Rewritable ID card printing technology offers the ability to re-use special rewritable plastic ID cards, by re-printing the information on them each time they are to be used for a new application.
Rewritable ID cards are most commonly used for temporary or short-term identification applications, such as the printing of visitor ID badges, which are often only used one time.
There are several issues that make rewritable ID card printing technology less than perfect for every application, so before deciding if it’s the right solution for you, see below:
1. Rewritable ID cards are more expensive per card than regular PVC plastic ID cards generally are. Rewritable ID cards cost around $2 per card, and regular white plastic PVC ID cards can be printed on for less than $.10 each, and though they provide the ability of being re-used, rewritable ID cards will have to be replaced after they’ve been rewritten over several times.
2. In order to access the benefits of rewritable ID card printing, after rewritable ID cards have been used they must be returned, in order to be able to be used again for the next ID card printing application. If rewritable ID cards are not returned after their use, there is no reuse benefit possible.
3. Rewritable ID card printing technology essentially uses a “free” ink, but ID card printing with this technology is restricted to text and photos printed in monochrome blue or grey colors. The look of crisp black text for monochrome ID card printing is often preferred, but not possible with rewritable ID card printing. If printing regular plastic PVC ID cards, black monochrome ink ribbons can be used for as little as $.01-.03 each, depending on which ID card printer is used, making monochrome non-rewritable ID card printing an affordable option.
4. The text printed on rewritable ID cards is meant for short-term-use ID card applications and is not permanent, and can fade quickly over time. Ink from regular monochrome black ID card printer ribbons used in regular ID card printing applications is very durable and does not fade.
5. Rewritable ID card printers are for the most part designed for only printing rewritable ID cards, and cannot be repurposed to perform monochrome black or full color ID card printing when and if needs or ID card printing application requirements change.
Solutions for printing temporary visitor ID badges not using rewritable ID card printing technology:
. Monochrome PVC ID Cards printed on-the-spot with personalized text and/or photos using a regular ID card printer, or preprinted color ID cards for use in high-volume applications.
. Full-Color PVC ID Cards printed on-the-spot with personalized text and/or photos using a regular ID card printer. This option provides the most professional looking ID cards, but for high-volume ID card printing applications, can be an expensive option.
. Expiring Paper ID Badges, a popular solution for visitor ID badges, featuring a peel off sticker that can be personalized by hand or with a label printer.
IDSuperShop Carries the Following Rewritable ID Card Printers:
.Datacard SP25 Plus
.Evolis Tattoo Rewrite
.Magicard Pronto
.Magicard Enduro+
Contact IDSuperShop today to learn more about rewrite printing technology and your options for a secure ID card system. We provide excellent customer service! 1-877-943-7467
