ColorID Blog

ColorID Blog - News - ColorID Follow Up from 2012 NACCU Conference

Wed, 9 May 2012 08:29:19 GMT

At the 2012 NACCU conference, the newly formed partnership between ColorID and CardSmith was introduced. The response to this partnership has been extremely positive with a large number of schools showing interest and requesting further information. A CardSmith transaction system allows you to implement a full one-card transaction system on your campus, including features such as advanced meal plan solution, vending, laundry and print/copy solutions. Some of the most compelling aspects of the CardSmith solution include:

Simple Install - Rapid installation and launch based on a unique cloud based service model (using Software as a Service, SaaS model).
Significant Cost Savings - Low cost model that can be less than half of competitor's solutions.
Rich Financial Feature Set - Declining balance, stored value, on-line account access, value transfer, declining balance & stored value, bank card integration.
Strong Merchant Service Program - Full off campus merchant program including technology and marketing services.

This partnership brings together ColorID's strong card issuance and contactless migration experience (over 1,100 higher education customers) coupled with CardSmith's best-in-class transaction solutions. Please call or email us for more information!

About ColorID

ColorID is a leading identification, biometric & transaction solutions provider to education, government, military, healthcare and other businesses. ColorID product offerings include: ID printers, software and supplies, advanced technology smart contact and contactless cards, transaction management products and services, biometric iris and finger print readers, pre-printed and blank plastic cards, and ID badge accessories (such as lanyards and card holders). ColorID offers installation, training, re-carding, extended warranties and support services on all the products we offer. ColorID's manufacturing partners include: HID, Fargo, IRIS ID, Datacard, Gemalto, Zebra, NiSCA, Evolis, Magicard, Integrated Biometrics, Oberthur, Privaris, CardSmith, Monitor and many others. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: http://www.colorid.com/or mail ColorID at support@colorid.com.

About CardSmith"

CardSmith is a campus card solutions company serving educational institutions, campus service providers, cardholders, card-accepting merchants, private label card issuers, and closed loop communities nationwide. The company provides the market's only cloud-based "SaaS" transaction management solution and turn-key card program management service, delivering superior capability, service and performance for less than 50% of the cost of proprietary card systems. For more information, visit www.card-smith.com.

ColorID Blog - News - Visit ColorID at the 2012 NACCU Conf. Booth 401

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:39:55 GMT

Visit ColorID at booth # 401 at the NACCU conference this April 23^{rd -}24^th. We will be hosting our first annual Scavenger Hunt as well as unveiling a number of new products and services for the Higher Education industry.

You're invited to participate in our Scavenger Hunt, at this year's NACCU conference! ColorID and a select group of our partners are hosting our first annual Scavenger Hunt during the exhibit hall hours at the NACCU conference in Seattle, WA. Learn about some of the new products, latest trends, emerging technologies and transaction solutions, while having the opportunity to win some really cool prizes! The scavenger hunt is open to all NACCU attendees.

Scavenger Hunt Rules

Pick up your Scavenger Hunt form at the ColorID booth # 401.
This scavenger hunt form will include which vendors are participating and where they are located along with a space for your contact information.
Visit each participating vendor's booth and learn about their products and services, then request them to sign your scavenger hunt form.
To be eligible for the drawing, participants must return the fully completed form to the ColorID booth before 10:15 AM on Tuesday, April 24^th.
We will hold a drawing for the provided giveaways at 10:30 AM, Tuesday, April 24th.
Please note that prizes will not be handed out at the conference, but will be shipped to the winners address.

Be sure to drop by and visit with us at booth # 401, as we are focusing on Identification Systems, Transactions & Biometrics. This year we will be concentrating on some new and exciting products and services. The items below will help your campus move to the next step in your identification program.

1. IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMS - Visit our booth to see a full line of secure ID printers that we will be exhibiting during the conference. Check out all the major ID printer manufacturers in one booth (Datacard, Fargo, Magicard, Nisca and more)!

2. TRANSACTIONS - ColorID now offers CardSmith, a Software-as-a-Service ("SaaS") transaction management solution which delivers state-of-the art performance without the operational costs and complexities of local systems. With CardSmith from ColorID, a college or university can use their campus ID cards for these applications:

Multi-Location Dining POS
Campus Bookstores
Campus Retail Stores
Vending Machines
Laundry Controllers & Machines
Copy Machines
Pay-for-Print Solutions
Cash-to-Card Value Transfer Stations
Off-Campus Merchant Program
E-Commerce
Wireless Terminals and Applications

3. BIOMETRICS - Biometric Security is no longer just for Hollywood!

Why use biometrics?
What type of biometric solution is best?
Concerns and Myths revealed!

DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THESE PRESENTATIONS AS WELL =

Campus ID Trends - What's Happening, What's Hot, What's Hype? Presented by David Stallsmith during Educational Session Block 5, Monday April 23^rd, 10:30 - 11:30AM
Biometric Security - No longer just for Hollywood! Presented by Tim Ortscheid during Educational Session Block 2, Sunday April 22^nd, 1:45-2:45PM
Learning Lab 4 - Re-Carding your Campus. Presented by Tim Nyblom held inside the Exhibit Hall, Tuesday April 24^th, 11:00AM

We look forward in seeing you in Seattle! Our NACCU Conference team includes Danny Smith, Tim Nyblom, Mark Degan, Tim Ortscheid and David Stallsmith.

About ColorID

ColorID Blog - News - CardSmith, ColorID form Strategic Partnership

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:37:44 GMT

ColorID to add CardSmith campus card management solutions to its product portfolio;
Aligns companies with deep industry expertise and business focus;
Brings unprecedented breadth and scope of service and capability to marketplace;

Tuesday, February 14, 2012; 10:00 AM EDT

Cornelius, NC & Doylestown, PA:

CardSmith and ColorID announced today the formation of a business partnership to bring CardSmith's unique "cloud" based campus card solutions to ColorID's customers in higher education and other market segments. Effective immediately, ColorID will offer CardSmith's transaction management and related campus card solutions as part of its portfolio of value-added card products and services. The companies will introduce the partnership to the marketplace with special pricing and incentives for ColorID customers with a custom version of CardSmith's "Cloud Nine" new customer incentive program.

"This is a major step in the growth and evolution of ColorID" said Danny Smith, ColorID Executive Vice President. "We see potential to bring significant value to our customers and grow our business with CardSmith's innovative solutions. The services our companies provide are very complementary, and we're positioned to deliver customers deep expertise across a broad spectrum of card and transaction related solutions. We expect to be able to increase distribution of CardSmith's solutions, and also grow ColorID's business within CardSmith's existing customer base."

The companies will offer service for higher education, independent schools, public schools and other major market segments and facilities including healthcare and hospitals, assisted living facilities, government installations, and corporate locations. Customers will be able to buy virtually any product or service related to ID cards, private label cards, authentication, privilege verification, access control, custom transaction solutions and card management services through the venture. ColorID will provide account management services for CardSmith customers acquired through its channels.

"CardSmith is very enthusiastic about this partnership with ColorID" said Jay Summerall, President "Both our companies have customer-centric, hands-on service cultures and orientations. There's literally almost nothing a college or university, independent school, health care, corporate facility or other private label card venue can't get from our venture. We're excited to be able to leverage ColorID's expertise and distribution to help grow our business and deliver more value for our customers. We think it's going to be a powerful partnership, and look forward to having ColorID as an extension of our team."

About ColorID:

ColorID is a leading identification, biometric & transaction solutions provider to education, government, military, healthcare and other businesses. ColorID product offerings include: ID printers, software and supplies, advanced technology smart contact and contactless cards, transaction management products and services, biometric iris and finger print readers, pre-printed and blank plastic cards, and ID badge accessories (such as lanyards and card holders). ColorID offers installation, training, re-carding, extended warranties and support services on all the products we offer. ColorID's manufacturing partners include: HID, Fargo, IRIS ID, Datacard, Gemalto, Zebra, NiSCA, Evolis, Magicard, Integrated Biometrics, Oberthur, Privaris, CardSmith, Monitor and many others. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: www.colorid.com or mail ColorID at support@colorid.com.

About CardSmith:

CardSmith Contact:

Donna Franklin, VP Marketing & Communications

dfranklin@card-smith.com

973-224-2529

ColorID Contact:

Mark Degan, Corporate Marketing Manager

Mark.Degan@ColorID.com

704-897-1146

ColorID Blog - News - ColorID Employee's Give Back 2011 Holiday Season

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:00:54 GMT

This year ColorID's employees gave back by donating their time and resources in several ways, including:

Operation Christmas Child: They packaged shoeboxes full of gifts for kids in need all over the world.
Soup Kitchen: They gathered and donated food for a local soup kitchen.
Coat Drive: Accumulated a large number of winter coats for those in need.
Christmas for the Troops: Collected gifts for the troops and shipped them overseas to Afghanistan.
Sponsored Christmas for a Family in Need: Employees located a local family in need and gathered numerous gifts to brighten their Christmas.
Humane Society: Gathered a number of pet supplies and donations for our local humane society.

About ColorID

ColorID is a leading identification solutions provider to education, government, military, healthcare and other businesses. ColorID product offerings include: ID printers, software and supplies, advanced technology smart contact and contactless cards, biometric iris and finger print readers, pre-printed and blank plastic cards, and ID badge accessories (such as lanyards and card holders). ColorID offers installation, training, re-carding, extended warranties and support services on all the products we offer. ColorID's manufacturing partners include: HID, Fargo, IRIS ID, Datacard, Gemalto, Zebra, NiSCA, Evolis, Magicard, Integrated Biometrics, Oberthur, Privaris and many others. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: http://www.colorid.com/or email ColorID at support@colorid.com.

ColorID Blog - News - New England Campus Identification & Security Seminar

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 10:09:16 GMT

ColorID and Harvard Campus Services - ID Card Services recently co-hosted the New England Campus Identification & Security Seminar at the Spangler Center at Harvard Business School. This one-day event brought together card managers, facility operators, auxiliary services and IT personnel from over eight colleges and universities in the New England region. The seminar was an informative, interactive discussion about best practices and new card technologies.

Danny Smith, Executive Vice President of ColorID stated, "The primary goal of the seminar was to provide attendees with the latest insights into emerging campus trends and technologies. Secondary to that, we wanted to offer a forum that would provide networking opportunities to promote dialogue and exchanging of idea's and information among New England's universities and colleges. We are very pleased we were able to accomplish both of our objectives."

Cheryl Ruane, Production Manager for Harvard's ID Card Services, helped coordinate the event. "We don't often get to pause and take time to share best practices. The session provided a great opportunity to talk with peers at other institutions and share our successes and challenges," Ruane said.

The seminar covered five key card service topics, with each session followed by a question & answer period. Topics included:

Contactless Cards & Readers: Basic construction of technology cards, defining a technology card, how contactless cards work, physical access in higher education.

Cashless Campus: Transaction Management Overview: New payment and card identification technologies, personal mobile options, tablet and mobile computing and embedding transaction management in multifunctional printers.

Card Issuance: Innovations & Trends: What system is right for your needs, printing 101, cardstock varieties and migrating from old to new technologies.

Biometrics on Campus: Defining biometrics, history of biometric security, fingerprint and iris identification and emerging biometric technologies.

Future Trends: A summary presentation pulled together all the previous presentations and gave a view to future trends in campus card technology and identified some emerging technologies of tomorrow.

At the end of the seminar ColorID provided hands-on demonstrations of contactless cards and readers, cashless campus systems, identification systems and biometric solutions. "The seminar was a real learning experience for us, too," said ColorID's Smith. "We'd love to bring it to other campuses."

Interested Universities can coordinate regional sessions on their campuses by contacting Danny Smith at 704-987-2331 or Danny.Smith@ColorID.com.

About Harvard Campus Services - ID Card Services

Harvard Campus Services is provides a wide-range of services and programs to the Harvard community. ID Card Services manages the security, production, and distribution of IDs to Harvard's students, staff, faculty, alumni and retirees.

