FAQs

What is the difference between "blank" product and "blank" other product 

My print queue is stuck, and nothing happens when I click "print", how can I reset the queue?  

What is the difference between DTC and HDP Printers?

Cards

Can I Order My ID Cards with the Slot Pre-punched?

Of course you can order your ID cards pre-punched! While there are a variety of both manual handheld and electric desktop slot punches available, if you have a manual slot hole punch with hundreds of cards to issue, you will quickly tire of this tedious task.

Another frequent problem that occurs is manually punching slots in the wrong location on the card, an expensive and easily avoidable mistake.

It’s important to understand a sizeable caveat when it comes to ordering your cards pre-punched:  if you are using a direct-to-card printer, you run the risk of damaging the printhead inside your ID card printer. This can occur when the printhead touches the pre-punched card while it’s going through the printer. When the printhead comes into contact with the edges of the pre-punched void in the card, you run the very likely risk of damaging the pixels on your printhead.Example of White Line on ID Card

These now defective pixel(s) can no longer apply the ribbon to the card’s surface in that area. And that equates to an imperfect card with an annoying white line through it, disrupting your beautiful card design.

Plus, once you ruin your printhead, a replacement of this critical component of your printer will generally cost between $500-800 (or more).

Is there any way to avoid this problem? There is. Consider making the move from a direct-to-card printer to a retransfer card printer (also called a “reverse transfer printer”). With the direct-to-card printing process, images are printed directly onto the card’s surface.

With the retransfer printing technique, images are applied onto the underside of a clear film that is fused with heated rollers directly onto the card’s surface, so the printhead never even touches the card and in doing so eliminates the potential damage to the printhead. Not only will the images and text on your card be more vibrant and crisp, but cards printed with a retransfer printer are more durable and more secure. This is because the film acts as a buffer from everyday wear and tear.

In addition, the technology in retransfer ID card printers offers more flexibility, because you can print on more types of cards, including proximity cards, smart cards, key tags, and – you guessed it – pre-punched cards!

We offer the latest, most advanced and widely used retransfer printer brands and models, including:

  • Fargo HDP5000
  • Magicard Prima 4
  • Zebra ZXP Series 8
How do I know which proximity card I need?

If you have ordered cards in the past for your access control system, the easiest method for purchasing new cards would be to look at the information on your previous box of cards. We require your format, facility code, and range. You may need to look in your access control system in order to see the next available range, to avoid any overlap of issued numbers.

If you have not ordered cards for your access control system, just give us a call! We will be more than happy to help you. 1.866.458.6999

Can I print on my door access cards?

Yes, but depends on the style of card that you have.

If you are using 'isoProx' proximity cards (pictured below) you can print directly onto your card

If you are using 'Clamshell' proximity cards (pictured below) you will need to purchase adhesive-backed cards (which basically works as a PVC sticker) in order to apply your print onto your proximity card.

When Should You Slot Punch Your ID Cards?

Slot Punch for ID Cards If you’re considering slot punching your photo ID cards before you begin printing them, DON'T

Pre-punching ID cards makes the surface of the cards uneven and can damage your printer’s sensitive printhead. 

If you slot punch an ID card and then feed it through your ID card printer, you may leave a small sliver of plastic behind. 

That small sliver of plastic could result in a whole lot of damage. 

It could potentially puncture a hole in one of the heat elements on the printhead. 

Damaged printheads mean disappointing results. 

If your printhead becomes damaged by foreign matter (like the sliver of plastic), it could produce distorted and poor-quality images on your cards. 

It's also very costly to replace a damaged printhead. Slot punching your photo ID cards after they have been printed will ensure high-quality results. 

In addition, you'll be extending the longevity of your ID card printer. 

If you need a slot punch, Avon Security offers a variety of slot punching options to accommodate your unique needs. https://www.avonsecurityproducts.com/products/3-in-1-slot-punch.html

If you need to fasten your photo ID card to a lanyard or badge reel, but you need an alternative to slot punching your ID card, consider using badge grippers to secure your ID cards.

Badge holders can be used to secure your ID cards while providing the cards with an extra layer of protection. The more commonly used badge holders are clear and flexible and can be affixed to a badge reel or lanyard. 

Placing Orders with Avon

What is Avon's Return Policy?

30 Day Money Back Guarantee

- We want you to be happy with every purchase. If for any reason, you are not completely satisfied with your purchase you can return it to us within 30 days for a full refund, including your original shipping and handling charges.
Unfortunately, we cannot offer a Money Back Guarantee on open, used, custom made items, special orders, or any printers that are outfitted with upgrades.

What are my payment options?

At Avon Security, all first orders must be payed by credit card, we accept

Cards Accepted 

If you wish to be put on terms after your first order, please contact us and we will send you a credit application!

