2012 is here, and we’re looking forward to a New Year filled with new products, new tradeshow appearances, new team members, and new customers!

Before we begin a new year of blogging, we wanted to recap the 11 most popular posts from 2011:

1. School ID Cards Improve Security
2. Designing Your ID Card
3. Top 10 Workplace Safety Tips for National Safety Month
4. ID Card Systems in Healthcare Protect Information and Improve Safety
5. ID Maker ID Card Systems Thinking Outside the Box
6. The Dreaded Employee ID Badge
7. Paper or Plastic ID Cards
8. Streamline School Processes with Student ID Cards and an ID Card System
9. Streamline Payroll Responsibilities with New Time and Attendance System
10. Top Ten Reasons for an ID Maker Identification System
11. Lanyards Keep ID Cards Visible for Back to School

What would you like to see us post in 2012? Share your suggestions for upcoming blog posts in the comment section of this post!



Here’s to a great New Year!

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Todd is an identification expert at IDville with over seven years ID Maker experience. Around IDville, Todd is known for his excessive coffee drinking, beautiful daughters, and impressive ping pong skills.

When you purchased your ID card printer, you made an investment in the safety and security of your staff. Like any piece of equipment, your printer won’t last forever if it’s not cared for properly. Follow our four steps to extend the life and well-being of your ID card printer:

1. Clean It. We recommend you clean your printer with a cleaning kit every 700-1,000 prints to keep it running smoothly. Regular cleanings ensure your ID cards always come out looking beautiful.

2. Store it in a Case. Protect your printer from dust and potential damage by storing it in a carry case. This is a necessity to protect your printer from the elements if you are transporting it between buildings or events.

3. Give Proper Training. The greater number of people you have using your printer, the more likely it is to be misused or damaged. Train individuals in your office or organization who will be using the printer to make sure it’s handled properly.

4. Use the Correct Printer Supplies. Different styles and models of printers require different printer ribbons and cleaning kids. Be sure to use the right supplies on your printer with our Printer Supplies Locator.

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Todd is an identification expert at IDville with over seven years ID Maker experience. Around IDville, Todd is known for his excessive coffee drinking, beautiful daughters, and impressive ping pong skills.

I love the color blue, but I’ve wanted to create a new ID Maker color for some time now! I’m excited to introduce you to our Pearl White ID Maker Advantage System . This color is a special edition change from our traditional blue systems and a beautiful addition to any office.

Even though it looks different than the ID Maker Systems you’re familiar with, the Pearl White ID Maker  has all the same features as our blue ID Maker Advantage System:


• ID Maker 2.0 Pro software

• PVC card printer

• 200 PVC ID cards

• USB Web cam

• Full-color printer ribbon

• Standard white backdrop

• 4 standard Holographic overlays

• Printer Cleaning Kit

Plus, all our systems come with our free lifetime technical support, so you always have a helpline for anything related to making ID cards.

If you're interested in learning more about the ID Maker Systems, request our free System Information Packet today!

Do you identify staff and visitors at your organization? Why not!? Here are my top ten reasons you should identify with an ID card system. 

1. Safety is everyone's priority - Not just building and grounds safety, but personal safety should be an important part of your building plan. Know who is roaming your halls and corridors and manage building or room access with a single card.

2. Time and attendance capability - Track hours for payroll with ease. You can transform an access card to a photo ID plus an access card by creating a plastic overlay that adheres to any proximity or HID card.

3. Make the best use of your time - Avoid labor-intensive paper laminate cards that don't last. Plastic ID cards have more functionality and security, and they print in less than a minute per card.

4. Make the best use of your dollars - An ID Maker System is all-inclusive without any hidden costs. Everything you need to get started today for creating and printing ID cards, right out of the box.

 5. Appropriate for use in government and healthcare industries - Remain compliant with federal and state ID card and information mandates when you design and print your own ID cards.

6. Multiple functions on a single card - From a student perspective, incorporate a photo ID with cafeteria and library services. For the office, combine a time card with building access.

7. Reduce waste and costly reprints - Sturdy plastic ID cards last 20 times longer then a paper laminate card.

8. Reduce fraudulent reproduction - Make ID cards tamper-proof with unique security features such as holographic overlays, ghost photos, and printer memory card capabilities.

9. Create your own rewards/membership programs - Advertise your business with a rewards card, or print your own gift or key cards. The possibilities with an ID Maker System expand beyond identification.

10. Lifetime, technical support whenever you need it - You are never on your own! With every system purchase, you get free technical support for as long as you own the system. We're the experts, and we do it right!

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David is an IDville Identification Specialist with over seven years product and sales experience.  Around IDville, David is known for his new product ideas, sports knowledge, and experience as a catalog model (you may have seen him in a previous IDville catalog!).