About ColorID

ColorID is a leading identification solutions provider to education, government, military, healthcare and other businesses. ColorID product offerings include: ID printers, software and supplies, advanced technology smart contact and contactless cards, biometric iris and finger print readers, transaction management solutions, pre-printed and blank plastic cards, and ID badge accessories (such as lanyards and card holders). ColorID offers installation, training, re-carding, extended warranties and support services on all the products we offer. ColorID's manufacturing partners include: HID, Fargo, IRIS ID, Datacard, Gemalto, Zebra, NiSCA, Evolis, Magicard, Integrated Biometrics, Oberthur, Privaris, Monitor and many others. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: www.colorid.com/or email ColorID at support@colorid.com.

ColorID Blog - News - ColorID supports NACCU with Gold Membership

Tue, 4 Oct 2011 13:34:35 GMT

ColorID has been a member of the National Association of Campus Card Users (NACCU) since 2000, and has announced a move up to NACCU's Gold vendor membership. The higher education market is a vital role in ColorID's identification, biometric and transaction management business and NACCU is an organization that helps bring ColorID's current and prospective customers together.

Executive Director of NACCU, Lowell Adkins stated, "ColorID has been a NACCU Corporate member for more than 12 years. We appreciate their ongoing support to NACCU and to the entire campus card community. We are delighted to have ColorID as our newest Gold level member". Executive Vice President of ColorID, Danny Smith stated, "We appreciate and are proud to be affiliated with NACCU for over the last decade. The support, networking and exchanging of ideas and information has helped fuel ColorID's growth. We are extremely pleased to continue our support of NACCU as a Gold sponsor".

About ColorID

ColorID is a leading identification solutions provider to education, government, military, healthcare and other businesses. ColorID product offerings include: ID printers, software and supplies, advanced technology smart contact and contactless cards, biometric iris and finger print readers, transaction management solutions, pre-printed and blank plastic cards, and ID badge accessories (such as lanyards and card holders). ColorID offers installation, training, re-carding, extended warranties and support services on all the products we offer. ColorID's manufacturing partners include: HID, Fargo, IRIS ID, Datacard, Gemalto, Zebra, NiSCA, Evolis, Magicard, Integrated Biometrics, Oberthur, Privaris, Monitor and many others. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: http://www.colorid.com/or email ColorID at support@colorid.com.

ColorID Blog - Product Information - Reminder of Upcoming Discontinued Printer

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 09:01:23 GMT

Discontinued Printer Reminder

This announcement is to remind you that the production of the Datacard SP35 Plus and the Datacard SP55 Plus card printers is being formally discontinued, effective September 30, 2011 for the SP35 Plus printer and November 30, 2011 for the SP55 Plus printer.

The printers are being replaced by the new Datacard SD260 card printer and Datacard SD360 card printer. These new printers are enhanced with multiple new features such as faster print speed, improved print quality, TruePick anti-jam card handling, flexible connectivity, and TrueMatch technology, to name just a few.

Trade-In your old SP series printer for the latest Datacard SD line. You can learn more about the latest offers and advancements of the Datacard printer line here: http://www.colorid.com/detail.aspx?ID=663, or you can contact your ColorID account representative toll free at 888-682-6567.

About ColorID

ColorID is a leading identification solutions provider to education, government, military, healthcare and other businesses. ColorID product offerings include: ID printers, software and supplies, advanced technology smart contact and contactless cards, biometric iris and finger print readers, transaction management solutions, pre-printed and blank plastic cards, and ID badge accessories (such as lanyards and card holders). ColorID offers installation, training, re-carding, extended warranties and support services on all the products we offer. ColorID's manufacturing partners include: HID, Fargo, IRIS ID, Datacard, Gemalto, Zebra, NiSCA, Evolis, Magicard, Integrated Biometrics, Oberthur, Privaris, Monitor and many others. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: http://www.colorid.com/or email ColorID at support@colorid.com

ColorID Blog - Advanced Technologies - What is Iris Identification?

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 12:50:02 GMT

Iris reader technology is extremely secure and safe for end users. There are multiple examples why iris technology is superior to fingerprint, hand geometry and other biometric physical access readers. Below is a bullet list of features and benefits of using iris readers for physical access.

Non-Invasive and is commonly confused with "retinal" scanners; iris cameras do not use a laser.
Iris technology utilizes an infrared digital camera (similar to your personal digital camera) to capture your eye's iris.
Hands free operation eliminates cross contamination from end users (unlike hand & fingerprint readers).
Iris readers can be installed in an offline or online environment.
Use "something you are", "something you have", and "something you know" with your iris device. Use the following scenarios for secure authentication:
- Iris template only
- Iris template plus pin number
- Iris template plus ID card
- Iris template plus ID card and pin number
Iris readers can be installed in pre-existing access control systems the same way a standard door reader is installed.
The camera identifies over 240 unique points of interest for the template that can be stored on your existing ID card, server or iris device.

Iris data templates require only 512 bytes of storage.
This non-invasive method can authenticate an enrolled end user in less than 2 seconds.
The chances of having a duplicate template?
- 10 to the 78^th power = 1 "Quinquavigintillion" equal to = 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000

ColorID is pleased to offer the latest iris readers for physical access from Iris ID (LG Electronics). If you'd like to learn more about iris for physical access, contact us today and we can set up an onsite demo or webinar for you.

About ColorID

ColorID is a leading identification solutions provider to education, government, military, healthcare and other businesses. ColorID product offerings include: ID printers, software and supplies, advanced technology smart contact and contactless cards, biometric iris and finger print readers, transaction management solutions, pre-printed and blank plastic cards, and ID badge accessories (such as lanyards and card holders). ColorID offers installation, training, re-carding, extended warranties and support services on all the products we offer. ColorID's manufacturing partners include: HID, Fargo, IRIS ID, Datacard, Gemalto, Zebra, NiSCA, Evolis, Magicard, Integrated Biometrics, Oberthur, Privaris, Monitor and many others. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: http://www.colorid.com/or email ColorID at support@colorid.com

ColorID Blog - News - 2011 Project Registration Drawing Winners Announced!

Fri, 1 Jul 2011 06:49:51 GMT

ColorID is pleased to announce the winners from the 2011 Project Registration Drawing! See below for the iPad winner and the campus card office lunch winners. ColorID account representatives will be contacting the winners shortly regarding setting up the free lunches.

Thank you for participating in the drawing and we hope to make this an annual event!

iPad Winner =

University of Chicago, Edd Merkel

Campus Card Office Lunch Winners =

University of Texas - El Paso, Jan Paull
Northern Virginia Community College, Alex Seminario
University of West Georgia, Carolyn Maddox
University of Alabama - Birmingham, Shira Fogel

About ColorID

ColorID is a leading identification solutions provider to education, government, military, healthcare and other businesses. ColorID product offerings include: ID printers, software and supplies, advanced technology smart contact and contactless cards, biometric iris and finger print readers, transaction management solutions, pre-printed and blank plastic cards, and ID badge accessories (such as lanyards and card holders). ColorID offers installation, training, re-carding, extended warranties and support services on all the products we offer. ColorID's manufacturing partners include: HID, Fargo, IRIS ID, Datacard, Gemalto, Zebra, NiSCA, Evolis, Magicard, Integrated Biometrics, Oberthur, Privaris, Monitor and many others. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: http://www.colorid.com/ or email ColorID at support@colorid.com

ColorID Blog - Tech Tips - Pre-Printing Card Options

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 06:06:10 GMT

Pre-Printing Card Options:
There are numerous types of ways to print onto a plastic identification card. The three most popular pre-printing options are:

Lithographic
High Definition, Digital Press
Dye Sublimation

Lithographic printing: Lithographic printing is ideal for large quantity runs of over 5,000 cards. The printing is extremely high quality and it offers a 3,000 DPI resolution. The cards are manufactured from large plastic sheets (28, 56, 70 cards per sheet - figure 1) and then are cut down into individual cards. The cards get built up through different layers of materials including: Clear Plastic, PVC and PET (see figure 2). Lithographic presses have the ability to print a large number of colors, including specific spot colors (often called PMS or Pantone colors). Some lithographic presses still use hard copy proofing methods; however most have been updated to be fully digital proofs.

Figure 1 - Example of manufactured 28-up card sheets

High Definition/Digital Press: High Definition or Digital Press printing is ideal for low to mid-level quantities from 500 up to 10,000 cards. This process offers up to 3,000 DPI print resolution. The main difference from Lithographic is digital press plastic sheets are usually only 21 cards per sheet. End users can utilize multiple colors for their cards and incorporate PMS (Pantone) colors for their unique and custom branding. The proofing process has always been digital with high definition digital presses.

Figure 2 - Example of a composite cardstock layer. Layers are combined together to create a 30 mil thick ID card.

Dye Sublimation: Dye sublimation printing is done one card at a time on pre-assembled ID cardstock. This printing method is generally used for low volume printing. The dye sublimation process will apply color to the cardstock one color at a time: Yellow, Magenta, Cyan and then Black. Since this process only uses a four color process it is not able to match PMS (Pantone) colors. This process is excellent for quick turn projects, low quantities and variable printing jobs.

Figure 3 - Example of dye sublimation printing process. One color at a time is applied to the cardstock to match your four color process color.

ColorID Pre-Printing

If you call ColorID we can help you decide what process is best for your project. We will ask several questions that we help us determine what is the best trade-off of cost, speed and the details of the final product. ColorID has many years of experience managing large and small projects and can help you identify what printing process is best for your carding project.

About ColorID

ColorID is a leading identification solutions provider to education, government, military, healthcare and other businesses. ColorID product offerings include: ID printers, software and supplies, advanced technology smart contact and contactless cards, biometric iris and finger print readers, transaction management solutions, pre-printed and blank plastic cards, and ID badge accessories (such as lanyards and card holders). ColorID offers installation, training, re-carding, extended warranties and support services on all the products we offer. ColorID's manufacturing partners include: HID, Fargo, IRIS ID, Datacard, Gemalto, Zebra, NiSCA, Evolis, Magicard, Integrated Biometrics, Oberthur, Privaris, Monitor and many others. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: http://www.colorid.com/or email ColorID at support@colorid.com

ColorID Blog - News - ColorID 2011 NACCU Show & Party Highlights

Mon, 23 May 2011 10:42:24 GMT

Thank you for visiting with ColorID at the 2011 NACCU conference. Our "Rock the Dock" customer appreciation event was another memorable night and we could not have pulled it off without all of your support!

Some of our product highlights from this year's show were:

1.) Transaction Management - Features customizable software, modular components, doesn't require proprietary systems and can be integrated into existing systems.

2.) Contactless Migration - Complete solutions for migrating from mag stripe/prox cardstock to new advanced technology cards like HID iClass, DESFire, Gemalto and more.

3.) ID Badge Printers - We demonstrated the new Fargo by HID line as well as Datacard, Zebra, Nisca, Evolis and Magicard.

Our "Rock the Dock" customer appreciation event was a hit with over 200 attendees! ColorID has put together a video of the event, capturing some of the highlights of the evening (we apologize that some of the audio is distorted):

http://youtu.be/QnUlOIuFbpQ

* Hit the "Pause" button once the video has started. Allow the video to load completely before playing it. This will allow the video to play without it pausing throughout the video*

We are truly fortunate to have such a wonderful group of customers and we are already working on next year's event! See you in Seattle, WA.

About ColorID

ColorID is a leading identification solutions provider to education, government, military, healthcare and other businesses. ColorID product offerings include: ID printers, software and supplies, advanced technology smart contact and contactless cards, biometric iris and finger print readers, transaction management solutions, pre-printed and blank plastic cards, and ID badge accessories (such as lanyards and card holders). ColorID offers installation, training, re-carding, extended warranties and support services on all the products we offer. ColorID's manufacturing partners include: HID, Fargo, IRIS ID, Datacard, Gemalto, Zebra, NiSCA, Evolis, Magicard, Integrated Biometrics, Oberthur, Privaris, Monitor and many others. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: http://www.colorid.com/or email ColorID at support@colorid.com

ColorID Blog - Tech Tips - Service Announcement - Upgrade your Datacard Printers Firmware

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 08:08:54 GMT

There is a CRITICAL Datacard FIRMWARE UPDATE if you use any of these Datacard Printers:

SP75, SP55, SP35 and SP25
SP75+, SP55+, SP35+ and SP25+
Or any of the CP, CP+ line or FP line of Datacard Printers

If you fail to install this update the new generation Datacard ribbons will not work with your printers. The new generation of ribbons (the Go-Green Ribbons) will be shipping this year and will replace all existing ribbons for the aforementioned printers. The new generation of Datacard ribbons has a biodegradable supply core and improved security features. The new firmware will allow your printer to work with both the existing Datacard Ribbons and the new generation ribbons. Thus for continued operation of your printer, you should update your firmware now.

