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Owning a printer comes with responsibility. Just like other electronic equipment like computers and television sets, printers are supposed to be handled with care for them to function efficiently. A good ID card printer should function efficiently in terms of the quality of print and the speed. The printer should be able to produce good quality copies in the resolution of the images and texts and also the easy of operating them.

In order to know if the printer is functioning well, it is also important to understand the technology behind the printing process. Printers use a vast of different materials such as ink, powder toner, and electrostatic charges among other things. The ink jet printer technology for example is based on tiny nozzles that spurt fine ink of mist on paper.

Signs That Your ID Card Printer Needs An Upgrade

There are several indications that necessitate the upgrade of an ID card printer:

• In cases where the ink jet printers become notoriously slow and reduce the quality of their printing, they need replacement. For example, if you want to print multipage copies for a client but you end up waiting for the ink jet printer to slowly produce the copies, then you need to upgrade your printer. The printing speed therefore determines if you have to upgrade your ID card printer or not. The printing speed is measured by the number of pages it prints per minute as well as the number of characters it prints within a minute.
• Apart from the printing speed, you should monitor the monthly duty cycle of the ID card printer to measure how effective it is. The monthly duty cycle is the rating of pages per month that the printers produce. If the duty cycle of the printer began at 1000 pages per month, monitor it and see how many pages per month the printer s producing. A good functioning printer should have a duty cycle far much beyond your needs making it easy to operate. The printer will undergo wear and tear especially if the duty cycle is lower than your needs, and therefore you prematurely wore it off by over working it.
• Furthermore, a good ID card printer should be compatible with the Operating System of every computer. There should be an efficient OS-to-printer communication, where it is easy to read data from any computer, mobile device of USB devices. If the printer has problems with the OS-printer communication, then it needs upgrading to enhance efficiency.
• The resolution of the printing quality is also an issue that needs upgrading. Resolution refers to the dots-per-inch that the printer produces, which translates to quality. Consider the number of individual dots of ink sprayed within a square inch of a printed paper. If the resolution starts to decrease, that ID card printer needs replacement.
• The power supply is another consideration. A printer which has a worn out power supply, one that is unstable, or under powered can lead to the malfunctioning of the ID card printer. It should have a good power supply of about 450 watts. If there is a problem with its power supply, sometimes just repairing the problem can only stabiles it but its voltage power will drop, reducing the efficiency of the printer. It will therefore call for the upgrading of the printer.

In case you have experienced any of the above signs which call for the upgrade of your printer, then you need to contact the best photo ID warehouse to get the expert help as well as acquire a better printer for your services. To learn more, contact us at Avon Security Products today!

There are a lot of reasons your organization may be implementing ID cards. In most cases, you want your ID cards to include a name, picture and other important identifying details about the person carrying the card. This is usually done for safety and security purposes, but finding the right ID card templates to fit your needs can be a bit more challenging. Here are some of the places you should look for templates

The Printer Manufacturer

If you have already purchased a machine capable of printing, laminating or otherwise creating ID cards, there is a good chance the manufacturer of that machine has already put together some basic templates for you to choose from. Some of these printers include a CD with an application that allows you to design your own template, or others may send you to a related website so you can choose from a wide range of up to date template options.

Avery

This labeling giant and office supply provider is known for their awesome templates for all shapes and sizes of labels and other printed material. They have also added ID card templates to their list of available products. Just go to their website, sign up for a free membership and you will be able to explore a variety of preset options that you can use for your office or school.

Online Search

A quick search online turns up tons of free template options that can be downloaded at any time. Each website has its own unique designs that you can choose from and modify to your liking. If you are looking for free ID card templates, this is the best way to find something that meets your expectations without spending a large amount of money.

ID Creator

This is a dedicated ID printing service. They have a lengthy list of templates to choose from, and allow you to import all of your employee or student data directly into their system. Once your information is uploaded, they will print the cards for you and ship them to you all at once. This can be a simple way to let somebody else handle the details after you have chosen the overall look of your new ID cards.

ID Software

Since ID cards have become a mainstay among many office complexes and large businesses there are several dedicated software programs out there to help you create your IDs. This ID programs are typically designed to work hand in hand with the rest of your office productivity software so that you can quickly and easily choose a template and enter all of the necessary information.

There are tons of ID card templates available online and through specialized ID printing services. Your choice of templates will likely depend on the type of ID printer you plan on using and how much you want to spend to get the perfect card. Start by looking at the templates that are designed specifically for your printer, and then branch out to see what other options are available. To learn more about ID cards and the best printers in the industry, contact us at Avon Security today!

