Frequently Asked Questions

Evolis Accessories

• How do I choose which type of blank card I need for my printer?

• I'm a bit confused about choosing the right ribbons for my Evolis printer. What should I know before choosing replacement ribbons?

• I'm looking for a paper shredder, but I'm not sure which one the right for my office shredder for my business. How can I find the best match?

• The lanyards I got from [a competitor] were supposed to be 36” long. Yet, when I measured them, they were only 34” around. How long are your lanyards?

• Why is a Prox Card Holder tighter on the card than regular ID card holders?

• Why should I choose a Vertical-loading Badge Holder over a Horizontal Badge holder? What is the purpose of having two different types?

• What exactly does a card reader do with my magnetic strip ID card?

Evolis Printers

• I am looking for a relatively inexpensive printer for double-sided printing. What is the best option?

• What is MiFare encoding?

• What is the biggest issue to consider when choosing a printer?

• What does a card feeder do? How does it affect my ID card printing?

• Can I print contactless "smart cards" relatively easily, or does this require special training?

• How do Evolis Genuine Ribbons benefit my Evolis Printer? Why shouldn't I buy other card printer ribbons?

• How does the Tattoo Rewrite work without ribbons?

• What is the difference between Evolis printers and other ID card printers?

Evolis Time Expiring Badges

• What are time-expiring badges, and what is their purpose?

• How are your one-day visitor passes able to change color?

How do I choose which type of blank card I need for my printer?

You need to see what type of cards your ID card printer will accept. Most every Evolis printer will print on PET or PVC cards, and some printers, like the Tattoo Rewrite, can print and rewrite on our special rewriteable blank PVC cards.

You should also consider choosing the right card thickness for the type of card printing you will need. For long-term use, our 30 mil PVC cards are a durable choice that can last through normal wear-and-tear.

For more economical cards that are better for temporary use, such as conferences and events, use 10 mil cards. We also offer magstripe cards that are ready-to-print, for security and fast identification.

Top

I'm a bit confused about choosing the right ribbons for my Evolis printer. What should I know before choosing replacement ribbons?

First, you already made a smart choice by seeking genuine Evolis accessories for your Evolis printer. This will maximize the quality and extend the life of your printer.

Secondly, all of our ribbons are organized so that you can find the right ribbons that are compliant with your specific printer. There are many ribbons that are specific to particular printers. A YMCKO ribbon is a color ribbon, where you will see yellow, magenta, cyan, black, and overlay panels. A YMCKOK ribbon has a sixth black resin panel that is specifically for dual-sided printing. Half-panel ribbons offer the same colors, but their panels are half the size. Currently, Evolis is the only company that provides this economical alternative to full-panel ribbons, and these are ideal for semi-custom, quick prints.

Top

I'm looking for a paper shredder, but I'm not sure which one the right for my office shredder for my business. How can I find the best match?

We carry a wide selection of Dahle office and personal shredders, so the search for a shredder can be overwhelming at times. Our shredders are organized based on the capacity of the shredder, and the types of material they are able to shred, and the security level of the printer. The security level is a range of 1-6, level 6 having the NSA/CSS 02-01 specification set by DoD for the secure destruction of Classified though Top Secret COMSEC documents. Explore our printer specifications to see which printer meets your needs best.

The lanyards I got from [a competitor] were supposed to be 36” long. Yet, when I measured them, they were only 34” around. How long are your lanyards?

Yes, there is quite a bit of confusion (and, dare I say “exaggeration”) about lanyard length. In manufacturing lanyards, we start with 36” long material. Then, depending on what type of attachment is used, the finished length can vary from 30-35”. In actuality, almost of the standard lanyards average about 34” to 35” in length. Any lanyard that is over 30” long fits well.

Top

Why is a Prox Card Holder tighter on the card than regular ID card holders?

Prox Cards fit more snugly into their Prox Card Holders because Prox Cards can generally be left inside the holder when used. In other words, you don't have to remove your Prox Card often, so we make it less likely to fall out of your holder. Simple as that.

Top

Why should I choose a Vertical-loading Badge Holder over a Horizontal Badge holder? What is the purpose of having two different types?

We offer both vertical and horizontal loading badges to accommodate both portrait and landscape-designed ID badges. Choose a vertical, top-loading badge holder for a portrait design, or a horizontal badge holder for a landscape design.

Top

What exactly does a card reader do with my magnetic strip ID card?

The magnetic strip on your magnetic ID card has three different tracks for storing data. These three tracks can be used to store different kinds of data, based on the function of the card (bank cards, credit cards, etc.).