To upgrade to the new firmware, go to this web site www.datacard.com/GoGreen and click on the Download Now button and follow the instructions. If it would be easier for you to have a firmware CD, just contact your ColorID account manager and we will send you a CD. If you have any questions or trouble with the upgrade, please call our ColorID technical support group at 888-682-6567 for assistance.

About ColorID

ColorID is a leading identification solutions provider to education, government, military, healthcare and other businesses. ColorID product offerings include: ID printers, software and supplies, advanced technology smart contact and contactless cards, biometric iris and finger print readers, transaction management solutions, pre-printed and blank plastic cards, and ID badge accessories (such as lanyards and card holders). ColorID offers installation, training, re-carding, extended warranties and support services on all the products we offer. ColorID's manufacturing partners include: HID, Fargo, IRIS ID, Datacard, Gemalto, Zebra, NiSCA, Evolis, Magicard, Integrated Biometrics, Oberthur, Privaris, Monitor and many others. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: http://www.colorid.com/ or email ColorID at support@colorid.com.

ColorID Blog - News - 2011 ColorID Project Registration Drawing - REMINDER

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 14:18:17 GMT

REMINDER, TAKE PART IN THE FOLLOWING DRAWING FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN AN IPAD!

ColorID is pleased to offer our customers an opportunity to win an Apple iPad or a Free Lunch for your entire card office (four card offices will win the free lunch). We will do a random drawing for the winners on July 1, 2011. To enter, just register a campus card project (examples: card migration, contactless card purchase, re-carding, ID printer upgrade, biometric reader addition, supply purchase, etc). For each project you register for you increase your chances of winning (you can register up to five projects).

Register online between March 28, 2011 and June 30, 2011 by clicking the link below. Just answer 3 questions and submit your registration. You can also register in person at our booth #409 at the NACCU conference this April in Baltimore.

To enter the drawing click here:

Click Here for Online Registration

ColorID Blog - News - 2011 ColorID Project Registration Drawing

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 14:18:17 GMT

To enter the drawing click here:

Click Here for Online Registration

ColorID Blog - News - ColorID Announces Partnership with Monitor

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 06:26:07 GMT

ColorID and Monitor Business Machines today announced a strategic partnership. The partnership will allow ColorID to provide Monitor's cost effective and affordable transaction management solutions to higher education institutions and other ColorID served markets.

Danny Smith stated "We are excited to integrate Monitor's full range of transaction management products and services into our ColorID offerings. With Monitor's strong reputation as a leading provider of high quality transaction management solutions, we believe their products are well suited for the U.S. higher education market. This new partnership allows ColorID to continue to innovate and grow as a technology leader."

About ColorID
ColorID is a leading identification solutions provider to education, government, military, healthcare and other businesses. ColorID product offerings include: ID printers, software and supplies, advanced technology smart contact and contactless cards, biometric iris and finger print readers, transaction management solutions, pre-printed and blank plastic cards, and ID badge accessories (such as lanyards and card holders). ColorID offers installation, training, re-carding, extended warranties and support services on all the products we offer. ColorID's manufacturing partners include: HID, Fargo, IRIS ID, Datacard, Gemalto, Zebra, NiSCA, Evolis, Magicard, Integrated Biometrics, Oberthur, Privaris, Monitor and many others. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: http://www.colorid.com/or email ColorID at support@colorid.com

About Monitor
Monitor Business Machines is a global manufacturer and supplier of software and hardware based transaction management solutions. The products form a family of solutions that provide integrated expense management and cost recovery services for the various industries it supplies to. The Monitor solution consists of a broad range of products that enable controlling access to and charging for the use of services such as printing, photocopying, scanning, vending, laundry, point of sale both on and off campus, PC use, parking and other micropayments. The products are able to use a wide range of identification technologies including mag stripe cards, Mifare, HID or user login and password. Monitor supplies its solutions in New Zealand, Australia, the USA, UK, Canada, South Africa, Europe and parts of Asia. Contact Monitor at +64-9-309-8047. Visit monitor on the web at http://www.monitorbm.com/

ColorID Blog - Tech Tips - Windows OS 7 Compatibility

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 05:47:46 GMT

This week's post is a quick tip related to operating systems and ID badge printers. Many organizations are moving over to a Microsoft Windows 7 Operating System.

This transition may directly affect your ID card printing system. Before your organization makes the switch check to see if your ID badge printer will work with Windows 7. If your printer is not on this list, please e-mail me your printer model and we can check the compatibility.

If you are changing your operating system to Windows 7, please keep this in mind:

If you own a DTC 550, please download the latest driver here.
ColorID offers many ID Printers that will work with Windows 7.
ColorID is currently offering a Trade-In Printer Credit Program that offers up to $500.00 for older card printers.
Printer drivers are continually being updated to allow for use with newer operating systems, but as of February 2011, the following chart shows which ID Printers are supported by what operating systems.

About ColorID

ColorID Blog - Tech Tips - Benefits of having a ID Printer Tune-Up

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 08:12:06 GMT

Why Should I Tune-Up my Printer?

Your ID printer needs to be able to print on a consistent basis, day in and out. We have all had scenarios where an unforeseen amount of cardholders come at the same exact time needing a card, only to have the printer stop working and have to deal with the frustration of not being able to offer the service we would like. Finding time to have your printer tuned-up can be difficult; however the benefits far outweigh the risks of not getting regular maintenance.

Here are just a few of the key steps that should be included in an ID Printer Tune-up:

Thoroughly clean the printer. Having a clean printer results in having less feeding errors, better print quality and improves the longevity of an ID printer. A tune-up should meticulously clean the card path, feeding rollers, printhead and other vital components of the ID printer

A tune-up should include upgrading firmware to the most current revision levels. New firmware may give you faster print times, better performance of heating elements and cooling fans and may fix some problems.
A tune-up should include calibration of your sensors which is vital to insure correctly aligned images on your cards. Misaligned sensors will result in poor image quality in your printing.

Having a ColorID tune-up does all the steps listed above and many more. Also, if you choose to purchase an extended warranty while having your tune-up completed your cost of a tune-up will be reduced.

Request a tune-up today here: http://www.colorid.com/qq-id-printer-repair-warranty-service-support.asp

About ColorID

ColorID Blog - Tech Tips - How Do Barcodes Work?

Fri, 4 Feb 2011 12:01:29 GMT

How do barcodes work?

Barcodes work by having combinations of black bars or dots and spaces. Each barcode type has its own unique language or format. The most common bar code type is one-dimensional bar codes (1-D) which are a series of black bars. When a barcode is swiped or scanned the reader directs some kind of light toward the black bars and spaces and then measures the reflection of light back to the reader. When light is directed at white spaces it reflects the light while light is absorbed by black bars. In this way the reader can determine if it is passing over a black bar (no reflection) or a white space (reflection). The reader can also sense the width of the bars or the spaces.

With the basic concept of being able to read bars and spaces and their respective widths, formats have been constructed that assign a character (example 1-9, A-Z, etc) to a unique combination of bars and spaces.

The following are two examples of how a common 1-D format type, called Code 39 uses this basic principal of unique sequences of bars and spaces to present a single character:

The Letter A is represented by this unique sequence of bars and spaces:

The Numeral Zero (0) is represented by this unique sequence of bars and spaces:

By stringing these unique sequences together you can form multiple characters or numbers. For example "A0" would be as follows:

This simple set of concepts is used to create dozens of different bar codes types for multiple applications.

Also, see ColorID's articles on the history of bar codes and types of barcodes.

Our Products

ColorID provides ID badging software that can print a variety of types of barcodes for your ID badges. Our software packages allow you to choose from over 20 different types of 1D and 2D barcodes. We can also supply you with a number of barcode readers and ID printer's capability of printing barcodes on your badges.

About ColorID

ColorID Blog - Tech Tips - Types of Barcodes

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 11:55:53 GMT

What types of barcodes are there?

Barcodes are broken down into two groups: 1-D and 2-D barcodes. 1-D barcodes have a limit of information they can encrypt (usually up to 14 alpha-numerical characters). The 1-D barcodes generally cannot store as much information but can be scanned with less expensive scanners. The 2-D barcodes have the ability to hold thousands of times more information depending on which 2-D you choose. With the increased information storage of 2-D barcodes, they can be used to store biometrics, images and more. There are a wide variety of 1-D and 2-D barcodes to choose from. Some are open standards and formats and some are closed and proprietary. The following are some examples of different barcode types:

1. Code 39 - Code 39 is one of the most common 1-D barcodes and is sometimes referred to as the "3 of 9 code". "USS Code 39", "Code 3/9", "Type 39". The 3 of 9 barcode is capable of storing characters 0-9, A-Z, and some special characters and can store from 8 to 11 characters. The barcodes gets its name because each characters is stored using 3 wide and 6 narrow bars (for a total of 9).

2. Universal Product Code (UPC) BarCode - The Universal Product Code (UPC) is very recognizable in the United States and Canada because it is the standard barcode used on almost all products and allows products to be checked out and tracked by the point-of-sale systems. The code only stores numeric digits.

3. Maxicode - Maxicode is a 2-D barcode that can store up to 100 characters. This code was developed by United Parcel Service (UPS) and is printed on their shipping labels to help track packages. The barcode is distinctive because of the bull's-eye in the center of the code, which allows the reader to find the code quickly and read it even if moving rapidly and in any position.

4. PDF 417 - PDF 417 is a 2-D barcode that allows up to 1,800 characters to be stored. This code also allows linking of more than one PDF 417 barcode to have even more storage.

Our Products

About ColorID

ColorID Blog - Product Information - Datacard SD260 Printer Product Spotlight

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 10:57:20 GMT

In this week's blog, ColorID weighs in on the new Datacard SD260 printer. If you'd like to learn more about this new line of printers, contact ColorID today toll free at (888) 682-6567 or visit us online at http://www.colorid.com/.

Datacard's new SD260 printer will replace the SP35 series printer. This unit comes in a compact size with some advanced standard features. This printer is a simplex (single sided unit) printer with the capability to do manual duplex (dual sided) printing. There are several upgrades available including: magnetic stripe encoder, smart card personalization, 100 output hopper and option security lock.

The SD260 prints incredibly fast, high quality direct to card images without card jams. Datacard prints speeds for full color simplex printing are around 18 seconds a card. When we tested this unit we came up with very similar print speeds. This makes the SD260 considerably faster than any other full color, simplex printer on the market. Datacard has also included a new technology on its input hopper called "TruePick". With this technology it can pick cards (standard and thin) every time with no adjustments.

The SD260 also comes with several eco-friendly features including: Energy Star qualifications, biodegradable supply cores, recyclable supply materials and a separate power-down button. To our knowledge this is the only Energy Star rated ID badge printer on the market.

The new LCD Screen has soft touch controls (similar to an iPod glass screen). The unit also comes standard with USB & Ethernet. This printer has the capability to be a high volume printer; however its main drawback is its inability to print dual sided cards or apply lamination. The new system worked successfully through all of ColorID's trials and we believe this will be a great improvement from the SP35.

Throughout the card printing process, the SD260 printer showed outstanding print speed, no temperature operating issues, and it maintained error free operation through 250 card prints. Datacard includes a 30 month depot warranty with the printer. This is 6 months better than the previous SP35 printer.

Below are some of the SD260's specifications and options available:

Specifications:

Printing Method: Dye-Sublimation/Resin Thermal Transfer

Resolution: 300 dpi (11.8 dots/mm)

Colors: Up to 16.7 million/256 shades per pixel

Print Speed:

850 cards per hour (monochrome)

200 cards per hour (full color)

Input Hopper Card Capacity: 100 cards(.030" / .762mm)

Output Hopper Card Capacity: 25 cards (.030" / .762mm)

Print Area: CR-80 edge-to-edge

Warranty: 30 month standard parts & labor depot warranty.

Options:

Magnetic Stripe Encoder

Smart Card Encoding (contact/contactless)

To learn more about the Datacard SD260, visit http://www.colorid.com/printers-datacard-sd260-id.asp.

