What are the You Print System Discovery Questions?

This article is designed to efficiently help determine what the ideal components of an ID badge system will work best for an organization.

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Print the page to PDF (Ctrl P) to complete as a form to communicate to eXpress badging the scope of your badging project. You can also request the form from your eXpress badging ID Specialist.

Important Badge Discovery Questions

We will need to know your answers to many essential questions to price your project so it meets your needs and expectations.

Badge Printer Configuration

We need to determine the specifications of the printer you’ll need.

Single Side or Duplex Printer
1. Duplex printers save time when printing on the backside.
2. Single-sided printers cost less, and you can manually batch print the back side if there is no variable data and the design is the same.
Do you require edge-to-edge reverse transfer printing technology?
1. Reverse Transfer or High Definition Printing
  1. RFID badges should be printed using reverse transfer printers due to the irregularity of the antenna inlay of the RFID card’s surface.
    1. It prints reverse or mirror images on a secondary overlay ribbon, which is then transferred to the card's surface using heat, which overlaps the card's edges providing true edge-to-edge printing.
  2. Select reverse transfer technology if your badge has a lot of solid color printing or if your badge design prints full-bleed or to the far outer edges of the card.
  3. Most reverse transfer printers come in the standard 300 or 600 DPI format for the best quality printing.
2. Direct To Card (DTC) Printing
  1. DTC is the perfect choice for badge designs that will not be put under a magnifying glass or loop from your marketing department.
  2. Direct To Card printers are the standard technology with only 300 DPI printing.
  3. DTC can not print true edge-to-edge; despite any stated manufacturer claims.
    1. The ribbon is the exact width of the card, and various card movements within the printer will result in thin white lines along various edges of the card over time and when using various same-model printers.
  4. DTC will print on RFID card stock as long as the minor and some not-so-minor, visible blemishes are acceptable over the RFID antenna inlay.
Do you require card lamination?
1. Lamination protects badges from long-term creaking, image fading, and surface wear, increasing durability per side laminated.
  1. Image fading and badge cracks will occur due to long-term exposure to sun and caustic liquids like human sweat.
2. Lamination eliminates clear pouch badge holders and strengthens the slot-punched area on the badge making it last for many years.
3. Lamination is suggested for swiped barcoded or magnetic stripe-enabled badges, as continuous use will increase the surface wear and tear on the card surface within the reader swipe depth.
Will you need to encode a magnetic stripe?
No longer a popular reader technology, however, magnetic stripe readers are still used for time and attendance, door access, data collection, and point-of-sale.
1. Please don't assume mag-stripe readers are not being used.
2. If yes, determine:
  1. HiCo or LoCo
  2. What track is being encoded: I (1) II(2) or III (3)
  3. Does the customer encode onsite or are pre-encoded cards used
  4. Discover the system manufacturer name, software name, and reader types...
What communication type is required?
1. USB, Ethernet, or both
2. Ethernet is the idea com-type if multiple users will be printing ID badges
Is there a printer Brand Preference:
1. HID/Fargo
2. IDP Smart Series
3. Kanematsu Swift Pro
4. Other
  1. Evolys
  2. Dascom
  3. Datacard
  4. MagiCard
  5. Let Google be your guide)

Printer Consumables

How many badges will your company print for the first initial Batch?
1. 0-100 Badges
2. 100-500 Badges
3. 500-1,000 Badges
4. 1,000 + Badges.
How many badges do you anticipate printing for new hires and replacements annually?
1. 0-100 Badges
2. 100-500 Badges
3. 500-1,000 Badges
4. 1,000 + Badges
What printer consumables are needed?
1. Ribbons
  1. Color front only
  2. Color front and solid true black on back (no grayscale)
  3. Color front and color back
2. Lamination
  1. Not required
  2. Duplex required (double side qty)
    1. Recommended in most lamination systems.
    2. Prevents card warping
  3. Simplex only
3. Card Stock
  1. Standard 100% PVC
  2. Standard 100% PVC w/HiCo magnetic stripe
  3. Composite 60% PVC and 40% Polyester
    1. for increased durability, and required when laminating
  4. Composite PVC w/HiCo magnetic stripe
4. Card Stock Options
  1. Unprinted
  2. Preprinted black on one side (Grayscale not applicable)
  3. Preprinted color on one side
  4. Magnetic stripe encoding
  5. Preprinted barcodes
  6. Sequential numbering
  7. Shrink-wrapped per 100 cards
  8. Security seal tri-modal design (holograph-like)
    1. Embedded card image
    2. Surface Foil Image
      1. Preprinted stock design
      2. Custom design
5. Card Technology required:
  1. No-Tech Card Stock
  2. HiCo Magnetic Stripe
  3. RFID HID Proximity or iClass
    1. provided item code or box label
  4. RFID Other Proximity or MIFARE
    1. Provided box label or available specifications
  5. Barcodes
    1. Recommend lamination if swiped
    2. Infrared readers require K-panel (black) configured ribbons

