When choosing card stock for your ID card printer, you'll come across two types of plastic ID cards — PVC and composite.

Cards made of PVC — which stands for poly-vinyl chloride — is the standard card stock material and works well for most ID card printing jobs. In most cases, if you are using just a dye sublimation (direct-to-card) ID card printer with no laminating, you can use a standard PVC card.

However PVC does not stand up well to heat of 280ºF or above — temperatures of which can be reached with the extra heat from laminating or retransfer card printing. Warping, the slight bending or cracking of the card, may occur with standard PVC cards in these cases. Composite PVC-PET cards contain polyester material (usually up to 60%) and can withstand higher temperatures, preventing the risk of warping. Because of this, composite cards are highly recommended for laminating cards and for retransfer printing.

Keyfob and clamshell proximity cards work great for organizations that want to secure door and gate access. ​However, having photo ID badges embedded with proximity card technology will add an additional layer of security because it adds the visual identification element.

Having employees and personnel wear photo ID badges that include a name, title, photo and company logo visually confirms they are authorized to be in the building, but will also create a professional look for the organization.

Going from keyfobs and clamshell cards to photo ID badges will require a photo ID system and blank PVC printable prox cards. Elements of a typical photo ID system includes the following:

• ID card printer
• Camera
• Photo ID backdrop
• ID badge creation software
• ID accessories (lanyards, badge holders and badge reels)

Switching proximity credentials is straightforward, as the proximity technology — regardless of the card format — is typically available in any credential type, whether it be a keyfob, clamshell or printable PVC card.

IdentiSys is North America's largest full-service identification and security solutions provider. Whether you are looking to switch to photo ID badges with an existing system or implement a whole new access control system that incorporates ID badges, contact us to connect with your local sales representative to discuss your project.