My organization is tax-exempt, what do I need to do?

If you are tax-exempt, please specify in your order details. We will also need a copy of your tax-exempt form, please contact us to submit this document.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us: 1.866.458.6999

How do I create an account?

It's easy! Just go to our account creation page, under New User  you will provide your NameEmail, and Password - your email will become your login username. 

If you run into any problems or need additional help please do not hesitate to call us! 1.866.458.6999

Printer Repair & Tune-up

I am getting subpar results from my printer, do you offer any kind of tune-up service?

There is a White Line On My Card

How Do I Fix the White Line on My ID Card?

How Do I Fix the White Line on My ID Card?

Do you see a white line or multiple white lines along the length of your ID card? If yes, then it’s pretty safe to assume there is a problem with your printhead. When a group of cards is printed using a printer with a damaged printhead, the white line will appear in the same location on each card.

But how do you fix the white line on your ID cards? Well,  most likely you will need to replace the printhead. However, before having your printhead replaced, clean the printer to see if that resolves the issue.

If the white line on your cards remains after cleaning the printer, then a new printhead will be required. Most printheads typically cost between $500 and $1000. If your ID card printer is out of warranty, it may be time to consider buying a new printer. Oftentimes it makes more sense to invest in a new printer than replacing parts on an old machine that is out of warranty. If your printer is under the original warranty, you may be able to get the printhead replaced by the manufacturer. Our technical support team can help you verify your printer warranty and assist you with this process.

Either way, it is important to protect your investment in the new printhead or new printer. Dust, debris, and oil from your skin can cause printhead problems. These steps are important to maximizing the life of the printhead:

1. Clean often

 Properly maintain your printer by cleaning it regularly. As a general rule, it’s a good idea to get in the habit of cleaning your printer every time you install a new ribbon. The combination of a printer cleaning kit and routine cleanings with help ensure optimal image quality and a longer life for your ID card printer.

2.  Remove jewelry

If you are planning to open the printer cover for any reason, remove all jewelry from your hands and wrists. Printheads are fragile and they are easy to accidentally bump with a watch or ring. Here’s an example of a printhead that was unintentionally damaged by jewelry:

Example of a Damaged Printhead

3. Handle unprinted cards with care

Wash your hands before opening and loading cards into the printer. Touch the cards on the edges or sides (not on the top or bottom surfaces that get printed). If you accidentally drop an unprinted card on the floor, throw it away. Don’t try to clean it and do not put it into the printer.

4. Always use graphic-quality cards

These high-quality cards are visually inspected, which ensures the card is clean when it is packaged by the manufacturer. Keep the shrink wrap on the cards until they are loaded into the printer.

5. Cover your printer

If your printer sits for extended periods of time without being used, use a dust cover to prevent dust and other debris from accumulating inside the printer.

6. Never use pre-punched cards or perforated cards like key tag

Protect your printhead by punching a hole in the card after the printing is completed. If your application requires a pre-punched or perforated card, do yourself and your company a favor and purchase an HDP Printer.

Following the steps above to protect your printhead and keep your printer clean will not only prevent white lines on your printed ID cards, it will help prolong the life of your printer. At Avon Security Products, we work to educate our customers to help them get the most out of their printer. For additional help or to learn more, call 1-866-458-6999.

Printer Supplies

How do I know what supplies to order for my printer?

If you know the printer brand (ex: 'Fargo') and model (ex: 'HDP5000'), you can easily use our supply finder to locate the right supplies for you!

Should you have any questions, issues, or need help, please do not hesitate to call us! 1.866.458.6999

What will the cost per card be when it comes to printing supplies?

On average, the cost per single sided print is about $.40 - $.60, depending on the brand and model of the printer.

Know what brand printer and model printer you have?
You can find your ribbon by using our supply finder, or give us a call at 1.866.458.6999, we will be more than happy to help!

Printers and Systems

Can I print on both sides of my cards with a single-sided printer?

Technically yes, you can print one side of your cards with a single-sided ID card printer, load them back into your card hopper, and send them through your printer again to print the other side.

However, it’s not recommended because:

- Damage to a printhead from this type of nonstandard use may void printer warranty coverage.
- When you handle your cards after printing them, the cards will collect dust and debris from the air and oils from your hands. These contaminates can result in costly printhead damage.
- It’s time consuming.

What makes a System a One-Box solution?

We offer bundles that includes:

ID Card Printer

Software

Ribbon

Webcam

Blank White PVC Cards

This ensures that you will have everything you need to get started cards right away.

Single Sided vs Dual Sided, which is right for me?

Single-sided photo ID printers print on one side of your card in one pass. Most single-sided ID badge printers are lightweight and compact in size, making them ideal for any workstation.