When your card is swiped through an electronic card reader, the reader identifies the card number or identification code, and the necessary information (balance, limits) it needs to process the transaction. If the magnetic strip becomes scratched, dirty or demagnetized (sometimes other magnetic cards can cause yours to demagnetize), the card may not function properly.

Top

I am looking for a relatively inexpensive printer for double-sided printing. What is the best option?

The Dualys3 Basic is the most user-friendly model for double-sided printing. The Dualys3 offers exceptional quality prints and high-speed printing, for both single and double-sided prints.

Top

What is MiFare encoding?

MiFare is a special name for contactless ID cards, which have a small memory chip inside them that allows each card to "talk" to a card reader and authorize the card. This technology is used in smart cards around the world.

You may also see the DESFire platform mentioned, which is a microprocessor based on a similar core as MIFARE, but with more hardware and software security features than the standard MIFARE Classic chips. The card is based on a 8051 processor with 3DES and AES crypto accelerator, for exceptionally quick transactions.

Top

What is the biggest issue to consider when choosing a printer?

There are many issues to consider before you choose a printer, and the most important is knowing exactly how you'll be using your printer. Is it for a school or university? Is it for a secure organization? Is it for one-at-a-time company IDs?

All of our Evolis printers are designed for particular needs. Our Securion model, for example, is specially designed for secure laminated ID printing, ideal for large, high-security facilities that may require unique holograms or special card protection. The Quantum is built for high-speed bulk printing, which is great for a large-scale organization that can benefit from fast, simple ID card prints.

If you are a smaller organization, our best-selling Pebble4 is a user-friendly option for high-quality single-sided prints. Take a look at our specs for more information, and consider exactly what you want out of your ID card printer.

Top

What does a card feeder do? How does it affect my ID card printing?

There are a few different types of card feeders, but you will mainly see automatic card feeders and manual card feeders that come standard with Evolis printers.

Automatic card feeders make it easy to make bulk ID prints without manually feeding each card through your printer. Quantum, for example, has large automatic card feeders that can hold and feed hundreds of cards at a time. Manual card feeders allow you to make custom prints one-at-a-time for smaller, unique batches.

Top

Can I print contactless "smart cards" relatively easily, or does this require special training?

You can print smart cards quickly and easily with a smart card-enabled printer! Our easy-to-use Pebble4 has smart card capabilities, and easily links up with your PC or Mac so that you can design and assign your own smart card series. You can choose the smart card, contactless encoding option with any one of our ID card printers. Be sure to buy blank contactless cards for printing.

Top

How do Evolis Genuine Ribbons benefit my Evolis Printer? Why shouldn't I buy other card printer ribbons?

There is good reason why we recommend Evolis Genuine Ribbons for your Evolis printer. Not only are our ribbons designed especially for particular Evolis models, but every ribbon is quality-tested before shipping, so you know you aren't just getting a good printer ribbon or laminate, you're getting the best.

We also offer the widest range of hologram, BlackWAX and scratch-off ribbons, as well as patches and laminates for all of your printing needs.

Top

How does the Tattoo Rewrite work without ribbons?

Unlike our other Evolis Printers, the Tattoo Rewrite does not personalize ID badges through the use of a color ribbon, but by activating a thermal sensitive foil within the card itself. These rewritable cards usually have a colored foil (blue or black) inside of the card. These cards can be repeatedly personalized, erased and rewritten by using the thermal transfer process.

Top

What is the difference between Evolis printers and other ID card printers?

While many other ID card printers have the same capabilities as Evolis, we take pride in what sets us apart from other ID badge printing brands.

Unlike any warranty in the business, every Evolis badge printer comes with a one to three year warranty, depending on the model.

Evolis printers offer the most user-friendly and attractive body and interface, for a printer that can be as fun as it is functional.
You will hardly ever see an Evolis product under repair, because of our exceptionally durable, well-made card printers. If your printer does require repair, however, our one-of-a-kind loaner program lets you borrow a loaner printer, so that you never have to go without ID card printing capabilities in your organization.

Top

What are time-expiring badges, and what is their purpose?

Every time-expiring badge is a one-piece construction that is easy for any front desk staff to use. No assembly or visual alignment is required - just look for the VOID marker to know your badge has expired.

The time-expiring badge changes color to show that it is no longer valid to prevent future unauthorized reuse. This added level of security is great for secure facilities with frequent visitors or events.

Top

How are your one-day visitor passes able to change color?

A small, timed chemical reaction begins when you pull the foldable tab to the back of the badge. After 6-8 hours, a slight pink image of the word "VOID" will begin to show. A darker pink image will be complete after 24 hours. The chemical reaction cannot be reversed, so this product is tamper-proof and easy to recognize.

Top