Lanyards are an overlooked but important part of many businesses. When your company uses ID cards, passes, door cards and similar cards, then having an easy way to keep track of these items is essential. Many business require you to display your ID badge at all times, which makes a lanyard another part of your work uniform. Breakaway lanyards however are far more suited to certain industries than non-breakaway lanyards.

Why Use Breakaway Lanyards?

Breakaway lanyards differ from traditional lanyards in one key design difference. These lanyards when pulled on or caught have a breakaway clasp that separates, allowing it to be harmlessly removed from the wearer. This is an important safety feature, as in many industries a necessary lanyard can get caught on machinery, the wearer can be badly hurt.

Industries That Benefit From Breakaway Lanyards

There are many jobs there a lanyard may get caught on machinery or could be pulled on by another person, and in jobs such as these breakaway lanyards help assure safety and avoid injuries. If you work in any of the following professions breakaway lanyards should be seriously considered.

• Industries that utilize heavy machinery. This can include engineers, repairmen, the printing industry, and auto mechanics. Essentially any job where one has to use equipment with a lot of exposed moving parts, where you have to bend or lean over open equipment to use, or where repairs to such equipment take place. These jobs can become very dangerous if a lanyard is caught in the machinery and you cannot break free.
• Similar to the above industries, construction is another job where one is often exposed to situations where physical safety is a chief concern. In environments such as a construction site anything that can get caught on exposed materials and trap the wearer is a safety hazard. Breakaway lanyards will ensure that workers don’t get caught on anything, and don’t do damage to themselves or the worksite in the process.
• Any type of job where a physical, combative style role may need to be taken, such as: a club or bar bouncer, security guard, or police officer. Many professions expose you to people who will grab or pull at your clothing or may try to start an altercation. In professions such as these breakaway lanyards keep employees safe from harm.
• Education may not appear as hazardous as the above jobs however, it is one that has a potential for accidents due to working with children. If you work with children for example many may pull down on a lanyard as a joke or simply to get attention. Despite no malice being involved people have been hurt by having their necks suddenly jerked downward by someone pulling on a lanyard.

Lanyards are a very important part of workplace safety. If you’re looking for breakaway lanyards for your company there are several business devoted to selling ID equipment and accessories. Avon Security Products is one of the largest providers of identification based solutions in Canada. With over ten years of business experience and international clients in both the public and private sectors their success speaks for itself. When you need lanyards, ID cards, software, or any other identification solution Avon can help. Contact us today for more information!

ID cards allow businesses, schools and other institutions to quickly identify employees and members. Therefore, it’s essential to have an ID card design that clearly communicates all the key information in a single glance. Follow these ID card design tips to create cards that look great and fulfill all their essential requirements.

1. Keep it Simple

The simplest ID card designs are often the best. Avoid over-complicated designs with too many images or fancy fonts. Instead, focus on developing a clear ID card design that contains a few key features: your company name, the employee’s name, picture and role, and the expiry date of the card. Every element should be large enough that it is easy to notice with just a glance.

2. Use a Large, Clear Image

Perhaps the most important aspect of an ID card is the photo of the employee. The photo allows employees in charge of checking the identity of people in the organization to quickly decide if the cardholder is the same person shown on the card. Take a well-exposed against a plain, light-colored background and ensure it appears large enough on the card to allow easy identification.

3. Include the Name of the Organization

The name of your organization should appear prominently on the card, so that lost cards can be returned. Include the organization name and logo on the card so that they are easy to recognize.

4. Use a Suitable Font

Choose a font that is easy to read for your ID card design. Steer away from fonts that are overly fussy and don’t use italics. Capital letters are often easier to read, so put key information in all caps.

5. Choose the Background Colour Carefully

A background that is too dark can make the information on the ID card difficult to read. Choose white or a light background colour for your ID card design. Consider using different colours to designate different levels of access.

6. Consider ID Card Holders

Are you going to issue ID card holders or lanyards for your ID cards? You need to check that your ID card design works well with the holder. Ensure that the card holder doesn’t cover any key information, such as the employee name or your organizations’ logo. You may need to leave a small border around the edges of the card to ensure that important information isn’t covered by a standard card holder.

Take the time to develop a good ID card design for your organization. Clear ID cards allow you to quickly and easily identify employees and ensure that everyone on your premises has the right to be there. Invest some time in designing ID cards that contain all the key information in a clearly presentable format to protect the security of your organization. For more information on ID card design tips or how to get the best printer for your organization, contact us at Avon Security Products today!

