Entrust Datacard Models DSE, DS1, and DS2 vs. Fargo and Zebra: Why Canada’s Exclusive ID Card Printer Stacks Up

Key Takeaways

• Choose an ID card printer based on workflow, not just specs.
• Compare print speed, hopper capacity, resolution, and security features.
• Match Entrust Datacard models DSE, DS1, or DS2 FARGO, or Zebra to your card issuance needs.
• Consider software, supplies, and long-term cost of ownership.
• The right printer supports efficient, secure, and reliable card printing.

It’s easy to compare ID card printers by looking at print speed, resolution, and price. Those specifications matter, but they don’t always tell you which printer will work best for your organization.

Start with how you actually issue cards. Card issuance volume, security requirements, encoding needs, and budget can all change what you need from a printer. A small business printing employee badges as needed has very different requirements from a university issuing hundreds of student cards during registration.

The right ID card printer is the one that fits your workflow, not simply the model with the biggest numbers on its specification sheet.

Choosing the Right Printer for Your Workflow

Comparing specifications is a good starting point, but the best printer for your organization comes down to how those features fit into your day-to-day workflow. Print volume, operating costs, and security requirements all affect which capabilities will actually make a difference.

Matching Equipment to Issuance Volume

Card issuance volume can quickly change what you need from a printer. An office producing a few employee or visitor badges each week may never need high-volume capabilities, while a hospital, manufacturing facility, or large corporate campus can have hundreds of credentials moving through the system.

In those busier environments, print speed matters, but so do card capacity, reliable feeding, and fewer interruptions between batches. A larger hopper, for example, may not seem important until someone has to continually stop a print run to reload cards.

With a large selection of ID card printer models, Avon Security Products can help narrow down the options based on how many cards you print, how often you print them, and where the system needs to perform. Whether that leads to Entrust Datacard printer models DSE, DS1, or DS2, FARGO, Zebra, or another model, the focus is on finding a printer with the right capacity and performance for your actual workload, without paying for capabilities you won’t use.

Balancing Cost and Efficiency

The purchase price is only one part of your printer budget. Ribbons, cards, cleaning supplies, and maintenance continue throughout the life of the printer, so they should be part of the comparison from the beginning.

Your printing requirements also affect those costs. Producing straightforward monochrome cards is different from regularly printing full-colour cards with photographs, logos, and detailed graphics. The more you print, the more important ribbon yield, supply availability, and efficient day-to-day operation become.

Organizations can gain better value by following long-term asset lifecycle evaluations to analyze the total cost of ownership, which reveals that cheaper upfront options often carry significantly higher operational upkeep burdens over time. A lower upfront price can be appealing, but value is really about what the printer costs to keep running, and whether you’re paying for features and capacity your organization will actually use.

Factoring in Security Requirements

Security is easy to associate with the finished credential, but it starts before the card reaches the printer. Names, photographs, employee numbers, and other cardholder data have to move from your software to the device every time a card is produced.

That makes printer and data security features worth examining, particularly for organizations handling sensitive employee or cardholder information. Features such as secure boot, host authentication, and data encryption help protect different parts of that process, from verifying the printer’s operating environment to securing the data being sent for printing.

Entrust Datacard (formerly Entrust Sigma), FARGO, and Zebra each approach printer security somewhat differently. The important part is understanding what those protections do and matching them to your organization’s security requirements, rather than assuming every professional ID card printer provides the same level of protection.

Printer Specifications: System Capabilities and Performance Metrics

Evaluating data sheets can be challenging when manufacturer terms differ, but comparing these baseline metrics side-by-side clarifies how each machine handles actual production runs. The table below breaks down the structural differences between these platforms, mapping out raw print speeds, chassis capacities, network security protocols, and field-upgrade modules.