Quiksilver, Inc. is a sportswear apparel company that designs, produces and distributes clothing, surf, skate and snow equipment for young-minded people. Started by Alan Green and John Law in 1970, Quiksilver quickly became a phenomenon and is now sold all over the world. Currently employing approximately 3,500 people, the business continues to be run on its original principals of word-of-mouth, quality and unbelievable service.

Todd Dickson, Quiksilver's director of building security, came to IDville in search of an up-to-date photo ID system that was "user-friendly and that did not break down every other day!!" (We could guarantee that!) He needed a photo ID system that would allow him to create different types of badges on one system.

Create your own employee photo ID cards.

With thousands of employees at different levels within the company, I knew Dickson needed an affordable way to create unique IDs. He was going to be printing a lot of photo ID cards with Quiksilver being such a large company.

When Dickson contacted IDville he had some questions regarding the photo ID system choices. "The IDville representatives were very well-versed with the product which showed me a lot. Although cost was a big factor in our decision, as the prices are very reasonable, the professionalism was leaps and bounds ahead of the other companies we'd contacted."

I ultimately helped Dickson decide on the Single-Sided ID Maker Advantage because he was planning to print a large number of cards, on one side only and security-enhancing overlays were not important. Dickson purchased two of these photo ID systems to be used at two different locations.

Quiksilver’s photo ID badges are tamper-resistant. Their card design includes the employee photo along with the company logo; for added security a watermark of the employee's photo is also in the corner. "IDville continues to meet and exceed my expectations! It has become a great resource for my photo ID badging process."

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David is an IDville Identification Specialist with over seven years product and sales experience.  Around IDville, David is known for his new product ideas, sports knowledge, and experience as a catalog model (you may have seen him in a previous IDville catalog!).

The Case for Upgrading Your ID Cards

So you're ready to invest in a photo ID card system. You've got plenty of choices when it comes to print capabilities, quantities and security features. But have you thought about the actual ID card?

Paper ID cards have their advantages, especially in cost, but did you know that using a plastic ID card saves time AND money in the long run?

Choose an ID Maker System for Professional and Secure ID Cards

Let's take a look at the plastic card printing process versus printing and laminating ID badges.

First, take the picture with the web camera. Second, use the software to design your card and import the image. Third - print the card in less than 30 seconds!

Finish with a slot-punch to make your IDs wearable in minutes using a lanyard, retractable badge reel or strap clip, or slip it in a badge holder. If you decide you need dual-sided ID card printing down the road, no need to buy a new system. Simply use the one-time printer ribbon upgrade and you'll be printing dual-sided ID cards in no time!

Choose an ID Card Laminate System for Affordability

Using an ID Maker Laminate System is more cost-effective up front, but think about the paper laminate ID card making process.

First, take the picture with the web camera. Then use the ID Maker Express software to design the ID and send it to your printer. Print the ID badge using the paper stock, then feed it through the laminator using the laminating pouches, making sure to line them up properly for a wrinkle-free finished product. Sound easy enough?

Think about that process for over 1,000 IDs as a gymnasium full of children waits. Not so simple. And loud.

Not only that, using your existing printer to produce ID cards requires color ink - a cost factor not included in the laminating system.

For a side-by-side comparison of Paper and PVC ID cards, read the rest of this article in the IDville Knowledge Center.

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David is an IDville Identification Specialist with over seven years product and sales experience.  Around IDville, David is known for his new product ideas, sports knowledge and experience as a catalog model (you may have seen him in a previous IDville catalog!).

Our monthly newsletter, IDentify was published today with lots of valuable information about our new ID Maker Systems .  I've included an excerpt from IDentify below. To read the entire newsletter, click here. To have IDentify delivered to your inbox, sign up on IDville.com.

Your organization has been using the same, tired laminated ID cards for years, and you’ve been on your manager’s case to improve security at your organization.  Now you’ve been put in charge of getting new ID cards for everyone, and you don’t even know where to start. After all, you’re not a security expert – you work in human resources!

With over 8 years experience in the photo identification industry, IDville provides all the expertise you need to select the proper photo identification system. Our experts have designed three different systems that are so easy to use you can set them up in five steps and print new ID cards in 15 minutes. Don’t believe us? Watch this video.

Our ID card systems come in three different variations that are sized and priced to meet your organization’s unique needs. Each ID card system meets our high standards for ease of use, affordability, and security.

For the small organization: ID Maker Value System
If you have a small team that won’t require more than 100 ID cards a year than the ID Maker Value System is right for you. It prints 1-sided ID cards that you can design yourself with the ID Maker Pro software.