How you choose to regulate access to your buildings or offices is a question involving finances, convenience and quality. When you think about security at a given property, you have to think about each potential threat or vulnerability that could exist for that specific security risk. One such important decision is whether you wish to use magnetic swipe cards for your staff and visitors or whether barcode cards are actually better. A close investigation of each will illuminate a better view of how the two options compare and contrast from one another.

Magnetic Swipe Cards

In this method, the magnetic strip on the card actually stores the information about the individual carrying the card. When the strip is read, the machine is able to use decoding software to uncover what information is contained within the strip. Magnetic swipe cards are real veterans in the security space, having been in mainstream public use since the 1960s. Access to information is fast, but a dedicated hardware reader is also required.

The downsides to the magnetic swipe cards solution versus a barcode scenario is the longevity of a single card’s viability and integrity. In many cases, magnetic swipe cards are best for use cases such as libraries and gyms. The reason for this is simply the frequency of swipes. A gym or library should have fewer uses by orders of magnitude, as opposed to in an office where card swipes could happen potentially dozens of times weekly. Frequent use and improper storage of magnetic swipe cards will likely yield you a damaged magnetic stripe rather quickly. If you have users of the cards who may have difficulty maintaining their card’s pristine condition, a laminated barcode card might be another option worth exploring.

Barcode Cards

With a barcode card, the logistics are slightly different than that of the magnetic. With this type of card, you also benefit from the comfort of knowing that it has been in use for over thirty years. On barcode cards, information is not actually stored in the card, but rather in a central database within your organization’s network. When the card is scanned by the reader hardware, it deciphers a value from the information in the barcode that the naked eye couldn’t determine. This value is a reference in your company’s internal network. That reference will point to a file containing the pertinent information to the cardholder. Provided there is no latency in the connection between the system scanning cards and the network containing user data, there will be a near-immediate feeling to how fast the data comes in.

You should be extra careful to make sure when ordering cards and readers that they are on the same barcode platform and that they are fully compatible. Newer barcode readers employ a form of ‘2D’ barcode reading, whereas older systems are on what is known as a ‘1D’ protocol, thus making it impossible for newer cards to be read on the older hardware.

Which is Best?

Which choice is best is going to come down to the specific use cases involved, the type of circumstances and the various variables at play, including budget. A simple and working understanding of how these technologies compare and contrast is fundamentally valuable to know in advance as a business owner or decision maker in the area of security hardware.

For more information on magnetic swipe cards or barcode cards, contact our team of security experts at Avon Security Products!

Clear ID photos are essential for ID cards, as they allow holders to be quickly and efficiently identified. If you’re struggling to take good ID photos of your employees, members or students, try these top 10 tips, which can help to improve the quality of your photos.

1. Use a Good Camera

It’s essential to use a camera with good enough specifications to take photos for ID cards. Choose a camera with a minimum of 12 megapixels. Most digital cameras and even some mobile phones meet this requirement, although older phones and some webcams may not.

2. Choose a Plain Background

Always take photos in front of a plain white or pale grey background. Avoid backgrounds that have texture or patterns and move furniture out of the way. Position the person roughly 3 feet from the background to minimize shadows.

3. Use Good Lighting

Where possible, take ID photos in daylight. Position the person so that the light falls directly on the face, rather than coming from the side or rear. If daylight is not an option, use an overhead artificial light, rather than the flash function on the camera.

4. Check the Camera Settings

Turn on auto focus, auto white balance, and auto exposure before you take your photo. Turn off the flash and any digital effects, such as filters.

5. Position the Person Correctly

Ask the photo subject to face the camera directly, without tilting or rotating the head. Frame the photo so that the face and neck take up the majority of the photograph, without being cut off by the sides of the frame.

6. Remove Head Coverings

Have people take off hats or helmets so you can see their faces and hair clearly. If someone needs to wear a headscarf for religious reasons, make sure the scarf isn’t casting shadows over the face.

7. Consider People Who Wear Glasses

People who normally wear glasses should wear them in their ID photos. However, it’s important to ensure that the eyes are visible. That means no tinted lenses or sunglasses. Line up the photo to avoid light reflections on the glasses and check that the glasses frames don’t cover the eyes.

8. Check the Expression

It’s easiest to identify a person from a photo that shows a neutral expression. Ask your photo subject to stare straight into the camera with open eyes and a closed mouth, without smiling or frowning.

