User manual POLAROID ID CARD PRINTER DESIGN AND OPERATIONS GUIDE

[. . . ] This list provides the steps you can take to personalize (print) cards that meet your needs. 1 2 Understand all the requirements for the cards, and purchase printers, card stock, and so on to meet the requirements. Use an application that is designed to work with the printer and with your proximity reader. You can use Polaroid ID Card Maker (version 5. 0 or greater) or you can use a custom application provided by your integrator. [. . . ] (Note: The name of the link may be different than the name of the download file. ) · b c d 7 a b c 8 Use My Computer or Windows Explorer to browse to the file downloaded in Step 6a. On the Advanced tab in the utility, select "Disable sending card data as keystrokes" before making any other settings. Enter values for the card you use. Use the configuration utility. Install any other application components that you might need. For example, this is the time to install the Proximity Card Plug-In from the ID Card Maker Proximity and Smart Card Utility CD-ROM. Perform any setup tasks needed for your application, such as setting up links between your identity database and the facility code and identification numbers retrieved from cards. 9 Personalizing Proximity Cards with Polaroid ID Card Printers: Setup, Design, and Operations Guide 2 Designing Proximity cards To achieve the best quality cards, follow these guidelines. Card stock · If you have a choice, select glossy PVC cards designed for dye sublimation and mass transfer printing. (Some cards are available in matte or glossy finish; matte finish cards are not supported. ) · · Optional features, such as a magnetic stripe or a mylar signature panel, should not be visibly raised from the surface of the cards. For best results, punch holes in cards after personalizing them, not before. InfoCentral includes information about cards and where hole punches are allowed before printing. Contact your card manufacturer or integrator to learn the recommended areas for punching holes in cards. Many Proximity card manufacturers indicate the location(s) where holes can be punched in cards by printing a series of pale dots on the card surface. Proximity cards that are up to 0. 037 in or 1. 0 mm thick can be read in the printer. For best results, print on cards only once. · · · Backgrounds The following suggestions can help you select background components for a professional looking card. The design should not show the location of the electronic components embedded in the card and should avoid variations in the color or evenness of background areas. · · · · Avoid using a solid color background over a large area of the card, because it can show the location of the embedded electronics. Avoid half tones, especially gray, which can highlight the location of the embedded electronics. Consider using a white background for the card to achieve consistent professional results. Consider using smaller blocks of color, patterned areas, or gradients to highlight printed card features such as a name, photo, or logo. Image placement The following suggestions can help you locate important images, such as a photo, logo, or bar code. When placing images, avoid areas of high wear and avoid uneven areas which can result in inconsistent print quality. · Do not place an important image over the embedded chip in the card because the surface of the card might not be even in that area. Contact your card manufacturer or integrator to learn the location of the chip in the type of card you use. Do not place an important image on the front of the card in the same area as a magnetic stripe. Frequent use of a card in a magnetic stripe reader can wear away the image on the opposite side of the card. · Personalizing Proximity Cards with Polaroid ID Card Printers: Setup, Design, and Operations Guide 3 · Avoid placing a photo directly on the other side of a signature panel. (For example place a photo to the left or right on the front of a card with a signature panel centered on the back of the card. ) Residue from the panel can cause printing problems on an adjacent card. [. . . ] Do not touch the surface of cards before printing them because oils on your hands can cause discolored or smudged printing. Make sure the gloves are not powdered because powder can affect print quality. If you notice an unusual amount of dust or debris, you can clean unprinted cards with 99% isopropanol and a soft, lint-free, non-scratching cloth. As an alternative, you can change the printer's cleaning roller and run a cleaning card more often. [. . . ]