About ColorID

ColorID Blog - Tech Tips - The History of Barcodes

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 12:17:42 GMT

Today, anyone under the age of 25 would likely have no idea that it was not that many years ago that the checkout clerk punched information into a big machine for every item that was purchased at their local grocery store. Today we quickly move through the checkout line with our products being scanned and product prices jumping up on a screen in front of us. How did we move from the old cash register to the modern scanner systems we use today?

In 1948 a graduate student named Bernard Silver overheard someone ask if there was a way to identify and track grocery products. Silver told his friend Norman Woodland about this challenge and the two of them began to investigate methods and systems to identify products at check out. They tried several ideas before coming on the idea of a barcode type system that could be printed on products and read by a scanner. They came up with two barcode patterns: one with vertical bars and one that used a circular pattern. They were issued patent 2,612,994 for their invention in 1952. Later this patent was sold to RCA. Woodland was hired by IBM were he encouraged IBM to further develop his ideas.

In 1959 David Collins, who worked at Sylvania, developed a barcode like system to identify rail cars. His system used reflective material that were arranged in stripes and were affixed to the side of rail cars. This system was tested by different railways during the 60's and was ultimately made a standard by the Association of American Railroads. However, due to technical problems and a lack of enthusiasm by the railways, the idea was abandoned.

In 1966 the National Association of Food Chains held a meeting to discuss if there was any way to automatically identify grocery items at checkout. Representatives from RCA attended the meeting and since they had purchased the Silver and Woodland patent they proposed a system based on patents circular barcode. RCA pushed their circular barcode idea over the following years as many other companies got involved. At another meeting in 1971 RCA demonstrated their circular barcode. Also attending this meeting were representatives from IBM. After the meeting one of the IBM marketing people realized that one of the two original inventors of the RCA patent, Woodland, worked for IBM in North Carolina. They quickly started a project headed up by Woodland to create their own barcode system. The circular RCA barcode had serious problems with smearing when applied being products. The IBM barcode was just vertical bars and did not suffer from the same problems.

At 8:01 AM on June 26, 1974 at Marsh's Supermarket in Troy, Ohio a pack of Juicy Fruit gum was scanned using the newly created IBM barcode standard. This barcode became what we know today as the Universal Product Code (UPC Code) that can be found on almost every product in the stores today. The receipt for this first barcode scanned package of gum is in the Smithsonian Museum.

It took many more years for this new barcode system to be widely adopted by the grocery industry, because the grocery stores did not want to invest in scanners until the products were all labeled with the new barcodes and the manufactures did not want to invest in the labeling equipment until there was a significant number of stores that had scanners. Because of this "chicken or the egg" dilemma the new barcode grocery idea almost died. However by the early 80;s the adoption of the new barcode system had a foothold and became an industry standard.

Today barcodes are on everything from our ID Cards to our toothpaste packaging.

Our Products

ColorID can supply you with a number of barcode readers and ID printer's that are capable of printing barcodes on your badges. You can find some of our top selling barcode readers here: http://www.colorid.com/products-id-magstripe-barcode-readers-encoders.asp

About ColorID

ColorID Blog - News - ColorID Employee's give back to local community

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 13:57:42 GMT

This year ColorID's employees choose to give back by giving of their time and resources in several ways, including:

Operation Christmas Child: They packaged shoeboxes full of gifts for kids in need all over the world.
Soup Kitchen: They gathered and donated food for a local soup kitchen.
Christmas for the Troops: They collected gifts for the troops and shipped them overseas to Afghanistan. ColorID works with several military bases overseas and this year the soldiers requested simple items like hand warmers, chocolate, and hygiene products.
Sponsored Family in need for Christmas: The employees located a family in need and gathered numerous gifts to brighten their Christmas.

About ColorID

ColorID Blog - News - Holiday Schedule

Thu, 2 Dec 2010 08:31:41 GMT

The following is ColorID's 2010 Holiday Schedule:

OPEN:

Thursday, December 23^rd (normal business hours and shipping capabilities)
Monday, December 27^th (normal business hours and shipping capabilities)
Monday, January 3^rd (normal business hours and shipping capabilities)

CLOSED:

Friday, December 24^th
Friday, December 31^st

If you foresee a need for any identification supply needs, please contact ColorID to get an order in before the holiday = Toll Free, US & Canada: (888) 682-6567, Fax: (704) 987-2240, Online: www.ColorID.com .

About ColorID

ColorID is a leading identification solutions provider to education, government, military, healthcare and other businesses. ColorID product offerings include: ID printers, software and supplies, advanced technology smart contact and contactless cards, biometric iris and finger print readers, pre-printed and blank plastic cards, and ID badge accessories (such as lanyards and card holders). ColorID offers installation, training, re-carding, extended warranties and support services on all the products we offer. ColorID's manufacturing partners include: HID, Fargo, IRIS ID, Datacard, Gemalto, Zebra, NiSCA, Evolis, Magicard, Integrated Biometrics, Oberthur, Privaris and many others. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: www.colorid.com or email ColorID at support@colorid.com.

ColorID Blog - News - Happy Holidays from ColorID!

Thu, 2 Dec 2010 08:11:27 GMT

ColorID Would like to wish each of you a happy and safe holiday season!

ColorID Blog - Tech Tips - How Proximity Cards and Readers Work

Wed, 17 Nov 2010 12:35:46 GMT

The following tech tip is a quick overview on how proximity cards and readers work together.

The proximity card reader is wired to an access control system panel. The wires carry power to the reader, and data from the reader to the panel. The Reader emits an electromagnetic field called the "excite field". This field has an elliptical shape as shown in Figure # 1 below.

As Figure 1 shows, the field extends behind the reader almost as much as in front.

When a proximity card is brought within the field, the card absorbs some of the energy from the field. The card converts this field energy to electricity, which allows the electronic circuits in the card to "turn on" and transmit its number to the reader. The reader then sends the card number to the access control system panel, which then looks up in its database to see if the card number is valid and if it has rights to open that door at this time. If the card is approved, then the control panel sends a signal to the door lock to unlock for a period of time.

The card data transmission distance varies with card type and reader type. Larger, more powerful readers do exist; which can energize some cards at a much farther distance. The distance at which a card will successfully transmit data to the reader is called the "Read Range". The read range is approximate and can vary depending on the details of the installation. Maximum range is achieved when the reader is mounted away from metal and cards are presented parallel to the reader face. This allows the reader field to power up the card transponder at a farther distance.

About ColorID

ColorID Blog - News - Emerson College Card Migration Article

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 06:47:56 GMT

ColorID helped implement Emerson College's card migration back in 2009. Check out the following article to learn more about the process they took as well as some suggestions they have in case you are thinking about doing a migration from an older card technology to an advanced technology.

Article link: http://www.cr80news.com/2010/11/10/emersons-contactless-conversion

If you'd like to talk with a ColorID account manager regarding a migration for your campus, feel free to contact us toll free at (888) 682-6567 or visit us online at http://www.colorid.com/.

ColorID specializes in card migrations, in particular when you are moving from mag stripe cards to mag stripe & contactless technologies. We have created a helpful brochure that goes over all the important steps to a successful migration here: ColorID's own Card Migration Guide, "6 Things to Consider When Planning A Campus Wide Migration to Advanced Technology Cards".

About ColorID

ColorID Blog - Product Information - Zebra HC100 Wristband Printer

Fri, 5 Nov 2010 12:05:37 GMT

ColorID is offering the new Zebra HC100 wristband printer system that allows admissions staff to produce wristbands on demand with antimicrobial-coated, long-lasting material so patients can be accurately identified.

View a product video on the HC100 here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc1e2eAjX9c

Developed specifically to meet the unique needs of healthcare providers, the reliable HC100 patient I.D. solution makes wristband printing easier and more cost effective than any available laser solution. The HC100's direct thermal printer uses easy-to-load cartridges containing the only antimicrobial coated wristbands on the market, Zebra's Z-Band wristbands.

The HC100 printer detects the wristband size (adult, pediatric or infant) and automatically calibrates its settings for optimal print quality that remain scan-able for longer than the average patient stay. The HC100 is competitively priced with an MSRP around $999.

Features:

Print only the bands you require eliminating costly waste
1 step operation & easy cartridge replacement saves time
A small foot-print fits allows unit to fit on any desk
Automatic media loading, no user contact with the media during loading or removal
300 dpi print resolution, Prints at 2 inches per second
Direct thermal printing of bar codes, text, and graphics
Dual communications interface: Serial & USB with optional wireless or Ethernet
Instant media calibration, no wasted media with standard tear-off mode feature
Maximum print length: 22.0/558 mm
Minimum print length: 3 (76 mm )
Warranty: 12 month parts and labor with extendable warranty options.

If you would like to receive more information or pricing for the Zebra HC100 wristband system, please feel free to call us toll free today at 888-682-6567 to discuss. Also, ask us about our 10-day free trial offer.

About ColorID

ColorID Blog - Product Information - HID's Fargo DTC4500 Product Spotlight

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 07:37:50 GMT

In this week's blog, ColorID evaluates the high volume DTC4500 series printer. If you'd like to learn more about the new line of HID's Fargo DTC printers, contact ColorID today toll free at (888) 682-6567 or visit us online at www.ColorID.com.

Fargo's new DTC4500 printer comes in a new modular design allowing you to easily upgrade your printer. Upgrades include: magnetic stripe encoder, dual sided printing, single and/or simultaneous lamination stations, same side input/output hoppers and an extra large 200 card input hopper. Additional options are available; however we'd suggest a factory certified company like ColorID perform these upgrades.

The DTC4500 prints high quality direct to card images very quickly and without card jams. We consistently printed full color cards with no printing on the back in less than 24 seconds a card (batch prints received faster times). The new LCD Smart Screen has easy to follow prompts and changing background colors which allow the end user to quickly navigate and determine the printer's status. Another excellent feature gives the printer both USB and Ethernet connectivity standard on all DTC4500 models. The newest innovation for the DTC4500 is the lamination module. HID placed the module above the printer and incorporated an "elevator" that takes the printed card to the lamination module. The new system worked successfully through ColorID's trials and we believe this will be rugged enough to hold up over a long duration.

Throughout the card printing process, the DTC4500 printer showed excellent print speed, no temperature operating issues (with the printer & lamination station) and it maintained error free operation through 250 card prints. Fargo includes a 2 year warranty with the printer (1 year hot swap warranty, and 2 years parts and labor) which is on par with other printer manufacturer warranties.

Below are some of the DTC4500's specifications and options available:

Specifications:
Printing Method: Dye-Sublimation/Resin Thermal Transfer
Resolution: 300 dpi (11.8 dots/mm)
Colors: Up to 16.7 million/256 shades per pixel
Print Speed:
7 seconds per card / 514 cards per hour (K)
12 seconds per card / 300 cards per hour (KO)
24 seconds per card / 150 cards per hour (YMCKO)
31 seconds per card / 116 cards per hour (YMCKOK)
Input Hopper Card Capacity: 200 cards (.030" / .762mm)
Output Hopper Card Capacity: 100 cards (.030" / .762mm)
Print Area: CR-80 edge-to-edge and CR79 edge-to-edge.
Warranty: Two Year All Parts and Labor + One Year On-Call Express Warranty Program

Options:
Magnetic Stripe Encoder
Single or Simultaneous Lamination Station
Dual-sided Printing
Single Wire Ethernet & USB 2.0 for inline printing and encoding
Same-Side Input/Output Card Hopper
Smart Card Encoding (contact/contactless)
To learn more about the Fargo DTC4500, visit http://www.colorid.com/printers-fargo-DTC4500.asp.

About ColorID
ColorID is a leading identification solutions provider to education, government, military, healthcare and other businesses. ColorID product offerings include: ID printers, software and supplies, advanced technology smart contact and contactless cards, biometric iris and finger print readers, pre-printed and blank plastic cards, and ID badge accessories (such as lanyards and card holders). ColorID offers installation, training, re-carding, extended warranties and support services on all the products we offer. ColorID's manufacturing partners include: HID, Fargo, IRIS ID, Datacard, Gemalto, Zebra, NiSCA, Evolis, Magicard, Integrated Biometrics, Oberthur, Privaris and many others. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: www.colorid.com or email ColorID at support@colorid.com.