9. Check the Photo

Check the photo immediately after taking it to ensure it fits the requirements. It’s very easy to snap an ID photo that is blurry or that shows the card holder with closed eyes. By checking the photo immediately after shooting, you can quickly take another if the first photo is no good.

10. No Photo Editing

Don’t edit the photo after you’ve taken it. If it’s not suitable, take a new one rather than trying to airbrush out shadows or other frustrating features.

By following these tips, you can take ID photos that are true likenesses of your employees, students or members. Use these photos on personalized ID cards so you can be sure that everyone on your site has the right to be there. For more information on ID photos or cards, contact us at Avon Security Products today!

When thinking of giveaways, door prizes, and similar party favors, you want something that’s lightweight, inexpensive, and puts forth your company image. ID badge reels may not be an item you think of when thinking of a good giveaway item but they are one you should consider. Avon offers a wide range of different ID badge reels to fit a multitude of industries. With customizations you can create ID badge reels that perfectly fit any giveaway, here is a brief overview of these different features.

Colours

Avon’s ID badge reels are available in several different colours. These include black, blue, purple, red, white, clear plastic, dark blue, green, and metallic. Colours are available in solid and many cases see through plastic as well. By customizing the ID badge reels’ colour you can match it to your company colours or the colours of the event your company is hosting. Certain colour combinations are striking to the eye and really make the reel stand out.

Shape

ID badge reels commonly come in circle shaped designs. However, if you’re looking for something different or that stands out there are other shapes and sizes available. Variance choices include heart shaped badges, squares, and rectangles. Heart shaped badges are especially fitting for charity or awareness events. While square and rectangle badges are unique and when combined with a company or event logo resemble a miniature business card.

Logos

Avon’s badge reels can be customized with logos or a picture. When handing out giveaway items it’s important to remember they also serve as a marketing tool. Your company logo or the event logo are an effective addition to your badge reels. By combining your logo on a solid colour reel using one of your company’s identifying colours you create something memorable. Clear colours can also create a dramatic effect. The same is also true when you reference the event you’re holding. A ribbon on a heart shaped reel or the logo of a worthy cause can also be highly memorable. Lastly, if you want something truly unique rhinestone reels are available and hard to miss.

Special Features

Some ID badge reels come with special features that make them unique. Options include reels with built in pens, no twist designs (these keep your ID facing forward), swivel clips, solid metal designs, a carabiner clip, and specialized reels strong enough to hold keys. With several additional features available you can make your reels specialized to fit your company image and the image of the event they’re hosting.

Avon’s badge reels are highly customizable and make for great giveaway prizes. When you buy from Avon you can rest assured you’re dealing with industry professionals. For more information on using ID badge reels as giveaways, contact us today!

When developing your employee handbook there are several different topics to cover including accepted behavior, company norms, performance of duties, use of company equipment, and more. One area of accepted behavior that is not be overlooked is the security policy. Your company’s security policy not only assures proper access but is also a matter of safety as well. The following security policy template is a general overview of what to include in your employee handbook.

Control Access

One of the most important parts of any security policy template is access control. In many businesses, schools, and government spaces access has to be carefully controlled. To make sure everyone who can gain access requires checks and balances. Naturally an in-house security team can help keep things ordered however, they can’t be expected to question everyone on site as this is both time consuming and unrealistic. The best method of access control is an ID card or security card system.

Security ID systems can take several forms from the highly simplistic to the highly complex. The simplest systems are temporary passes and signing in when you arrive. More complex systems can involve picture IDs for employees and pass cards restricting access via locked doors to various parts of the business. No matter what system you make use of your security policy template should cover in detail what the system is, how it functions, and what is expected from each employee.

Keep Detailed Records

Aside from controlling access, part of a proper security system is good record keeping. By keeping track of who is visiting or at the location at any given time you greatly increase safety. Much like your badge system, record keeping can range from the simple to the complex. The most basic way of keeping visitor records is a sign in book. A visitor arrives, signs in, and receives a temporary pass. These kinds of simple systems are good for businesses or locations that receive a lot of daily visits. However, for more complex industries a more advanced system may be required. Computer software systems can easily keep highly detailed records complete with a vast amount of visitor information. This allows careful screening of visitors which increases overall safety. When combined with a strong and well understood ID system this allows you to greatly control access to your property.