Printer System Capabilities and Performance Comparison

What it means for your site	Entrust Datacard DSE	Entrust Datacard DS1	Entrust Datacard DS2	Zebra ZC350	HID FARGO DTC1500	Where it matters
Printing technology	Direct-to-card dye sublimation	Direct-to-card dye sublimation	Direct-to-card dye sublimation	Direct-to-card dye sublimation	Direct-to-card dye sublimation	Photo ID badges printed straight onto the card, with no retransfer film to buy
Printing sides	Single-sided, or dual-sided model	Single-sided only	Single-sided or dual-sided	Single-sided or dual-sided	Single-sided or dual-sided	Badges that need a barcode, instructions or return details on the back
Colour print speed	Up to 185 cards/hour single-sided	Up to 175 cards/hour	Up to 225 cards/hour single-sided; up to 140 dual-sided	Up to 225 cards/hour single-sided; up to 150 dual-sided	Up to 225 cards/hour single-sided (YMCKO); up to 150 dual-sided (YMCKOK)	Issuing large batches before a semester, intake or shift change
Monochrome print speed	Up to 750 cards/hour	Up to 660 cards/hour	Up to 880 cards/hour	Up to 1,000 cards/hour single-sided; up to 500 dual-sided	Up to 600 cards/hour	Text-only cards such as visitor or contractor passes
Print resolution	300 dpi (300 x 600 and 300 x 1200 modes)	300 dpi (300 x 600 and 300 x 1200 modes)	300 dpi (300 x 600 and 300 x 1200 modes)	300 dpi	300 dpi (300 x 600 optimized mode)	Fine text, logos and photos on employee badges
Input hopper	100 cards	125 cards	125 cards	100 cards	100 cards	How often staff reload card stock during a print run
Output hopper	25 cards	25 cards	25 cards, plus a 10-card reject hopper	100 cards	100 cards	Unattended batch printing at a front desk or HR office
Card thickness	From 0.024 in	0.010 to 0.040 in	0.010 to 0.040 in (CR80 and CR79)	0.010 to 0.040 in (CR80 and CR79)	0.009 to 0.040 in (CR80 and CR79 adhesive-back)	Matching your blank card stock to the printer before ordering cards
Connectivity	USB (single-sided); USB and Ethernet (dual-sided)	USB; Wi-Fi optional	USB and Ethernet; Wi-Fi optional	USB and Ethernet; Wi-Fi optional	USB and Ethernet with internal print server	Sharing one printer across a department or printing from another room
Encoding options	Magnetic stripe (ISO 7811); contact and contactless smart card	Magnetic stripe (ISO 7811); contact and contactless smart card	Magnetic stripe (ISO 7811); contact and contactless smart card	Magnetic stripe (ISO 7811); contactless MIFARE (ISO 14443 A/B)	Magnetic stripe; 125 kHz prox reader; 13.56 MHz iCLASS, MIFARE, ISO 14443 A/B and ISO 15693; contact smart card	Cards that also work as access, time-clock or cafeteria credentials
Lamination	Not offered	Not offered	Optional inline lamination module	Not offered	Optional lamination module	Longer-lasting badges in high-wear settings
Data security	Secure Boot; TLS-encrypted printer connection; no customer data stored after printing	Secure Boot; TPM-protected TLS certificate (TLS 1.2 or 1.3); no customer data stored after printing	Secure Boot; TPM-protected TLS certificate (TLS 1.2 or 1.3)	Host authentication; data encryption; Kensington lock slot	Password-protected operation; AES-256 data encryption; resin scramble; custom watermark overlay	IT teams that review every device on the network
Warranty	2 years	36 months (printer and printhead)	36 months (printer and printhead)	3 years (printer and printhead)	3 years (printer and printhead)	Planning maintenance and replacement budgets

Reviewing these system capabilities helps you choose a hardware configuration that matches your daily issuance volume, building security requirements, and IT compliance standards.

Design, Usability, and Performance Differences

Balancing High-Definition Detail and Print Speed

Speed is only one part of performance, and the right balance depends on what your badges need to show. The Zebra ZC350 has the fastest monochrome speed in this comparison, up to 1,000 single-sided cards an hour, and the Entrust Datacard DS2 matches its colour speed at up to 225 cards an hour. The Entrust Datacard DSE prints up to 185 colour and 750 monochrome cards an hour, and the DS1 up to 175 colour and 660 monochrome, which suits steady, lower-volume issuance. The HID FARGO DTC1500 prints up to 225 colour and 600 monochrome cards an hour.

