41
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  15. Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Dual-Sided - Single-Side Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Dual-Sided - Single-Side Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: 89660
    MSRP $9,812.40
    Price
    You Save: $2,182.41
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  16. 89657 image
    Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Dual-Sided - No Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: 89657
    Price $6,710.99 MSRP $8,902.40
    You Save: $2,191.41
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  17. 89655 image
    Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Dual-Sided - No Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: 89655
    Price $6,101.99 MSRP $8,122.40
    You Save: $2,020.41
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  18. 89651 image
    Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Dual-Sided - No Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: 89651
    Price $5,794.99 MSRP $8,902.40
    You Save: $3,107.41
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  19. Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Dual-Sided - No Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Dual-Sided - No Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: 89649
    Price $6,101.99 MSRP $8,122.40
    You Save: $2,020.41
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  20. Fargo HDP5000 89641 Small Image
    Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Dual-Sided - No Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: 89641
    MSRP $5,745.00
    Price
    You Save: $1,117.01
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  21. 89630 image
    Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer ID Card Printer - Single-Sided - Single-Side Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: 89630
    Price $8,237.99 MSRP $10,784.80
    You Save: $2,546.81
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  22. Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer ID Card Printer - Single-Sided - Single-Side Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer ID Card Printer - Single-Sided - Single-Side Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: 89629
    Price $7,627.99 MSRP $10,004.80
    You Save: $2,376.81
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  23. 89625 image
    Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer ID Card Printer - Single-Sided - Single-Side Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: 89625
    Price $8,237.99 MSRP $10,784.80
    You Save: $2,546.81
    + Wish List
    Learn More
  24. Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer ID Card Printer - Single-Sided - Single-Side Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer ID Card Printer - Single-Sided - Single-Side Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: 89623
    Price $7,627.99 MSRP $10,004.80
    You Save: $2,376.81
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  25. Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Single-Sided Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Single-Sided Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: 89621
    MSRP $9,484.80
    Price
    You Save: $2,263.81
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  26. Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Single-Sided Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Single-Sided Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: 89620
    MSRP $8,444.80
    Price
    You Save: $1,832.81
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  27. Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Single-Sided - No Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Single-Sided - No Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: 89610
    Price $5,692.99 MSRP $7,534.80
    You Save: $1,841.81
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  28. 89609 image
    Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Single-Sided - No Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: 89609
    Price $5,083.99 MSRP $6,754.80
    You Save: $1,670.81
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    Learn More
  29. Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Single-Sided - No Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Single-Sided - No Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: 89605
    Price $5,692.99 MSRP $7,534.80
    You Save: $1,841.81
    + Wish List
    Learn More
  30. 89603 image
    Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Single-Sided - No Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: 89603
    Price $5,083.99 MSRP $6,754.80
    You Save: $1,670.81
    + Wish List
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  31. Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Single-Sided - No Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer - Single-Sided - No Lamination - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: 89601
    MSRP $5,745.00
    Price
    You Save: $1,068.01
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  32. Fargo HDP5000 Card Printer - HID 89600 - DISCONTINUED
    Fargo HDP5000 Card Printer - HID 89600 - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: 89600-Model
    Price $3,495.00
    + Wish List

    High-volume, photo-quality ID card printer

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  33. Fargo 56305 DTC5500LMX Laminating ID Card Printer - DISCONTINUED
    Fargo 56305 DTC5500LMX Laminating ID Card Printer - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: 56305-Model
    Price
    + Wish List

    Powerful and efficient ID card printer with lamination

    Learn More
  34. Fargo 56305 DTC5500LMX Laminating ID Card Printer - Dual-Sided - DISCONTINUED
    Fargo 56305 DTC5500LMX Laminating ID Card Printer - Dual-Sided - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: 56305
    MSRP $9,413.99
    Price
    You Save: $1,539.00
    Out of stock
    + Wish List
    Double-Sided ID Card Printer, Standard Input Hopper, Double-Sided Lamination, USB & Ethernet Learn More
  35. Fargo HDP5000 Single-Side ID Card Printer - HID 89600 - DISCONTINUED
    Fargo HDP5000 Single-Side ID Card Printer - HID 89600 - DISCONTINUED
    Item#: 89600
    MSRP $5,745.00
    You Save: $3,045.00
    Out of stock
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35 Items

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