For everyday use: ID Maker Advantage System
A great choice for schools and large businesses, the ID Maker Advantage System is our favorite! This system is available with either a 1-sided or 2-sided printer, so you have more card design options.

For advanced security: ID Maker Secure System
The ID Maker Secure System is the optimal choice for municipalities and government offices. It meets local and federal ID guidelines and has increased security features, including custom holographic overlays.

To find the right ID Maker system for your organization, request a System Information Pack today from our ID experts.

Product Spotlight: ID Maker System Components

The goal of the ID Maker Systems is to make photo ID card creation simple for your organization. To make the identification process easier, ID Maker Systems arrive with everything you need to create professional and secure ID cards all in one box. Each ID Maker System includes:

 ID Maker software
 PVC card printer
 High grade PVC cards
 USB web cam
 Full color printer ribbon
 Standard white backdrop
 Holographic designs
 Printer cleaning kit

 Click here to read the rest of February's IDentify Newsletter.

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David is an IDville Identification Specialist with over seven years product and sales experience.  Around IDville, David is known for his new product ideas, sports knowledge and experience as a catalog model (you may have seen him in a previous IDville catalog!).

ID cards can be used to improve relationships between frontline employees and customers by displaying helpful information to customers. They also reassure customers they are working with an official and knowledgeable company representative.

An IDville customer from Cleveland, Ohio, recently shared how his organization is using the ID Maker printer to provide more useful information to customers at several quick oil change locations.

“This is the first ID Maker we have ever purchased. After doing extensive research, we found the ID Maker very affordable while producing a professional ID card. Our customers see these cards everyday in all 37 of our quick oil change locations and have commented on how good they look.

Instead of having our uniform company put names on the shirts, we can now display name, title, hire date and technical certifications. This is much more information presented to our customers in a clean, credit card sized ID card. Our team members are proud to wear them, as it fosters a level of accomplishment as they complete training certifications”

In addition to using ID cards to provide more information to customers, the ID Maker software was also based on customer feedback. The software program is designed to be as simple to use as possible.

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David is an IDville Identification Specialist with over seven years product and sales experience.  Around IDville, David is known for his new product ideas, sports knowledge and experience as a catalog model (you may have seen him in a previous IDville catalog!).

Not all ID card printers print on both sides of an ID card. Dual-sided ID card printers have a mechanism that prints on the front side of the card, flips the card over and prints the back. Single-sided ID card printers lack this function.

The primary difference between these two types of printers is the amount of printing space per card. A one sided ID card has very limited space whereas a dual-sided card provides more room for more information.

With dual-sided capabilities, information you don’t want displayed can be added to the back of the card. Some organizations print individual’s personal information, barcode or magnetic stripe on the back.

The back side of an ID card can also be used to display valuable information such as emergency contact information, mission statements or an address where a lost card can be returned.

If your ID cards will be displayed on a lanyard or a badge reel where they can easily be turned around, you may want to duplicate the card design on each side so the proper information is always displayed.

If you’re not certain you will need dual-sided ID cards, choose an ID card printer that is field-upgradable and can be converted from a one-sided to a two-sided printer without major expense, like our ID Maker Printer. Otherwise, you may have to purchase a new printer at a later date.

Dual sided ID cards have many benefits and increased capabilities. 

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Todd is an identification expert at IDville with over seven years experience. Around IDville, Todd is known for his excessive coffee drinking, beautiful daughters, and impressive ping pong skills.

ID cards can add to the success of an event. Regardless of the occasion, you can make a memorable and professional impression at corporate meetings, training sessions, special events and conferences with a custom PVC ID card.

Personalize it. Tailor the badge to the specific audience. If you are hosting a small event with attendees from multiple organizations, create a unique badge for each by adding their logo to the ID card. The attendees will be pleased to have the branding opportunity, and it will help the attendees visually recognize the represented companies.

Apply a theme. For special events or conferences with a theme, print the artwork and slogan on the badge. When you incorporate a theme on the ID badges, it becomes a souvenir for the attendees. One company shared with us their practice of creating special themed ID badges for their holiday party. Many of the employees still display previous years’ badges at their desks! If you use ID Maker 2.0, utilize the design templates and artwork to create a unique ID card that’s perfect for your event.

Make it fun. To add an interactive element to your event, create photo ID cards on site. This not only provides an opportunity for you to entertain your guests, but it will also impress them with an inside look at your streamlined identification process.

Accessorize it. Don’t forget to consider accessories for your ID cards. Badge reels and lanyards can both be customized with a logo or organization name. If your goal is to reinforce a particular message or offering of your company, create a custom lanyard. The attendees wear them throughout the duration of the event and are constantly reminded of the message by their peers.

For more information on using ID cards at events, see our Event ID Guidelines in the Knowledge Center.