For fine detail, all three Entrust Datacard models print at 300 dpi with 300 x 600 and 300 x 1200 modes for small text, logos and photos, and the DTC1500 adds a 300 x 600 optimized mode. The ZC350 prints at a standard 300 dpi. If your badges carry micro-text or detailed logos, a higher-resolution mode matters more than extra cards per hour; for large runs of text-only cards, monochrome speed matters more.

Card Handling and Loading

Card handling differs in ways that affect day-to-day use:

• Entrust Datacard DSE, DS1 and DS2: the DS1 and DS2 take 125 cards in the input hopper, with a 200-card option on the DS2, and the hopper can be removed for secure storage. An exception slot feeds a single card of a different type without emptying the hopper. The DSE takes 100 cards.
• Zebra ZC350: the 100-card input hopper adjusts automatically to each card’s thickness, so staff doesn’t change settings when switching card stock, and the 100-card output hopper holds a full batch.
• HID FARGO DTC1500: 100-card input and output hoppers, with cards from 0.009 to 0.040 in., including CR79 adhesive-back cards.

Connectivity and System Administration Options

Your connectivity choice decides how easily a printer fits the way your staff works. Across the Entrust Datacard range, the DSE connects by USB on the single-sided model and adds Ethernet on the dual-sided model, the DS1 connects by USB with optional Wi-Fi, and the DS2 has USB and Ethernet as standard with optional Wi-Fi. The Zebra ZC350 also has USB and Ethernet as standard with optional Wi-Fi, and the HID FARGO DTC1500 has USB and Ethernet with an internal print server.

For day-to-day management, all three Entrust Datacard printers, the DSE, DS1, and DS2, include a browser-based Printer Dashboard that staff open by entering the printer’s IP address. On the DS1 and DS2, a QR code on the printer’s display opens the same dashboard on a phone. From the dashboard, staff can check printer status, cleaning status, and firmware updates. Zebra builds smart chips into its ribbons so the ZC350 can tell staff when a ribbon needs replacing, and a Print Touch NFC tag on the printer opens Zebra’s online help and documentation. The HID FARGO DTC1500 comes with the FARGO Workbench utility for diagnostics and maintenance, including Color Assist spot-colour matching.

This digital interface lets your IT team check printer status, update firmware and settings, and track printer health straight from a smartphone or tablet, following the same best practices organizations use to secure mobile-managed devices more broadly.

Secure Data Transmission and Hardware Encoding

For teams that need to store secure data on their badges, comparing internal encoding options is a critical step. Both machines can be customized with internal hardware modules to print visual artwork and write secure data profiles in a single pass:

• Contactless Proximity Communication: Supports modern 13.56MHz and RFID entry systems, letting personnel tap their badges at building doors.
• Contact Smart Card Interfaces: Built for high-security facilities that require physical chip insertion for secure computer logins.
• Magnetic Stripe Encoding: Configured for traditional swipe-card timeclocks, staff parking gates, or basic point-of-sale tracking.

Ribbon Panel Versatility and Configuration Yields

The ribbon you load decides what each card can show and how many cards you get from a roll, so match it to the badge layout you need. The Entrust Datacard DSE, DS1, and DS2, the Zebra ZC350, and the HID FARGO DTC1500 all take drop-in ribbon cartridges. Entrust ribbons finish with a T (topcoat) panel, and Zebra and FARGO ribbons finish with an O (overlay) panel; both protect the printed surface. The DSE comes as a single-sided or dual-sided model; the DS1 prints one side only, and the DS2 prints one or both sides, so dual-sided layouts need the dual-sided DSE or the DS2.

• Dual-sided colour: a full-colour photo on the front and black resin text on the back, from an Entrust YMCKT-KT ribbon on the dual-sided DSE or the DS2, or a YMCKOK ribbon on the ZC350 and DTC1500. The black resin panel keeps barcodes and small text sharp on the back.
• Dual-sided monochrome: black resin on both sides of the card on the dual-sided DSE, the DS2, the ZC350 or the DTC1500, for text-heavy cards such as instructions, emergency assembly maps or terms of use, with no colour panels used.
• Single-sided colour: a YMCKT ribbon on the Entrust Datacard DSE, DS1 and DS2, or a YMCKO ribbon on the ZC350 and DTC1500, for front-only badges such as visitor or temporary passes.
• Single-sided monochrome: a black ribbon on the DSE, a KT ribbon on the DS1 and DS2, or a K ribbon on Zebra and FARGO gives the most cards per roll, which suits barcode cards, serial numbering, and contractor passes.

