Buying ID Cards - How to Choose the Right Type of ID Card

Whether you’re buying ID cards for your own ID card system or ordering preprinted ID cards there are a few things you must consider before choosing the type of ID card you’re going to purchase.

Here are a couple of questions you can answer that will better help you figure out the best type of ID card for your business/purposes: What will the primary use of the ID card be? Will the ID card need to be able to grant card holder’s access to anywhere? How secure (hard to duplicate) must the ID card be?

Once you have the answers to those questions you may begin to figure out which of the following types of ID card best fits your needs.

PVC Cards

The most popular material used for ID cards of all types are plastic or PVC cards. By printing IDs on these cards, the designer/provider of the ID cards is able to add other security features such as holographic overlays, magnetic stripes, micro text, and a wide range of other embedded technologies.

Evergreen ID Systems provides several different packages of PVC cards to our customers. Getgeneric PVC cards in PVC and Polyester or PVC cards from Fargo UltraCard.

Adhesive Back Cards

Adhesive back cards are usually best for one-time use situations, and so they are not the best ID cards for day to day use. However, adhesive back cards are a good, inexpensive ID solution for visitor management. With adhesive back cards ID cards can stick to visitors’ jackets or shirts keeps the ID card easily viewable at all times.

Find the best adhesive back cards from Fargo UltraCard in both paper-backed and Mylar®-backed cards, packages include 500 cards.

Holographic Image Overlay

This security element in ID cards not only helps to protect the card from the normal wear and tear, but it also helps to prevent current information on the card from being altered and additional information from being added. The transparent laminate not only blocks alterations, but it makes it extremely difficult for these cards to be faked.

ID cards with holographic overlays are printed from ID card printers with holographic laminating capabilities (laminate can also be found in peel-and-stick form, but these are not as secure). The laminate is transparent so that the information on the card isn’t obstructed, but it should be visible under a blacklight, to weed out fakes.

Magnetic Stripe

Most Corporate ID cards and transit ID cards have a magnetic stripe on the back of them so that they may be scanned and read quickly and easily. ID cards with magnetic stripes are perhaps the most commonly used secure ID cards.

Find generic PVC ID cards with magnetic stripes and Fargo UltraCard magnetic stripe cards all at Evergreen ID Systems.

Proximity Cards

Proximity cards are ID cards with embedded technologies that give cardholders access to something that can’t be accessed by other people. Proximity cards usually come with a magnetic stripe or some sort of sensor embedded that is able to transmit a signal.

At Evergreen ID Systems you can find a wide range of proximity cards, tags and fobs from top name manufacturers HID and Farpointe.

Specialty Cards

If you are looking for more visually appealing cards consider specialty cards. Specialty cards can be used in your own ID card system or ordered with preprinted cards. Specialty cards come in awide range of colors as well as 3-up key tag cards (ID cards that fold out into three sections, making cards with tons of information easier to carry).

Preprinted Cards

Owning your own ID card system can be expensive and so many people opt instead to order ID cards through a provider instead of producing the ID cards themselves. Before placing an order make sure you know exactly what you want on the ID card, front and/or back as well as how many you are looking to order.

For more information on ordering your own preprinted ID cards contact our experts today! 800-990-0777