ColorID Blog - News - ColorID adds to their Higher Education team

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 10:31:27 GMT

ColorID Expands Support for Higher Education Market

CORNELIUS, NC - October 22, 2010 - ColorID, LLC announced today they have hired two additional Higher Education Account Managers: Kristen Hendrix and Matt Genovese. Danny Smith, Executive Vice President of ColorID stated, "We have recently expanded our product line into the higher education market, including these new product offerings: biometric readers, logical access solutions, mobile identification kits and time and attendance solutions. The addition of Kristen and Matt better positions ColorID to service and support our Higher Education customers."

About ColorID
ColorID is a leading identification solutions provider to education, government, military, healthcare and other businesses. ColorID product offerings include: ID printers, software and supplies, advanced technology smart contact and contactless cards, biometric iris and finger print readers, pre-printed and blank plastic cards, and ID badge accessories (such as lanyards and card holders). ColorID offers installation, training, re-carding, extended warranties and support services on all the products we offer. ColorID's manufacturing partners include: HID, Fargo, IRIS ID, Datacard, Gemalto, Zebra, NiSCA, Evolis, Magicard, Integrated Biometrics, Oberthur, Privaris and many others. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: http://www.colorid.com/ or email ColorID at support@colorid.com.

ColorID Blog - News - ColorID Fall Schedule Trade Shows

Fri, 8 Oct 2010 09:32:42 GMT

The following are some of ColorID's trade shows over the next couple months. Drop by ColorID's booth and learn more about ID printers, biometric devices, card migrations and more:

National Middle School Association
November 4th - 6th, 2010
Baltimore Convention Center, Booth # 434
Baltimore, Maryland

Texas Society for Healthcare Human Resources
November 4th - 5th, 2010
CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital
San Antonio, Texas

Canadian Campus Card Workshop
November 2th - 4th, 2010
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, Canada

Lastly, forward us the names of trade shows you think would be a good fit for us at support@colorid.com.

About ColorID
ColorID is a leading identification solutions provider to education, government, military, healthcare and other businesses. ColorID product offerings include: ID printers, software and supplies, advanced technology smart contact and contactless cards, biometric iris and finger print readers, pre-printed and blank plastic cards, and ID badge accessories (such as lanyards and card holders). ColorID offers installation, training, re-carding, extended warranties and support services on all the products we offer. ColorID's manufacturing partners include: HID, Fargo, IRIS ID, Datacard, Gemalto, Zebra, NiSCA, Evolis, Magicard, Integrated Biometrics, Oberthur, Privaris and many others. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: www.colorid.com or email ColorID at support@colorid.com.

ColorID Blog - Product Information - Fargo DTC4000 Product Review

Fri, 8 Oct 2010 09:05:38 GMT

HID has launched a new series of direct to card printers. ColorID has recently evaluated these new models and have reported the results in this post. If you'd like to learn more about the new line of printers, contact ColorID today toll free at (888) 682-6567 or visit us online at www.ColorID.com.

Fargo's new DTC4000 printer comes in a compact design that is easily upgraded. End users can purchase upgrades later and install these on site. Upgrades include: magnetic stripe encoder, dual sided printing, same side input/output hoppers and an extra large 200 card input hopper. Additional options are available; however we'd suggest a factory certified company like ColorID perform these upgrades.

The DTC4000 prints high quality direct to card images very quickly and without card jams. HID has included several key features that help minimize card feeding errors. The new LCD Smart Screen has easy to follow prompts and changing background colors which allow the end user to quickly navigate and determine the printer's status. Another excellent feature allows the printer to have both USB and Ethernet connectivity (previously the printers were either USB or Ethernet).

Throughout the card printing process, the DTC4000 printer showed excellent print speed, no temperature operating issues and it maintained error free operation through 250 card prints. Fargo includes a 2 year warranty with the printer (1 year hot swap warranty, and 2 years parts and labor) which is on par with other printer manufacturer warranties.

Below are some of the DTC4000's specifications and options available:

Specifications:
Printing Method: Dye-Sublimation/Resin Thermal Transfer
Resolution: 300 dpi (11.8 dots/mm)
Colors: Up to 16.7 million/256 shades per pixel
Print Speed:
7 seconds per card / 514 cards per hour (K)
12 seconds per card / 300 cards per hour (KO)
24 seconds per card / 150 cards per hour (YMCKO)
Input Hopper Card Capacity: 100 cards(.030" / .762mm)
Output Hopper Card Capacity: 100 cards (.030" / .762mm)
Print Area: CR-80 edge-to-edge and CR79 edge-to-edge.
Warranty: Two Year All Parts and Labor + One Year On-Call Express Warranty Program

Options:
Magnetic Stripe Encoder
Dual-sided Printing
Ethernet with internal print server
Single Wire Ethernet & USB 2.0 for inline printing and encoding
Same-Side Input/Output Card Hopper
Smart Card Encoding (contact/contactless)
Dual Input Card Hopper

To learn more about the Fargo DTC4000, visit http://www.colorid.com/detail.aspx?ID=653.

About ColorID
ColorID is a leading identification solutions provider to education, government, military, healthcare and other businesses. ColorID product offerings include: ID printers, software and supplies, advanced technology smart contact and contactless cards, biometric iris and finger print readers, pre-printed and blank plastic cards, and ID badge accessories (such as lanyards and card holders). ColorID offers installation, training, re-carding, extended warranties and support services on all the products we offer. ColorID's manufacturing partners include: HID, Fargo, IRIS ID, Datacard, Gemalto, Zebra, NiSCA, Evolis, Magicard, Integrated Biometrics, Oberthur, Privaris and many others. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: www.colorid.com or email ColorID at support@colorid.com.

ColorID Blog - Advanced Technologies - Operating Temperatures of your ID Printer

Mon, 4 Oct 2010 10:54:15 GMT

The following article is meant to serve as an overview of the operating temperatures of reverse transfer printers and lamination stations. Not all printers are equal, and all printers come with their own default settings for the temperature at which they run. If you are using a reverse transfer printer or laminating your cardstock you should always be certain to use a composite cardstock of no less than 60% PVC and 40% polyester. This blend is extremely durable and will not be affected by the high temperatures of reverse transfer printing or lamination.

CELSIUS
The temperature on printer drivers and LCD displays are in Celsius and thus all discussions regarding printer temperatures are in Celsius (and not Fahrenheit).

REVERSE TRANSFER PRINTERS
Reverse transfer printers print the card image on a transfer film and in a second step the film is fused to the plastic card (this is a different process than the more traditional dye-sublimation, direct-to-card (DTC) printing process).

LAMINATION
Many ID card printers have the option of adding an extra protective layer (also called overlaminate) to the plastic card. This lamination step takes place after the card is printed. Lamination can take place on both a DTC type printer and a reverse transfer type printer. The laminate that is applied to the card comes in a separate roll.

ADHERING THE FILM TO THE CARD
The process for applying the transfer film to the card is similar to the process for applying a laminate to a card. The following describes this process to join the film to the card using pressure and heat:

PRESSURE: The pressure is applied by "squeezing" the card and the film through two rollers.
HEAT: As pressure is applied to the card, heat is also applied to the film. The amount of heat that must be applied to have the film adhere to the card is different for the reverse transfer module and lamination station.

TEMPERATURE SETTING FOR REVERSE TRANSFER PRINTERS
Reverse transfer type printers use a very high temperature for merging the transfer film to the card. The temperatures can be between 150 C and 200 C.

LAMINATION MODULES
To add lamination to a card, the laminate is pressed to the card with rollers for a certain amount of time and heat is applied. This temperature can vary from one printer to another, for example:

On HID's Fargo printer line, the lamination station temperatures can range from 125 C to 150 C for the HDP5000LC, DTC4500LC and DTC550LC printers.
On the Datacard lamination printer line; the SP75 Plus default setting for the lamination module is 175 C (the actual temperature could be higher or lower than this temperature after you make your own adjustments).

DWELL TIME VARIABLE
For connecting both transfer film and lamination to a card, the card moves down the card path and moves through heads and rollers that "squeeze" and heat up the film to apply onto the card. The faster the card moves down the card path in the printer, the higher the temperature needs to be to join the film or laminate to the card. In other words a certain energy is needed to make the film or laminate stick to the card and this energy can be delivered with a lower temperature with longer dwell time (slower moving card) or it can be delivered with a higher temperature with a faster moving card (shorter dwell time). The definition of Dwell is "To linger over" or "The time during a process which an item is in the vicinity or motionless". This dwell time can vary from printer to printer:

If you'd like to learn more about this article feel free to contact ColorID today and we'll analyze your existing ID system.

About ColorID
ColorID is a leading identification solutions provider to education, government, military, healthcare and other businesses. ColorID product offerings include: ID printers, software and supplies, advanced technology smart contact and contactless cards, biometric iris and finger print readers, pre-printed and blank plastic cards, and ID badge accessories (such as lanyards and card holders). ColorID offers installation, training, re-carding, extended warranties and support services on all the products we offer. ColorID's manufacturing partners include: HID, Fargo, IRIS ID, Datacard, Gemalto, Zebra, NiSCA, Evolis, Magicard, Integrated Biometrics, Oberthur, Privaris and many others. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: www.colorid.com or email ColorID at support@colorid.com.

ColorID Blog - Advanced Technologies - ID Printers and Cards with Chips

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 06:54:56 GMT

Printing an ID card is a very familiar and straightforward process for most university card offices. Enter some data from the campus database, capture a photo, then hit Print. The Windows printing functions on the computer process all the data from the card design and send it to the ID printer. This includes data to be written to a magnetic (mag) stripe or printed as a bar code on the card. Mag encoders are a standard addition to most university ID printers, and bar codes are printed on cards with no additional printer hardware.

As soon as a contactless, prox, or contact smart card chip is added to an ID card, the workflow changes. The data read from the chip or written to the chip is not handled by the Windows printing function as in the process described above. This additional data stream has to be handled by the ID software program using the appropriate reader in the printer. The common terminology for these chip read/write devices is a bit ambiguous, since they are referred to as "readers," "writers," "encoders," and other similarly confusing names, given that some only read, some only write, and others do both. To simplify, I will use the term "reader" for these devices for the rest of the article. Be aware that it is easy to order a printer with the correct reader for your card only to find that it is not supported by your ID software. The compatibility of the card chip, reader, and ID software is crucial to successfully reading or writing data to and from a card with a chip in the printer.

Contactless (high frequency - iCLASS, MIFARE, etc.) and prox cards share a similar process for issuance, since they are usually pre-programmed by the manufacturer with an ID number in the chip to be used for physical access. The simplest and most common method is to print the card, including encoding the mag stripe, then enroll the card in the physical access system separately. This can be done at the card office or the security office. The cardholder's record is pulled up and the number from the chip is read from the printed number on the card and then typed into the cardholder's record. A simpler, less error-prone method is to tap the card on a USB desktop reader, which automatically populates a field in the record with that cards number.

A fully automated process would look like this: The card is printed and the chip number is captured by the reader in the printer. The number is passed to the database and verified before the card leaves the printer, at which time it is ready to be handed to the cardholder. In this system, the printer and the ID software must be compatible and this is usually accomplished by the manufacturers. Fargo printers with readers in them are supported by Fargo software, Datacard by Datacard, etc. There are some other ID software manufacturers with newer products that claim to be compatible with a variety of printers, but it is always a good idea to test before purchasing. The ID software used by some of the large integration vendors requires additional components to enable writing to their databases from readers in printers. Depending on how the software is written, this reading process can add additional time to the printing of each card.

There has been some interest in writing data to contactless cards in the printer. Writing data to be used for physical access is often not an option due to some manufacturer's security policies for their cards and readers. Data for other applications can be written to the non-physical access areas of the chip memories, but again, this requires support by the ID software.

Contact smart cards are beginning to make a re-appearance on campuses. These cards have a gold rectangle visible on the face of the card which is the actual contact interface for the chip. They are usually distributed in smaller quantities for special high security areas around campus, such as research labs, and are used for logical access - logging onto PCs and networks - in these areas. Contact smart cards can also contain contactless or prox chips, so they would require the same issuance workflow as contactless campus IDs. Programming the contact chips in these cards is possible in the printer, but it is usually done by IT personnel in the department that uses them.