Software and Camera

What software will be used?
1. Need cloud-based software
2. Need self-install software
3. Will use current software
  1. Make and version
How many software users and print locations?
1. How many users will need access to the software
2. How many users will need to print
3. How many locations will be printing
Will source data integration be required with the software?
1. Will manually enter all data to create badge records
2. Will import the initial list of badge records, then manually enter each record afterward
3. Requires data integration with an existing source database
What computer operating system will be required?
1. Windows
2. iOS/Apple
  1. Does not work with the Veonics Portal
  2. There are only a few desktop software versions
What are your digital camera requirements?
1. Use existing web camera
2. New web camera
3. Upgrade to high-quality web/digital camera
4. No camera needed
  1. Will only have recipients provide a photo
  2. No photo needed
Will you need to remote capture photos?
1. Will require the email addresses of all recipients
Is there any interest in the Veonics® Virtual ID Badge
1. Once a badge record is saved, a hyperlink version of the assigned badge template and user-defined record data can be securely displayed on any mobile device.

Accessories and Holders

Slot punch
1. Low-cost Stapler model
2. Low-cost handheld model
3. Professional Table-top model
Photo backdrop with stand
1. Just a Backdrop is needed
  1. Will pin to the wall
2. Backdrop with Stand
  1. Has room to set up a photo capture station area
USB extension cables
Select all holders that are needed
1. Strap clips
  1. Clear vinyl with a bulldog clip recommend
2. Lanyards
  1. 3/8" shoestring lace, safety breakaway, and a wide anti-swivel plastic hook are recommended.
  2. 3/8" is not recommended if custom printing, 1/2 or more is recommended.
3. Badge reels
  1. Carabiner reels fit within the wide plastic hook of the recommended lanyard.
  2. Econo-reels are lower cost but will not last as long
  3. Always recommend the anti-swivel feature
  4. Belt clips are not recommended, as ID badges should NEVER be worn at the waist.
    1. Recommend gator clip or clip-on ring connector
4. Custom printing required
  1. Recommend upgrading lanyard quality and features or badge design service over custom printed holders.
5. Soft vinyl pouches
  1. Ideal for non-slotted badges like RFID cards
  2. Always specify anit-transfer plastic
    1. Prevents the surface of the badge from sticking to the holder plastic over time.
  3. Best placed on a badge reel attached to a lanyard for easy presentation to card readers.

1. Hard case holders
  1. Ideal for multi-badge use that is presented to badge readers.
  2. Best placed on a badge reel attached to a lanyard for easy presentation to card readers.

Professional Services

Installation and Training
1. Included at no additional cost if you are a Veonics Portal customer
2. We use secure remote in PC and conference training tools
Technical Support
1. Our staff will respond to all reported support issues within four business hours
2. Same as above
Warranty Support
1. Many ID printers are covered by a replacement or loaner warranty for one to three years
2. We manage all warranty issues for products purchased from eXpress badging
3. You will never be told to contact the manufacturer
Extended Warranty Support
1. Replacement and loaner warranties can be extended from one to two years. Some are required at purchase, and some before the warranty expires.
2. eXpress badging offers extended support programs for printers that are out of warranty to reduce printer downtime
Printer Repairs
1. eXpress badging has factory-trained and authorized technicians that can repair out-of-warranty printers
2. eXpress badging offers rentals printers, if available, or will print your badges under a pay-for-printing service engagement until you're back up and running
We have a Service Level Agreement for those who have a demanding ID badge issuance model
1. This Agreement aims to obtain mutual agreement for the SERVICE provision between the CUSTOMER by the SERVICE PROVIDER.
2. The objectives of this Mutual Agreement are to:
  1. Provide clear reference to SERVICE ownership, accountability, roles and/or responsibilities.
  2. Clearly define the SERVICES provided by SERVICE PROVIDER and related SYSTEMS MANUFACTURES.
  3. Match CUSTOMER perceptions of expected SERVICE provision with actual service support & delivery by the SERVICE PROVIDER
  4. Provide CUSTOMER with USER accountabilities and expectations
Loaner Pool to guarantee uptime

Logistics and Timelines

Do you have any completion deadline dates?
1. Must-have by In-hand date
2. Date the project is completed on the CUSTOMER side
When will the CUSTOMER card reader system (PAC, T&A, POS, other...) be installed and ready for Testing completed by?
1. Go Live starts on
2. Shipping
The number of shipping locations?
Are there any other important dates, thresholds, or details we should know?