Free Shipping | Best Selection | Lifetime Support

Spring back and save up to $150 through May 28th $25 off orders $250+ with code SPRINGBACK25 | $75 off orders $500+ with code SPRINGBACK75 | $150 off orders $1,000+ with code SPRINGBACK150
Free Shipping
on orders over $99

The Complete ID
Printer Buyer's Guide

This guide walks you through all the important considerations you'll need to know when selecting an ID card printer.

  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *

This form collects contact data so we can create your account to process orders. You may also receive email communications that share special offers and helpful tips. You may unsubscribe from non-operational emails at any time. See our Privacy Policy.

Thank You For Requesting Your Free Buyer's Guide!

Click the button to download your free copy.

Download the Guide
Absolutely Free!

Need Help Finding What You Need?

Get fast answers from an ID expert

GET HELPLET US HELP

Hi-Co, Lo-Co

Browse By

Filter

Category
  1. ID Card Encoding (5)
  2. Company ID Badges (24)
  3. Picture ID Card (33)
  4. ID Card Security (1)
  5. Biometric Uses (0)
  6. Badge Software (4)
  7. Green ID (4)
  8. Picture ID Card Systems (32)
  9. ID Card Holder (6)
  10. Photo IDs (33)
  11. ID Badges (33)
  12. Identity Cards (33)
  13. Police ID Card (17)
  14. Technology Encoded Features (0)
  15. PVC ID Cards (32)
  16. Photo ID Badges (32)
  17. Employee ID Badges (32)
  18. Office Identity Cards (32)
  19. How HID Access Control Works (0)
  20. ID Badge Software (4)
  21. Membership Card Maker (16)
  22. Employee Identification Badges (32)
  23. School Identity Cards (32)
  24. School ID Cards & Badges (5)
  25. Membership Card Printer (4)
  26. School ID Badges (1)
  27. Plastic Card Sizes (0)
  28. Membership Cards with Zebra Eltron Plastic Card Printers (5)
  29. How to Design a Photo ID (1)
  30. ID Card Programs for Access Control (1)
  31. Printing HID Cards (0)
  32. Library Card Makers (1)
  33. Hi-Co, Lo-Co (1)
  34. Other ID Card Dimensions (0)
  35. HID iClass Card Features (0)
  36. Biometric License (0)
  37. Visual Security on ID Cards (27)
  38. Biometric Passports (0)
  39. Proximity Technology and Mass Transit (1)
  40. Technology Comparisons (0)
  41. How to Create an ID Card Program (1)
  42. HID iClass Readers (0)
  43. Employee ID Badge System (1)
  44. Card Stock Care (0)
  45. ID Card (2)
  46. Printing & Design (1)
  47. Applications (1)
  48. Club Identity Cards (1)
  49. Plastic Library Cards (1)
  50. Employee ID Card Resources (1)
  51. Biometrics (0)
  52. Photo Identification (1)
  53. Single-Sided Cards (1)
  54. Plastic Card (1)
  55. About Biometrics (0)
  56. Library Access Control Card (3)
  57. Technology of Single-Sided Cards (1)
  58. College Library Cards (1)
  59. Public Library Cards (1)
  60. Key Cards for Access Control (0)
  61. HDP Cards (0)

Hi-Co, Lo-Co

Hi-Co, Lo-Co

ID System Selector  Find the right ID System for you with just a few clicks.GO
Printer Selector  Find the right ID System for you with just a few clicks.GO

Supply Finder
QUICK TOOL

GO
$%0 Off Custom Lanyards
Get up to $400 Back WHEN YOU TRADE IN AN OLD PRINTER See Full Details

Hi-Co, Lo-Co

Plastic ID Cards

Hi-Co, Lo-Co

Coercivity is a measurement of the amount of energy it takes to change the polarity of a magnetic field. Since information on magnetic stripes is stored as a pattern of positive or negative magnetic fields, coercivity also becomes a measure of how long an ID Card’s magnetic stripe can retain the information that has been encoded within it.


Oersteads (Oe) are the units used to measure coercivity. Low coercivity is defined as 0-300 Oe. High coercivity is 300-3000 Oe. Hi-Co ID badges are actually encoded at a level of 2750 Oe.


Because it takes a stronger magnet to change its unique pattern of magnetic fields, information stored within a hi-co magnetic strip will not be degraded as quickly as information stored on a low-co magnetic strip.


In other words: hi-co ID cards work longer than lo-co ID cards.


Of course, they also cost more.


Culprits responsible for erasing information from identification badges include refrigerator magnets and demagnetizers used by stores to prevent shoplifting. Low-coercivity stripes on ID cards are usually brown, high-co stripes black. ID card printer lines made by Fargo that print and encode magnetic stripe ID cards include the DTC, Pro-L, and HDP.


ID badge printers are usually marketed in both a standard version – which is unable to encode magnetic stripes - and a version that has a magnetic stripe encoder built into it. Some manufacturers of ID card systems, realizing that client needs can change, sell ID card printers that can have encoder modules added to them later.

Not sure how to choose
an ID card printer?

  1. Approximately how many cards
    will you print per year?
  1. Do you need to automatically
    print on both sides of the card?
  1. Do you need a magnetic stripe?
Buyer's Guide to ID Card Printers

The Complete Card
Printer Buyer's Guide

With such a wide range of ID printers, evaluating the options can be overwhelming. This FREE 7-step guide will walk you through choosing the perfect card printer.

Get Help from an ID Expert

How many ID cards do you want to print per year?

Get Recommendations
or call
Free Lifetime Email Support On All Orders Over $99 5 star Customer
Rating
Address: 17858 SW Upper Boones Ferry Rd. Portland, OR 97224 Fax: (503) 597-0907 Phone:
McAfee SECURE sites help keep you safe from identity theft, credit card fraud, spyware, spam, viruses and online scams
Copyright © 2024 AlphaCard. All rights reserved.
Free Lifetime Email Support On All Orders Over $99 5 star Customer Rating

Why Shop AlphaCard

17858 SW Upper Boones Ferry Rd. Portland, OR 97224 Fax: (503) 597-0907   Phone:
McAfee SECURE sites help keep you safe from identity theft, credit card fraud, spyware, spam, viruses and online scams
Version Español

AlphaCard uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our site. To consent, please continue shopping. Visit our privacy policy page to learn more.