Cards with chips in them almost invariably have some surface irregularities around the chip, caused by temperature variations during the manufacturing process. Printing on these cards can present challenges to a direct-to-card printer as the printhead moves across the surface of the card in a straight line. The best printing results are obtained by reverse-transfer printers, which print on a clear film that is fused to the entire surface of the card. Most ID printers, direct-to-card and reverse-transfer, can be configured to print on contact smart cards. Overlaminate is available with a cutout for the contact chip.

Contactless and contact smart cards can provide upgrades in security and utility for many systems around campus. They can also add another layer of complexity to the card issuance process. Be sure to discuss design and testing options with an experienced provider before you buy, to acquire the system that fulfills your expectations.

About ColorID

ColorID is a leading identification solutions provider to education, government, military, healthcare and other businesses. ColorID product offerings include: ID printers, software and supplies, advanced technology smart contact and contactless cards, biometric iris and finger print readers, pre-printed and blank plastic cards, and ID badge accessories (such as lanyards and card holders). ColorID offers installation, training, re-carding, extended warranties and support services on all the products we offer. ColorID's manufacturing partners include: HID, Fargo, IRIS ID, Datacard, Gemalto, Zebra, NiSCA, Evolis, Magicard, Integrated Biometrics, Oberthur, Privaris and many others. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: www.colorid.com or email ColorID at support@colorid.com.

ColorID Blog - News - Visit ColorID at the 2010 Biometrics Consortium Show

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 07:47:11 GMT

We are excited to announce that ColorID will be exhibiting at the Biometrics Consortium Conference in Tampa Bay on September 21^st - 23^rd. Please drop by and visit ColorID at Booth 324. ColorID will be featuring the latest equipment in biometric systems and advanced mobile verification.

Biometric Systems: IrisID (formerly LG Iris) Products & Technology, Integrated Biometrics, i3 Live Scan Systems, Privaris, Datastrip and Other biometric devices.
Advanced Technology Cards and Systems: Including: HID (iClass, Proximity, Crescendo), Gemalto, Oberthur, Mifare, DESFire, FIPS Compliant Cards, and CAC Cards.
Logical Access Systems: HID (iClass, Proximity, Crescendo), Gemalto and Oberthur.

Also remember to stop by ColorID's Booth 324 to register and win a Best Buy gift card worth $50! We look forward in seeing you at Tampa.

About ColorID

ColorID is a leading identification solutions provider to education, government, military, healthcare and other businesses. ColorID product offerings include: ID printers, software and supplies, advanced technology smart contact and contactless cards, biometric iris and finger print readers, pre-printed and blank plastic cards, and ID badge accessories (such as lanyards and card holders). ColorID offers installation, training, re-carding, extended warranties and support services on all the products we offer. ColorID's manufacturing partners include: HID, Fargo, IRIS ID, Datacard, Gemalto, Zebra, NiSCA, Evolis, Magicard, Integrated Biometrics, Oberthur, Privaris and many others. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: www.ColorID.com or email ColorID at support@colorid.com.

ColorID Blog - News - Visit ColorID at the 2010 ASIS Show

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 07:47:11 GMT

We are excited to annouce that ColorID will be exhibiting at the ASIS show in Dallas, TX on October 12th - 14th. Please drop by and visit ColorID at Booth 620. ColorID will be featuring the latest equipment in identification systems, advanced mobile verification and biometric systems.

Biometric Systems: IrisID (formerly LG Iris) Products & Technology, Integrated Biometrics, i3 Live Scan Systems, Privaris, Datastrip and Other biometric devices.
Identification Systems: Including: ID Card Printers (from HID - Fargo, Datacard, Magicard, Nisca and Zebra), ID Software, Capture Devices, and Mobile Verification systems.
Advanced Technology Cards and Systems: Including: HID (iClass, Proximity, Crescendo), Gemalto, Oberthur, Mifare, DESFire, FIPS Compliant Cards, and CAC Cards.
Logical Access Systems: HID (iClass, Proximity, Crescendo), Gemalto and Oberthur.

Also remember to stop by ColorID's Booth 620 to register and win a Best Buy gift card worth $50! We look forward in seeing you at Dallas.

About ColorID

ColorID is a leading identification solutions provider to education, government, military, healthcare and other businesses. ColorID product offerings include: ID printers, software and supplies, advanced technology smart contact and contactless cards, biometric iris and finger print readers, pre-printed and blank plastic cards, and ID badge accessories (such as lanyards and card holders). ColorID offers installation, training, re-carding, extended warranties and support services on all the products we offer. ColorID's manufacturing partners include: HID, Fargo, IRIS ID, Datacard, Gemalto, Zebra, NiSCA, Evolis, Magicard, Integrated Biometrics, Oberthur, Privaris and many others. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: www.ColorID.com or email ColorID at support@colorid.com.

ColorID Blog - Product Information - Product Spotlight: IB's TRU650 Fingerprint Reader

Wed, 7 Jul 2010 08:05:28 GMT

ColorID has noticed increased interest in replacing existing contactless/mag stripe readers with a biometric reader. In this product spotlight, we cover one of our more popular and easy to use fingerprint devices: The Integrated Biometrics , TRU650 fingerprint reader. This solution provides the accuracy and speed to securely enable the use of a single biometric reader for physical access control. The TRU650 generates a robust audit trail of activity based on the most proven biometric in the world. The native TCP/IP communications and Server based computing structure of this modern access control solution assures real time and secure system operation.

The TRU650 has been developed with a patented light emitting sensor film that successfully recognizes real fingerprints. The sensor quickly rejects standard spoofing tactics that typical camera enabled fingerprint readers accept. The fingerprint pad is robust enough to be mounted outdoors and is guaranteed for over 1 million touches.

The reader has the ability to offer dual authentication with the addition of either 125kHz proximity or 13.56MHz contactless smart cards. Here are some additional features that the TRU650 offers:

Processes 20,000 Templates Per Second Enabling Immediate Access
No Other Tokens Necessary
Modern Client-server Solution Architecture
Native TCP/IP Communication
Full Featured Enrollment and System Management Software
Real Time Control and Awareness Of System Activity
Integrated 125khz or 13.56MHz contactless card reader
Wiegand Output 26 and 37 Bit (custom formats available upon request)
Stores Up to 1,000 Users on Device
Unlimited Users on Server
IP-Addressable
Wiegand Output for Integration with PACS

To learn more about this product and see a video demo, click the below link or contact ColorID directly toll free at (888) 682-6567.

http://www.colorid.com/detail.aspx?ID=573

About ColorID

ColorID is a leading identification solutions provider to education, government, military, healthcare and other businesses. ColorID product offerings include: ID printers, software and supplies, advanced technology smart contact and contactless cards, biometric iris and finger print readers, pre-printed and blank plastic cards, and ID badge accessories (such as lanyards and card holders). ColorID offers installation, training, re-carding, extended warranties and support services on all the products we offer. ColorID's manufacturing partners include: HID, Fargo, IRIS ID, Datacard, Gemalto, Zebra, NiSCA, Evolis, Magicard, Integrated Biometrics, Oberthur, Privaris and many others. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: www.ColorID.com or email ColorID at support@colorid.com.

ColorID Blog - Advanced Technologies - ColorID's Re-Carding Program

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 12:44:06 GMT

ColorID's Re-Carding Service allows your institution to outsource your entire Re-Carding event to ColorID. Many offices have state of the art carding centers that can manage the day to day traffic of new ID card & badge production; however, when the entire institution needs to be Re-Carded the extra strain this puts on the resources can be enormous and expensive. ColorID's applies its years of experience working with card offices around the world to quickly and efficiently Re-Card your entire facility .

Re-Carding Service Includes =

PRE-PRINTING:
Extremely high quality, digital offset, and lithographically Pre-Printed cards, using a state of the art digital laser guided printing process.
VARIABLE PRINTING:
Photo and identification information is completed with the highest quality dye sublimation printers. An extra laminate overlay may be applied for additional protection and extended card life.
QUALITY CONTROL:
Our project manager will oversee every step of the Re-Card process. You will be involved at each step of the process and we will proceed only when you are completely satisfied.
HIGH CAPACITY:
Using our parallel print process, we can quickly and efficiently complete your Re-Card project.
CUSTOMIZED PACKAGING AND SORTING:
We will package and sort your project to meet your specific distribution needs, and can even mail directly to your consumer.

What To Expect =

AUTHENTICATE THE ELECTRONIC DATA TRANSFER:
Ensuring that we can receive and read your electronic database with photos and card data.
VALIDATE DATA CHANGES:
Work with you and your IT department on the changes in data or layout for your new card.
SAMPLE NEW CARD DATA:
Send new card samples to your office so you can test the new formatting of the variable data.
NOTE: These first three steps are completed before we receive your order so you are 100% sure that we will be able to successfully complete your project.
Pre-Printed CARD ART:
Send your Pre-Printed card art to us. We will then create a full color proof for your review and sign off.
PRINTING BASE CARD:
We will print the non-variable part of your card using a high quality lithographic printing process (the Pre-Printed card is printed).
PROOF FINISHED CARD:
We provide you with a set of real cards that have both full variable printing and the Pre-Printed card. You can check the encoding, printing quality and the layout. When you are satisfied with these sample cards you sign off on these cards.
SHIP:
We can sort the cards in any order to match your distribution plans. We will work with you to establish a process to insure that the cards can be easily distributed after arriving at your facility.

About ColorID

ColorID is a leading identification solutions provider to education, government, military, healthcare and other businesses. ColorID product offerings include: ID printers, software and supplies, advanced technology smart contact and contactless cards, biometric iris and finger print readers, pre-printed and blank plastic cards, and ID badge accessories (such as lanyards and card holders). ColorID offers installation, training, re-carding, extended warranties and support services on all the products we offer. ColorID's manufacturing partners include: HID, Fargo, IRIS ID, Datacard, Gemalto, Zebra, NiSCA, Evolis, Magicard, Integrated Biometrics, Oberthur, Privaris and many others. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: www.ColorID.com or email ColorID at support@colorid.com.

ColorID Blog - News - ColorID Presents at 5th Annual Illinois State ID University Meeting

Wed, 2 Jun 2010 09:07:40 GMT

Illinois State University at Bloomington recently hosted the 5th annual Illinois State ID meeting where 20 attendees from 11 different schools gathered to exchange information revolving around campus identification. This year ColorID was invited to share information on advanced technologies including: biometric iris and fingerprint capture devices, secure computer sign-on solutions, ID printers and biometric employee background checking products. Attendees were invited to participate in a hands-on demonstration of fingerprint and iris identification devices. ColorID Executive Vice President, Danny Smith stated, "ColorID appreciates the opportunity to talk to schools regarding their campus card technology options. This is the third time this year we have spoken at this type of higher education conference and we welcome more opportunities to do so."

About ColorID
ColorID is one of the world's leading identification solutions suppliers to the campus card industry. Specializing in customer service and technical support, ColorID provides products for "One Card" and access control systems, computer network security, and point of sale and loyalty systems. Among the many products offered by ColorID are ID printers, ribbons and software; proximity, contactless and contact smart cards, Re-Carding and Card Migration services, pre-printed and blank cards, logical access solutions and ID badge accessories. ColorID also offers full support and installation services on the entire product line of products from Fargo, HID, Datacard, Magicard, NiSCA, Zebra, Iris ID, Integrated Biometrics, Indala, Mifare, Gemalto and many others. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: www.colorid.com or email support@colorid.com.

ColorID Blog - News - ColorID's 2010 NACCU Customer Appreciation Event

Fri, 21 May 2010 12:58:26 GMT

ColorID has put together a video of our customer appreciation event held during the 2010 NACCU conference in Phoenix, AZ. We have captured some of the highlights of the evening and if you weren't able to attend this year's event we thought you still might want to view the video and we hope you'll be able to attend next year!

Our goal for the event was to provide you with a break from the normal conference activities and responsibilities. We hope everyone had as much fun attending as we did hosting!

Below is a link to the video, we hope you enjoy watching it. The clip is approximately five and a half minutes long.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRZLQXL6d_w

* Hit the "Pause" button once the video has started. Allow the video to load completely before playing it. This will allow the video to play without it pausing throughout the video. *

We are truly fortunate to have such a wonderful group of customers, and even more, a fantastic group of friends.

We are already working on next year's event...it's going to be another really unique experience, see you in Baltimore!