 Digital ID Software Integration and Visual Layout Strategy

A card printer is only as effective as the card design software and supply layout supporting it. To maximize your investment, your badge creation tools must link smoothly with your employee database directory.

Using professional integrated ID card software lets your team map employee name fields, generate custom barcodes, and maintain a consistent look across different offices or departments.

When setting up your badge layouts, following straightforward ID card design tips ensures your final badges look clean and remain easy to read. A clear arrangement places the employee’s photo, name, and department in high-visibility areas, allowing security staff to verify credentials instantly.

If your team is designing a badge program from the ground up, starting with professional pre-formatted ID card templates takes the stress out of the setup. These templates ensure ideal text sizing, balanced spacing, and proper margins, helping you avoid common printing errors like clipped text or off-center borders.

Maximizing Value with Software and Professional Design

Having the right hardware is only part of a reliable ID card setup. Pairing your printer with intuitive ID card software gives your team the tools to manage badge databases, import employee photos, maintain consistent card designs, and support encoding requirements from one workflow.

To make sure your final product looks polished and professional:

• Pay close attention to contrast, font readability, and logo placement by reviewing helpful, eye-catching card design tips.
• Protect against duplication and tampering by following practical ID card design tips that incorporate ghost images or micro-text.
• Speed up your rollout across different departments by exploring pre-formatted sources for ID card templates.

Get Expert Help Choosing Your Next ID Card Printer

Avon Security Products is the exclusive Canadian distributor for the Entrust Datacard DSE model, providing Canadian organizations with direct access to the printer, compatible supplies, and expert technical support. As a 100% Canadian company trusted by more than 25,000 organizations nationwide, Avon offers one-to-three-day shipping across Canada without cross-border duties or brokerage fees.

Choosing between the Entrust Datacard printer models DSE, DS1, and DS2, FARGO, and Zebra comes down to how each printer fits your card issuance volume, security requirements, software, and budget. Avon’s ID specialists work with these systems every day and can help you compare the differences, configure the right setup, and make sure the printer works with the cards, ribbons, and software you plan to use. Contact us to compare your options with an ID specialist

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I consider when choosing an ID card printer?

Start by reviewing your card printing requirements rather than choosing based only on price. Consider your budget, card issuance volume, preferred card design, print frequency, colour requirements, security requirements, and future growth. A small office issuing occasional employee badges may need a different printer from a healthcare facility or university working in a high-volume environment. You should also confirm software compatibility, encoding features, available connectivity options, and the cost of ribbons, blank cards, maintenance, and support.

 What is the difference between a direct-to-card printer and other ID card printers?

A direct-to-card printer prints the image straight onto the card surface through a ribbon and printhead, while a retransfer printer prints onto a clear film first and then fuses that film to the card. Direct-to-card printing needs no film and suits most employee, student and visitor badges on flat PVC cards. Retransfer printing covers the card edge to edge and handles uneven surfaces, such as smart cards with a raised chip. The Entrust Datacard DSE, DS1 and DS2, Zebra ZC350 and HID FARGO DTC1500 are all direct-to-card printers.

Is the Entrust Datacard DS2 suitable for small organizations?

The Entrust Datacard DS2, also identified within the Entrust Datacard DSE Professional Series, can be suitable for small organizations when its features match their workflow. It supports professional card printing, optional encoding, and single- or dual-sided configurations, depending on the selected model. However, a smaller organization should still consider whether it needs full-color cards, dual-sided printing, or advanced security features. Avon offers several printer options and helps Canadian customers compare card issuance volume, operating requirements, supplies, and long-term support before purchasing.

How does the Zebra ZC350 card printer compare with Entrust?

