The Complete ID Card Home Kit from IDCreator is an affordable solution to printing quality ID cards that look and feel like PVC cards that can be printed with your own home or office printer.
Here is a step-by-step guide of using the Complete ID Card Home Kit to create your own ID Cards:
Step 1: Design
Badge Maker
If you don't have a design for your ID cards, there's no need to worry! IDCreator's Badge Maker is a free, online Photo ID card design tool with hundreds of free design templates that you can quickly modify to fit your needs. You can even insert scannable barcodes, QR Codes or magnetic stripes onto your cards to increase security!
Step 2: Print
Synthetic paper
Print the cards onto a synthetic printing paper. These synthetic papers trap the ink in place, so that when it is laminated it can bind with a butterfly pouch and make an ID card that is identical to the look and feel of a standard PVC card (just like the cards in your wallet). These sheets are available either as a full sheet, or microperforated with 8 ID card-sized punchouts on each sheet.
Microperforated sheets
Using microperforated sheets simplifies the ID making process by eliminating the need for you to cut the cards out by hand, which can be tedious and difficult to perfect. After printing, simply 'punch' each card out of the sheet. You then have perfectly sized and trimmed ID card inserts.
Printer
When using Teslin® synthetic paper you have to make sure you use the correct sheet for your printer. Teslin® Waterproof InkJet is for inkjet printers and Teslin® Thermally Stable is for laser printers. (Using an InkJet Printer achieves higher quality results with pigmented inks.)
Printing guide
If using an IDcreator.com design, they will provide you with a PDF with 8 ID cards that will print perfectly aligned to the microperforated sheets. However, if you are using your own design software, you can simply place your design images into our Microsoft Word placement guide.
Step 3: Laminate
Butterfly laminating pouches
Laminate the printed ID punchout inside of a butterfly laminating pouch. A butterfly pouch is a single piece of premium-plastic that has been scored long-ways down the middle so it can fold together or lay open and flat. Traditionally laminated cards required a border of laminating film in order to secure the paper to the laminate. However, using these special butterfly pouches creates a borderless ID card that is firm, waterproof, and durable.
Standard Glossy or Premium Matte?
There are two types of butterfly pouches available in the ID Card Kits. Standard Glossy pouches are what you would think of as a normal laminate. They are somewhat glossy and reflect light. We also have special-treated Premium Matte pouches which, after lamination, make the card look flat and do not reflect light. If you are trying to mimic the look of PVC cards, Premium Matte pouches are recommended.
7 mil or 10 mil?
A mil is equal to 0.001", so 7 mil is 0.007" thick and 10 mil is .01" thick. A standard ID card is roughly 30 mil thick. For thinner cards, you should use 7 mil butterfly pouches. A 7 mil butterfly pouch adds 14 mils to the card, because the pouch is folded over around your synthetic paper insert, resulting in a 24 mil card. Therefore, this card would be slightly more thin and flexible than a standard 30 mil PVC card. Keep in mind that there are clear adhesive overlays and hologram overlays that can also add thickness to your card.
Step 4: Secure
Security Holograms
Secure your ID cards by adding holographic overlays. Holographic overlays are transparent stickers that can be manually applied on top of your laminated ID cards. They peel off a paper backing and stick on to the card in seconds. They are just slightly smaller than the size of an ID card, allowing you to have a bit of a margin of error when applying.
Ultra-Violet Black Light Ink
For even higher security, UV black light ink should be used. It can be applied through the use of transparant overlays with UV ink embedded in them. Additionally, many of the hologram overlays also include black light ink embedded in them. They can only be seen under a black light. For heightened security environments, UV black light ink is strongly recommended.
Step 5: Encode
QR Codes & Barcodes
Print QR Codes and barcodes easily using the built in QR Code and Barcode creator in the Badge Maker. You can instantly create standard code39 barcodes, two-dimensional PDF417 barcodes, UPC A & UPC-E barcodes, and Data Matrix barcodes. The Badge Maker will also automatically generate QR Codes that include URLs, Vcard for contact information and anything else you may want to be pulled up when the code is scanned.