Best regards,

ColorID's Campus Card Team

About ColorID

ColorID is a leading identification solutions provider to education, government, military, healthcare and other businesses. ColorID product offerings include: ID printers, software and supplies, advanced technology smart contact and contactless cards, biometric iris and finger print readers, pre-printed and blank plastic cards, and ID badge accessories (such as lanyards and card holders). ColorID offers installation, training, re-carding, extended warranties and support services on all the products we offer. ColorID's manufacturing partners include: HID, Fargo, IRIS ID, Datacard, Gemalto, Zebra, NiSCA, Evolis, Magicard, Integrated Biometrics, Oberthur, Privaris and many others. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: www.ColorID.com or email ColorID at support@colorid.com.

ColorID Blog - News - ColorID to attend the 8th annual ECCA Conference

Fri, 7 May 2010 08:59:56 GMT

CORNELIUS, NC - May 7, 2010 - ColorID, LLC will be participating in the 8th annual European Campus Card Association (ECCA) Conference at the Waterford Institute of Technology in Ireland, June 13^th - 15^th. ColorID will be making two presentations at the conference that will cover contactless technologies as well as card issuance solutions.

The annual ECCA conference has become the most important campus card conference in Europe. The event is aimed specifically at European higher education institutions that are interested in campus card technologies and identification systems. Seminars and workshops will be held covering all aspects of card-based systems.

Sinead Nealon, Secretary General of ECCA stated, "The European Campus Card Association (ECCA) very much appreciates the participation of ColorID atour 8th Annual Conference. ColorID has played an important role in the development of Campus Card systems in Europe and since the foundation of ECCA in 2002, has presented at the Annual Conference each year.Our conference schedule this year will include a presentation on "The Basics of Card Technology" from David Stallsmith(Product Manager ColorID), and also a presentation on "The Current and Emerging Card Printer Technologies" from Danny Smith (Executive Vice-President ColorID).The availability of the expertise and knowledge of the ColorID Teamto our European Universities/Colleges is hugely important to us and is much valued by ECCA".

ColorID's Executive Vice President Danny Smith stated, "ColorID is extremely pleased to continue to support ECCA and its annual conference. We welcome the opportunity to share our insights and expertise on contactless technologies and card issuance solutions. ECCA, under the visionary direction of their Executive Management Committee, has done a tremendous job developing the European Education Connectivity Solution (EECS). They have laid the foundation to create a standardized, interoperable campus system that will soon facilitate student mobility across Europe. ECCA is a very progressive organization and we are enthused to be able work with them".

About ColorID

ColorID is a leading identification solutions provider to education, government, military, healthcare and other businesses. ColorID product offerings include: ID printers, software and supplies, advanced technology smart contact and contactless cards, biometric iris and finger print readers, pre-printed and blank plastic cards, and ID badge accessories (such as lanyards and card holders). ColorID offers installation, training, re-carding, extended warranties and support services on all the products we offer. ColorID's manufacturing partners include: HID, Fargo, IRIS ID, Datacard, Gemalto, Zebra, NiSCA, Evolis, Magicard, Integrated Biometrics, Oberthur, Privaris and many others. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: www.ColorID.com or email ColorID at support@colorid.com.

About the ECCA
As the designated authoritative organization for the collection and dispersion of information regarding issues in card systems, ECCA aims for more than 500 members representing over 5000 higher education institutions in Europe. ECCA keeps abreast of the knowledge base and technological changes for institutional members. ECCA communicates through a regularly published newsletter and the ECCA website on the Internet. The organization also maintains a library of reference materials, and communicates frequently with card system experts within higher education who share their knowledge to promote trans-national cooperation between institutions. You can visit the ECCA website at http://www.ecca.ie/

ColorID Blog - Product Information - ColorID Eco-Friendly Products & Services

Wed, 5 May 2010 11:26:24 GMT

At ColorID we understand how important it is to do our part in using environmentally friendly products and practices every day. Thus we are pleased to introduce the following Eco-Friendly ColorID products. Contact us today to learn more or receive free samples of these products: http://www.colorid.com/

Biodegradable PVC Cardstock: Our Fully Biodegradable PVC card stock is just as durable as our standard PVC, but Biodegradable. Typically these cards only cost a few cents more than a non-biodegradable card. Read an additional article at our website regarding: Pro's & Con's of Biodegradable Cardstock.

Eco-Friendly Badge Holders: Protect your ID cards as well as the environment with our new durable Eco-Badge Holders made from a special material that can be recycled and will not contaminate the environment.

Recycled Neck Lanyards: Our environmentally friendly neck lanyards are made from 100% recycled PET materials. The lanyards are available in 3/8 inch to 3/4 inch, break-away or non-breakaway, blank or with custom imprinting.

Eco-Friendly Strap Clips: Attach your cards with an eco-friendly strap clip. Made with PVC-DOP, recyclable plastic and it's just as durable as our standard 505A strap clip.

Supply Recycling Program: We also offer a shredding service that you can take advantage of at any time. If you have unwanted cards and used ID printer ribbons, ship them to ColorID with the Attn: Supply Recycling Program and we will dispose of them safely and securely.

About ColorID

ColorID is a leading identification solutions provider to education, government, military, healthcare and other businesses. ColorID product offerings include: ID printers, software and supplies, advanced technology smart contact and contactless cards, biometric iris and finger print readers, pre-printed and blank plastic cards, and ID badge accessories (such as lanyards and card holders). ColorID offers installation, training, re-carding, extended warranties and support services on all the products we offer. ColorID's manufacturing partners include: HID, Fargo, IRIS ID, Datacard, Gemalto, Zebra, NiSCA, Evolis, Magicard, Integrated Biometrics, Oberthur, Privaris and many others. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: www.ColorID.com or email ColorID at support@colorid.com.

ColorID Blog - Advanced Technologies - Considering Contactless Cards --- How They Work

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 08:47:58 GMT

by: David Stallsmith
Director of Product Management ColorID

I recently discussed on ColorID's ID Blog the use of mag stripe cards on campuses and the security and convenience advantages of migrating to high frequency contactless cards. This article continues that discussion in a more technical mode.
There are three types of radio frequency chips used for identification cards: Low Frequency (125 KHz - Prox), Ultra-High Frequency (880-930 MHz - UHF) and High Frequency (13.56 MHz - Contactless). Prox is a 20-year old technology that is fast and convenient at the door, but the security of the chip-reader interface has waned with the passing years. Ultra-High Frequency chips were developed to replace bar codes for identifying boxes in warehouses and have a long read range (up to 30 ft.), but security was a low priority in their design. They are good for identification at manned guard stations and parking lot gates, but not for unattended door access.

Contactless High Frequency chips are the present and future for use in identification cards where security, speed and convenience are important. Because they have security at the heart of their design, physical access is almost always the first application on a campus for the new cards. Virtually impossible to breach, cards and readers are created around an encryption algorithm, or formula, which uses a key to scramble and unscramble card data. The key is a number that is known by the cards and readers and it functions as a constant in the algorithm. This technology prevents any unauthorized access of data during transactions, making high frequency contactless cards far more secure than the mag stripe identification card. As I explained in the previous article, mag stripe cards have no inherent security and are easily cloned. Although mag stripe financial transactions are guaranteed by banks against fraud, there can be no such guarantee when used for physical access. Physical access demands the security provided by the high frequency contactless card.

As with mag stripe and prox cards, contactless cards are most often used to present an identification number to the reader. In payment and physical access systems in North America, the back-end system usually manages all the permissions and record keeping for the cardholder based on the identification number that the reader receives from the card. You present your card to the reader, the card and reader perform the security functions of authenticating to each other and encrypting and decrypting data, and the system recognizes your card number and opens the door because it has been programmed to allow you to enter at this time. If there is another system on campus that requires its own ID number from the card, each number can be stored in a separate application area of the chip memory and secured with an encryption key exclusive to that system. This prevents the physical access control system from reading the ID number for the payment system that is also stored on your card.

Contactless cards are made for a variety of purposes by several manufacturers and can conform to three different ISO standards - 14443, 15693 and 18092. These standards share some attributes, but each has its primary function: 14443 is mostly used for transit fare and payments - Mifare and DESFire cards meet this standard; 15693 has a longer read range and is used for physical access - HID's iCLASS is in this group; and 18092, the new standard for NFC (Near Field Communication) and includes Sony's FeliCa.

Given all these variables - encryption keys, application programming, ISO standards and manufacturers - it can be a bit of a juggling act to make one card access all the applications you would like it to. In some cases, your ability to use contactless cards for other applications will depend on your system provider's willingness to integrate the readers for your cards into their system. If you have systems that can function offline, e.g. laundry and vending, there are readers for those machines that can read stored value from contactless cards. Biometric templates (the identifying numbers derived by a fingerprint or iris scanner) can also be stored on contactless cards, for high security offline access.

Card manufacturers have been hard at work developing cards that successfully combine several technologies, including prox and contactless or two different types of contactless chips in the same card. As you consider the use of contactless cards on your campus, it can help to draw up a schedule of priorities, such as security, convenience, availability and cost.

In future articles I will discuss contactless cards for financial transactions, NFC and contact smart cards for logical access.

About ColorID

ColorID is a leading identification solutions provider to education, government, military, healthcare and other businesses. ColorID product offerings include: ID printers, software and supplies, advanced technology smart contact and contactless cards, biometric iris and finger print readers, pre-printed and blank plastic cards, and ID badge accessories (such as lanyards and card holders). ColorID offers installation, training, re-carding, extended warranties and support services on all the products we offer. ColorID's manufacturing partners include: HID, Fargo, IRIS ID, Datacard, Gemalto, Zebra, NiSCA, Evolis, Magicard, Integrated Biometrics, Oberthur, Privaris and many others. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: www.ColorID.com or email ColorID at support@colorid.com.

ColorID Blog - Advanced Technologies - Considering Contactless Cards

Thu, 1 Apr 2010 11:06:28 GMT

by: David Stallsmith
Senior Product Manager of Advanced Technology Cards

About 40 years ago, the first campus card was used to monitor access to a university dining hall. A few years later, the mag stripe card was introduced to the university campus. Since then, university ID cards have become as important as backpacks and blue jeans on campuses around the world.

One of the challenges for card offices, security, dining services, housing and IT personnel has been to decide which technologies will make their cards most successful and cost-effective on their campus. In the days of mag stripes and bar codes, this question usually answered itself. But now, with a multitude of chips available for cards, both contact and contactless, the decision has become more difficult.

Although ID Cards were first used for meal plans, it wasn't long before they began to be used to open doors (physical access). Following the lead of the hotel industry, the predominant technology used for physical access was the magnetic stripe. Also used widely for credit cards, the magnetic stripe card is fairly inexpensive and easy to program. The swipe readers on the doors around a campus could be in either online or offline mode.

Until recently, the magnetic stripe was considered secure enough for this physical access. Unfortunately, magnetic stripes have no particular inherent security and are very easy to duplicate. This is not considered a problem for the credit cards that we carry every day, because the credit card issuers (Visa, MasterCard) will not require us to pay for unauthorized purchases. This is a guarantee by the issuer and not a result of the security of the magnetic stripe. For the physical safety of the university population however, the magnetic stripe is now known to be insufficient. Recently, a number of universities have found their names in the local or national newspapers after a student had "cloned" the magnetic stripe card of a prominent university official or fellow student, and breached the system.

About 20 years ago, Prox cards with radio frequency IC chips were introduced. Transmitting at 125 KHz, they provided a much higher level of security than magnetic stripes. Not as easy to clone as a magnetic stripe card, Prox cards have become vulnerable to attacks as their technology has aged.

Recently, the Prox chip has been eclipsed by a new radio frequency chip, known as high frequency "contactless smart cards". Though they are used at the door in much the same manner as Prox cards, they operate at 13.56 MHz. Mifare, Legic and HID's iCLASS fall into this category. These chips provide a significantly more secure card-reader interface than the old Prox chips and their readers. Before the transmission of encrypted personal data, there is a challenge-and-response sequence of communications, through which the card and reader verify that each other is trustworthy for this transaction. Data stored on the card is also encrypted. A significant benefit of contactless over magnetic stripe cards is that the cards are not dragged through swipe readers, which is very damaging to the surface of the cards.