Is it right for me?

Single-sided card printers work well for those needing basic ID cards with limited cardholder information (cards with only the employee name, photo, and company logo, for example).

TIP: Some single-sided ID badge printers can be upgraded to two-sided card printing as your needs change. So if your needs may change in the future, opt for a printer that is upgradeable! 

Dual-sided ID badge printers (aka, duplex printers) print to both sides of your card in one pass, eliminating the time consuming process of manually flipping your cards. They also help prevent smudging your cards or damaging your printhead from unnecessary handling.

Is it right for me?

Choose a dual-sided printer if you want the front of your cards to remain clean and uncluttered. Printing some of your cardholder info on the back of your cards will keep the front of your cards looking their best! Dual-sided printers allow you to add additional information to your cards, such as:

- Additional Card Holder Data: birth date, contact info, etc.
- Schedule/Calendar: listing of upcoming events, sales, activities, holidays, etc.
- Rewards/Membership: program requirements, contact information, expiration date
- Disclaimer/Lost Card: property information, how to return a lost card

TIP: Another way to use dual-sided printers is to print your card design on both sides of your card. That way, no matter which way the card is turned, the ID is always visible.

What is the average life of a PVC card printer?

With the proper maintenance and cleaning, (which we suggest you do with every ribbon change) you can expect your printer to last you 7 - 10 years.

Printing

Most efficient way to send print jobs to this printer? Is it recommended to have a computer hooked up to the printer?

It can be hooked up through USB to a single PC (like a desktop paper printer) or it can be installed onto your network so multiple PC's can print to it. Most of our customers simply hook up the printer to a single PC and designate that as their ID Card Machine, which makes it easier to control what is being printed to the printer.

Software

What software should I use with my printer?

We here at Avon Security are consistently striving to provide the best and easiest products for our customers.

After thorough research, we have found that cardPresso provides utility while maintaining a sleek and easy-to-use user interface; and we are proud to say they still remain the best choice to this day.

Experience the difference with cardPresso

Download cardPresso Trial

What does the software allow a user to do? Is this what you use to format the card images/print templates?

The software (CardPresso) is a design program (like Photoshop, GIMP or Illustrator) that is focused on designing ID cards/artwork specifically for ID use. It allows you to start from a blank card and add artwork, text, photos, barcodes, banners, etc.

We have seen YouTube videos for card printing itself. Are there videos on setting up templates?

Yes there are, CardPresso has produced and released a ton of videos in regards to how to use their software.

 https://www.avonsecurityproducts.com/learning-center/software/cardpresso-video-tutorials.html

How is it that the printer can integrate photos onto the cards for use on ID’s?

CardPresso has a database feature that allows the user to put in information like names, photos, ID numbers, dates, etc. that is specific for each person. By simply adding a person's photo to the database, CardPresso can print it on the ID card.

My PC won't detect my printer. Is it suddenly broken/DOA?

Chances are no, probably not. 

Normally when you plug something into your computer's usb port, Windows will automatically detect what the device is, and download/install the software (drivers) it needs to communicate with what you just plugged in (usb drive, mouse, webcam, etc). This is a feature Windows calls "Plug and Play" and it has been a part of windows for almost as long as computers have had usb ports.

Most card printers however are not compatible with Plug and Play, and so the driver software must be downloaded and installed manually. You can find drivers on our downloads page: https://www.avonsecurityproducts.com/sections/downloads.html

When installing drivers for your new printer, you must wait to connect the printer to the computer, as Windows Plug and Play will try to install the printer, but will fail and the printer will not work. If this happens, you must completely remove the driver, unplug the usb cable, and reboot your PC. If you are reinstalling your driver, you must also completely remove the driver, unplug the usb, reboot, and then reinstall the driver, making sure to wait to plug in the usb until prompted by the driver installer. 

My Printer was working yesterday, suddenly its not being detected. What happened?

Windows versions as far back as Windows 7 ( including Windows 7, 8, 8.1, & 10) have included a feature called Power Management with the goal of saving power, especially in laptops where battery life really matters. This feature saves power by shutting off idle usb ports after a certain amount of time. Your card printer cannot communicate with a PC if its usb ports are turned off, so it doesn't get detected as a connected printer.

In order to fix this, you can unplug and replug the printer's usb cable, reboot the computer, or turn off the feature entirely. You can do this by changing your power plan settings under Power Options in your Control Panel, or manually by using Windows device manager to find your usb ports, and uncheck the box listed in the power management tab under each driver properties window.

My Cardpresso License is not being detected

Is cardpresso not detecting your USB License? Do you get a warning message when you plug in the USB? Don't panic! Your USB drive is more than likely still working correctly. Please see here for an explanation, and step by step instructions with pictures how to fix it!