Both are direct-to-card printers that print at 300 dpi, so the better fit depends on card volume, card sides and how you manage devices. The Zebra ZC350 has a 100-card output hopper and prints up to 1,000 monochrome cards an hour. The Entrust Datacard DS1 and DS2 hold 125 cards in the input hopper, the DS1 prints one side only, and the DSE comes single- or dual-sided. All three Entrust models use Secure Boot and a browser-based Printer Dashboard, while the ZC350 offers host authentication and data encryption.

Are Fargo printers suitable for high-volume environments?

Some Fargo printer models are designed for organizations that issue cards regularly or operate in high-volume environments. Depending on the model, Fargo printers may provide dual-sided printing, larger card capacity, encoding features, and optional lamination. Performance can vary by ribbon, card type, configuration, and whether the printer produces full-color cards or monochrome cards. Organizations should confirm the exact Fargo model’s print speed, hopper capacity, software compatibility, and available support before making a purchase. Avon supplies Fargo printers, ribbons, and related products for Canadian customers.

Do I need a single-sided or dual-sided ID card printer?

A single-sided colour printer may be sufficient when a card only needs a photograph, name, logo, department, and expiry date. A dual-sided printer is more useful when you need additional space for barcodes, access instructions, emergency details, disclaimers, or contact information. Some organizations also require dual-sided monochrome printing for economical text or barcode production. Your decision should reflect your card design, card issuance volume, and future needs, since upgrading later may cost more than selecting the appropriate configuration initially.

What does print resolution mean for ID card quality?

Print resolution describes the level of detail a printer can reproduce, usually measured in dots per inch, or dpi. A 300 dpi ID card printer can produce clear photographs, text, logos, and barcodes for most professional credentials. Higher or enhanced resolution modes may be useful for fine text, detailed graphics, or security elements. Print resolution is not the only factor affecting high-quality printing. Card surface, ribbon type, design software, photograph quality, colour settings, and printer maintenance also influence the final result.

What encoding features might an ID card printer support?

Encoding features allow information to be written to a card’s magnetic stripe, contact chip, or contactless chip in addition to printing visible information. These features may support access control, time tracking, payment, identification, or other credential functions. Compatibility is essential: the printer encoder, blank card, software, card reader, and access control system must support the same technology. Avon supplies proximity cards, smart cards, access cards, and ID card printers, helping organizations coordinate their credential components more efficiently.

What printer and data security features should organizations review?

Organizations should review security features according to the sensitivity of their credentials and the way cards are issued. Relevant features may include secure boot, host authentication, data encryption, encrypted communications, user permissions, firmware protection, and secure handling of temporary print data. Security also depends on internal procedures, such as limiting access to cardholder information, controlling blank cards and ribbons, and cancelling lost credentials. Ask whether the printer’s features are available on the exact configuration you plan to purchase.

How can print speed affect ID card printing efficiency?

Print speed indicates how quickly a printer can produce cards under particular test conditions. It can help compare models, but it does not always represent real-world efficiency. Dual-sided colour cards, detailed images, encoding, lamination, ribbon changes, card loading, and operator handling can reduce actual output. For occasional printing, reliability and ease of use may matter more than maximum speed. For a high-volume environment, compare print speed with card capacity, software workflow, maintenance requirements, and expected daily issuance.

What card capacity does an organization need?

Card capacity generally refers to how many blank cards a printer’s input hopper can hold and how many completed cards its output hopper can receive. A larger input hopper can reduce reloading during batch production, while a larger output hopper may be useful when printing many cards at once. Capacity should be considered alongside card issuance volume and staff workflow. A smaller organization may not need maximum capacity, while a school, healthcare facility, or government department may benefit from a higher-capacity configuration.

What supplies are needed to operate an ID card printer?

Most ID card printers require compatible blank PVC cards, colour or monochrome ribbons, cleaning supplies, and ID card software. Depending on the credential system, you may also need proximity cards, smart cards, badge holders, lanyards, protective overlays, or encoding accessories. Using the correct supplies supports reliable operation, consistent print quality, and fewer card jams or ribbon errors. Avon provides ID card software, printer ribbons, cleaning kits, blank cards, access cards, and badge accessories for Canadian organizations.