As a university considers changing to a card containing one of the newer technology chips, cost is certainly an important factor in the decision. Any card with a chip in it will be more expensive than a plain PVC card or even a mag stripe card. Installing new or replacing existing readers brings with it the costs of new readers and installation. Fortunately, new contactless card readers can often be installed in the place of existing prox or magnetic stripe readers with no significant change to the existing wiring or mounting box. There is a protocol for security wiring called "Wiegand" and it is an industry standard for many different types of readers. As plans are being made to upgrade an infrastructure, looking into the future reveals two new trends in card reader technology: Wireless contactless readers (Wi-Fi - 802.11), which can be installed in locations that are difficult or expensive to reach with wires; and IP-addressable network readers, which can be employed to interface directly with software and replace old control panels.

In future articles, I will discuss the workings of high frequency contactless cards and the new possibilities they bring for campus card use. Learn more about contactless cards here = Advanced Technology Cards, contact us Toll Free 888-682-6567 or email us at Support@colorid.com.

About ColorID

ColorID is a leading identification solutions provider to education, government, military, healthcare and other businesses. ColorID product offerings include: ID printers, software and supplies, advanced technology smart contact and contactless cards, biometric iris and finger print readers, pre-printed and blank plastic cards, and ID badge accessories (such as lanyards and card holders). ColorID offers installation, training, re-carding, extended warranties and support services on all the products we offer. ColorID's manufacturing partners include: HID, Fargo, IRIS ID, Datacard, Gemalto, Zebra, NiSCA, Evolis, Magicard, Integrated Biometrics, Oberthur, Privaris and many others. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: www.ColorID.com or email ColorID at support@colorid.com.

ColorID Blog - News - Visit ColorID at the 2010 GovSec Show

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 13:26:26 GMT

We are excited to announce that ColorID will be exhibiting, for our sixth consecutive year, at the GovSec show in Washington DC, March 23^rd and 24^th. Please drop by and visit ColorID at Booth 1219. ColorID will be featuring the latest equipment in identification systems, advanced mobile verification and biometric systems.

Biometric Systems: IrisID (formerly LG Iris) Products & Technology, Integrated Biometrics, i3 Live Scan Systems, Privaris, and Other biometric devices.
Identification Systems: Including: ID Card Printers (from Fargo, Datacard, Magicard, Nisca and Zebra), ID Software, Capture Devices, and Mobile Verification systems.
Advanced Technology Cards and Systems: Including: HID (iClass, Proximity, Crescendo), Gemalto, Oberthur, Mifare, DESFire, FIPS Compliant Cards, and CAC Cards.
Logical Access Systems: HID (iClass, Proximity, Crescendo), Gemalto and Oberthur.

We look forward to seeing you.

About ColorID

ColorID is a leading identification solutions provider to education, government, military, healthcare and other businesses. ColorID product offerings include: ID printers, software and supplies, advanced technology smart contact and contactless cards, biometric iris and finger print readers, pre-printed and blank plastic cards, and ID badge accessories (such as lanyards and card holders). ColorID offers installation, training, re-carding, extended warranties and support services on all the products we offer. ColorID's manufacturing partners include: HID, Fargo, IRIS ID, Datacard, Gemalto, Zebra, NiSCA, Evolis, Magicard, Integrated Biometrics, Oberthur, Privaris and many others. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: www.ColorID.com or email ColorID at support@colorid.com.

ColorID Blog - News - Visit ColorID at the 2010 ISC West Show

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 13:24:56 GMT

We are excited to announce that ColorID will be exhibiting at the ISC West show in Las Vegas, NV on March 24^th -26^th. Please drop by and visit ColorID at Booth 24029. ColorID will be featuring the latest equipment in identification systems, advanced mobile verification and biometric systems.

Biometric Systems: IrisID (formerly LG Iris) Products & Technology, Integrated Biometrics, i3 Live Scan Systems, Privaris, and Other biometric devices.
Identification Systems: Including: ID Card Printers (from Fargo, Datacard, Magicard, Nisca and Zebra), ID Software, Capture Devices, and Mobile Verification systems.
Advanced Technology Cards and Systems: Including: HID (iClass, Proximity, Crescendo), Gemalto, Oberthur, Mifare, DESFire, FIPS Compliant Cards, and CAC Cards.
Logical Access Systems: HID (iClass, Proximity, Crescendo), Gemalto and Oberthur.

We look forward to seeing you.

About ColorID

ColorID is a leading identification solutions provider to education, government, military, healthcare and other businesses. ColorID product offerings include: ID printers, software and supplies, advanced technology smart contact and contactless cards, biometric iris and finger print readers, pre-printed and blank plastic cards, and ID badge accessories (such as lanyards and card holders). ColorID offers installation, training, re-carding, extended warranties and support services on all the products we offer. ColorID's manufacturing partners include: HID, Fargo, IRIS ID, Datacard, Gemalto, Zebra, NiSCA, Evolis, Magicard, Integrated Biometrics, Oberthur, Privaris and many others. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: www.ColorID.com or email ColorID at support@colorid.com.

ColorID Blog - Product Information - PRIVARIS READER

Fri, 5 Mar 2010 08:44:53 GMT

If you use Proximity or Contactless Smart Cards to secure your Government facility, you may find a new product from ColorID very useful. The PlusID can improve security for highly sensitive areas by adding fingerprint authentication to your Prox credential. The innovative design of this product puts the fingerprint reader on the personal device that the employee carries with them. These are some of the benefits of the PlusID:

Fingerprint Authentication:PlusID is a small biometric device that verifies a person’s identity by using a quick fingerprint scan and then, only after biometric verification, allows the PlusID holder to enter a facility, room, cabinet, or grants access rights to a PC or network.
Enhanced Security:PlusID significantly enhances both your physical and IT security. Now, access to buildings and PCs can be granted after 2 Factor Authentication, Something You Have and Something You Are.
Works with Existing Access Control Systems:PlusID works wherever industry standard Proximity, Contact or Contactless Smart Cards are used. No new hardware, software or middleware is required.
One-Card Solution:One device can replace multiple access cards, fobs and passwords used for access control, PC and or network log on.
Partial Deployment:PlusID can be issued for selected employees or areas in your organization.

If you are interested in learning more about the Privaris PlusID product line, please contact ColorID today.

About ColorID

ColorID is a leading identification solutions provider to education, government, military, healthcare and other businesses. ColorID product offerings include: ID printers, software and supplies, advanced technology smart contact and contactless cards, biometric iris and finger print readers, pre-printed and blank plastic cards, and ID badge accessories (such as lanyards and card holders). ColorID offers installation, training, re-carding, extended warranties and support services on all the products we offer. ColorID's manufacturing partners include: HID, Fargo, IRIS ID, Datacard, Gemalto, Zebra, NiSCA, Evolis, Magicard, Integrated Biometrics, Oberthur, Privaris and many others. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: www.ColorID.com or email ColorID at support@colorid.com.

ColorID Blog - Product Information - Challenges of Printing on Proximity Cards

Fri, 5 Mar 2010 08:26:53 GMT

One of the biggest differences between printing on blank PVC (Mag Stripe) card stock and proximity cards is the cost difference of the cards. Blank card stock may cost less than a dollar per card while Proximity cards average $3 - $8 (depending on options). Mistakes in the printing of Proximity cards can create significant financial losses. In order to protect your investment here are a couple important points you may consider.

Using Proper Proximity Printing Technology

Problem: Most blank card stock is constructed with an even flat surface, however Proximity cards contain an antenna and chip inside each card. Most dye sublimation printers are direct to card printers. The deviation in the Proximity cards surface (from its internal contents) causes the printhead to lose contact with the cards surface. The result may be a loss of printed information. Some ID offices have accepted the end result with direct-to-card printing. However, improved technology is now available to dramatically improve the quality of your Proximity cards.

Solution:Fargo offers an HDP (High Definition Printer) series ID printer specifically designed for printing on Proximity and Smart Cards. The HDP's printhead never touches the cards surface like a direct-to-card printer. The HDP prints onto a ‘transfer film' first and is then transferred to the cards surface and adhered by pressure and heat. If the cards surface is uneven, the film will cover all its deviations. In addition, the print quality is amazing when compared to a direct-to-card printer. Since the printer ribbon is not being fused into the card, its colors are more vibrant, clear and to the edge of each card. In addition, you can help protect your Proximity cards by adding the standard clear or holographic overlaminate to your cards surface. This will minimize fading and seal the card from the elements. The printer cost is only slightly higher than some direct-to-card printers. The decreased number of misprinted cards and better print quality will help pay for itself in the long run. For those needing a better print quality with vibrant colors, we would suggest a High Definition Printer.

Extended Card Life: How to Protect Your Investment

Problem: Proximity cards that are not properly protected may last only 12 – 18 months before experiencing issues such as cracking, loss or fading of variably printed information, etc.

Solutions:

Pre-Printing Proximity Cards:We recommend you lithographically Pre-Print Proximity cards. This will give you a much higher print resolution and more durable card. Overlay (1.5 mil) is used during the Pre-Printing process to protect the static information.
Lamination:Using a lamination (1mil) overlay on your card to protect the variable information (image and data files), coupled with the Pre-Printed solution gives you the optimal protection.

Summary:Yes, it may initially increase your per card production cost by using the above methods. However, in the long run spending a little more in the beginning will ensure you are issuing cards that are properly printed and protected. Following the above recommendations should enable your cards to last 4-5 years under normal wear and tear.

About ColorID

ColorID is a leading identification solutions provider to education, government, military, healthcare and other businesses. ColorID product offerings include: ID printers, software and supplies, advanced technology smart contact and contactless cards, biometric iris and finger print readers, pre-printed and blank plastic cards, and ID badge accessories (such as lanyards and card holders). ColorID offers installation, training, re-carding, extended warranties and support services on all the products we offer. ColorID's manufacturing partners include: HID, Fargo, IRIS ID, Datacard, Gemalto, Zebra, NiSCA, Evolis, Magicard, Integrated Biometrics, Oberthur, Privaris and many others. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: www.ColorID.com or email ColorID at support@colorid.com.

ColorID Blog - Tech Tips - Cleaning Your ID Printer

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 12:45:44 GMT

When was the last time your ID card printer had a thorough cleaning or tune up???

Much like other mechanical devices, regular routine maintenance is critical to keep your ID printer in top shape and to help extend its life cycle. Plastic card printers have moving internal parts that if not maintained and cleaned on a regular basis can become inoperable, causing print issues and ultimately shorten the life of a printer. Proper routine care and maintenance will prolong the life of your ID printer and insure quality printing with each card.

Here are some cleaning tips:

INTERNAL ROLLERS:Clean the internal rollers of your printer with an approved cleaning kit every 1,000 prints or approximately every two ribbon changes.
PRINT ROLLERS:Clean the printers feed roller(s) with a water dampened lint free cloth every ribbon change to ensure proper card feed into the printer.
PRINT HEAD:Clean your printer's print head with an approved thermal printhead cleaning pen with each ribbon change.
BODY OF PRINTER:Clean the outside of your printer with an alcohol cleaning pad included with your cleaning kit.
TUNE-UP:Have your printer professionally tuned up yearly by a Factory Trained Service Technician here at ColorID.
FIELD RETROFITS:Do not attempt printhead replacement or any other printer repairs if you are not qualified to do so. Improper installation or repair can cause serious damage to the printer.

ColorID sells cleaning kits for all makes and models of ID card printers. We also offer a Full Service Printer Tune Up Program. The cost of the Tune Up program is only $249.00 per printer.

Please contact our Government and Industry Marketing team to receive a price quotation for cleaning supplies or to schedule an annual tune-up. We can also provide you with quotations on any of your ID printer needs: lanyards, card holders, printer ribbons, cardstock, HID cardstock, and much more.

About ColorID

ColorID is a leading identification solutions provider to education, government, military, healthcare and other businesses. ColorID product offerings include: ID printers, software and supplies, advanced technology smart contact and contactless cards, biometric iris and finger print readers, pre-printed and blank plastic cards, and ID badge accessories (such as lanyards and card holders). ColorID offers installation, training, re-carding, extended warranties and support services on all the products we offer. ColorID's manufacturing partners include: HID, Fargo, IRIS ID, Datacard, Gemalto, Zebra, NiSCA, Evolis, Magicard, Integrated Biometrics, Oberthur, Privaris and many others. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: www.ColorID.com or email ColorID at support@colorid.com.