Not All Badge Printers (or Badges) are Alike
The Pros and Cons of Event Badges and Printers
The world of event planning can be confusing sometimes, due to the abundance of choices. There seems to be as many different kinds of printers as there are different types of name badges flooding the meeting and events market.
The list alone could make your head spin: laser printers, direct thermal printers, ink jet, indirect thermal, laminated badges, standard paper, pressure sensitive badges, thermal badges, folding thermal, folding pressure sensitive and synthetic paper…what printers and what materials will work best for my event? You might have more questions than answers.
For example, what in the world is synthetic paper and why do I need it? Which printer goes with which? Is it possible to print color-coded badges onsite? What’s the most cost effective…what’s the least?? Where do I go for answers?? Can someone please tell me what a Dymo printer is and what I’m supposed to do with it???!
Direct and Indirect Thermal Name Badges Direct thermal badges have been around for many years, but the old Sato and Datamax printers were big and clunky. Now with compact, quick, easy-to-feed label printers from Zebra, Brother and other printer manufacturers, direct thermal badges make good sense for on-demand one-color badge printing.
The downside is thermal badge stock is still more expensive than laser printable paper. And badge holders are still needed. Direct thermal printers cannot print in color onsite, so that means logos and graphics have to be pre-printed. Switching to thermal transfer printers allows for basic color ribbons for printing data or simple logos. However, this system allows for only one color per badge.
Thermal transfer printing uses a wax resin ribbon, which allows the use of synthetic paper materials. Again, with the limitation of printing with a single color ribbon, color graphics have to be pre-printed, and synthetic materials are pricier than regular paper.
The upside is that these style badges were designed to effectively eliminate the need for badge holders. Just attach the lanyard and go! No tearing, creasing or folding. It’s actually a very nice product. Again, most thermal printers will print both direct (heat sensitive material, no ribbon) and thermal transfer (standard paper or synthetic paper, with ribbon).
Materials for thermal printing come in a fanfold or roll configuration Most thermal printers on the market today are made for this type of continuous feed media which allows for one-badge-at-a-time printing ideal for on-site registration badge printing.
Laminated Rigid Badges
The most attractive and somewhat pricier badging solution is the laminated badge. The attraction is easily explainable – large, bold and colorful, with lots of real estate for schedules and sponsor’s graphics. Plus, no badge holders are needed! The challenge is printing the attendee data onsite. Unless you’re a large registration company, printing these badges “on-demand” is next to impossible. This means you’re back to pre-printed, alpha sorted badges, slowing up the check in process and creating long lines at check in.
The easiest solution to laminated badge on-demand onsite badging is to use this badge with a pressure sensitive pocket (badge holder) and then print paper badge inserts from a laser printer. These badges can also be made with preprinted attendee data without the pocket.
Pressure Sensitive Folding Badges
Pressure sensitive, or adhesive backed folding badges have only been around a few years. Primarily designed for use with the Epson ink jet printers, these badges were designed for onsite color printing with data on demand, taking the place of the laminated rigid badge by allowing nice graphics in a continuous feed product. This is also a pricey solution, not only from the cost of the badges, but the ink jet printers are 5 times the cost of a simple thermal or even a color laser printer. Once onsite, you will need a tech-savvy staff or a competent onsite partner to be able to pull this off. One thing you won’t need?…badge holders.
Laser Paper Badges
The most cost-effective solution by far is the laser printed paper badge with a badge holder. It is fast and inexpensive. With the advancement of color laser technology, just a few hundred dollars gets a compact, sturdy printer that allows using blank white paper onsite and producing very nice color logos and color coding. Combine with the newer sustainable plastic badge holders and you have solution that looks great, is efficient at check in, is great for the environment and is the most economical. Also, your onsite printer can be used just as easily in the office, so you won’t have to pack it away to use only in the spring and fall!
Laser Printed Synthetic Badges
A little higher on the price scale, laser printable synthetic badges with no badge holder needed can be printed on-site on a letter size sheet with multiple tear-away badges or as a single feed badge. These badges will not tear, look great and will last well past the last day of the event.
“The grass is always greener” and “keeping up with the Jones’” are two phrases that come to mind when I start analyzing onsite badging options. Sometimes making an impression like with a full color laminated badge is really important. Other times watching the budget takes precedence.
Regardless of your priorities, KLEERTECH® gives you all the options you need to make the right choices.
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