Responding To Emergencies

When things do go wrong having a well-defined and understood chain of command is essential. Employees should know exactly who to contact if things go wrong. Examples may include break and enters, theft, unauthorized access, evacuation, or in some cases non crime related events such as the need for medical attention. Emotions often run high during these events so knowing whom to contact and when allows a faster response when these events do occur. A key element of safety is being able to respond quickly when it is required and your security policy template should have a detailed course of action outlined when emergencies occur.

As is apparent there are several steps in developing a security policy template. No matter how complex or simplistic you system may be remember the following rules to assist in implementing security policies. Keep them current, welcome feedback to improve the system, make sure the system is understood, and make sure your security policy is a part of employee training so there are no questions about policy. For more information on company security policies and how to implement them, contact us at Avon Security!

When using ID cards as part of your security system one question not to overlook is what kind of lanyard to use. Many people prefer wearing their ID and other important access cards on a lanyard for easy access and to make sure they don’t misplace them. When picking lanyards you have to choose between breakaway lanyards and non-breakaway lanyards. Now you may wonder what the difference is and why this is important. Here is a brief comparison between breakaway lanyards and non-breakaway lanyards and how to make that selection.

Non-Breakaway vs Breakaway

Lanyards can vary based on a variety of design concepts. The art, materials, thickness of the lanyard, and ways of holding ID cards can all vary. The key difference between breakaway and non-breakaway lanyards is the quick release clasp you find on a breakaway lanyard. These safety clasps come apart automatically if sufficient pressure is applied to the lanyard. For example if the lanyard is caught and you jerk your body away from it the clasp comes undone and you no longer have to worry about removing it. This is important safety feature as it can save you from injury or getting caught in dangerous situations.

How to Choose

Now you may be wondering how to choose between these two lanyard types and if the extra features are ones you need. When choosing lanyards the key reason you’d want to use breakaway lanyards is safety concerns. Many industries use machinery where a lanyard could easily catch onto a moving part if you have to bend over it to check on it or make use of it. If your business is one that has such equipment then breakaway lanyards greatly increase employee safety when accidents occur or their lanyards get caught on things.

This built in safety feature is also useful in other industries such as schools, hospitals, or prisons where a lanyard could be easily pulled on. By comparison if your industry is a relatively quiet one without moving machinery or interaction with the outside public then such safety features may not be needed. Non-breakaway lanyards work best in quiet industries such as offices, telecom centers, and the like.

As you can see lanyards with breakaway clasps can be very useful and an important part of your employee safety plan. No matter what kind of lanyards you use for your business you want to buy a quality product. Avon Security Products has been serving Canadian businesses, the public sector, and government facilities for many years along with customers all over the world. As industry leaders we sell the newest and highest quality security products on the market today. For more information, contact us today!

The number of businesses moving to card access systems has steadily increased over the last decade. While card access systems provide a level of protection that you can’t get with a lock and key or more traditional security systems, the more businesses that have them, the more opportunity criminals have to learn their way around the systems. Fortunately, it is easy to enhance these systems, and some of the simplest enhancements can deter would-be-criminals.

Quick Comparison

The reason that card access systems offer more security than traditional methods is because you can track people coming and going. Badges can have photos on them, which is another easy way to verify if someone should have access. Cards are significantly harder to duplicate or mimic because they are paired with the device specific to your business. This is important to keep in mind when you start thinking about enhancing your existing system.

Different Levels of Access

Most employees don’t need access to all areas of your building or facility. By using a slightly more complex system, you can limit access to specific areas or grant employees access based on their position. Access levels can be scaled to meet different needs. If you need to grant different levels of access based on the building, the floor, or even the room, you can adjust the security level so that locations that need very limited access can be mostly locked down without making it difficult to get into the other places.

Access for Visitors

Instead of having a person constantly with a visitor, having a badge for those who will be in the building or facility for a short period of time much easier to manage. If visitors have their own badge, they will have access to a few areas and will not be able to go into locations where they shouldn’t be.

Monitoring Each Door

One of the biggest benefits of card access systems is that you can monitor entry into all of the different areas in the building or facility. These types of systems have multiple uses, as you can monitor power failures, temperature, and water levels. This is an easy way to keep informed about traffic to different places while handling other necessary aspects that are vital for safety and regulation compliance.

Color Coding and Logistics

Most businesses need to have different designated area. By color coding badges, you add another layer of security and visual verification. You can also have landscape or portrait picture orientation to indicate different types of access. Many companies color code or orient the badge differently for contractors. They also have different colors based on the level of access. This is particularly helpful if you have a distribution center or a warehouse that needs continuations security. It is one of the best way to secure products and inventory because only those who have been granted access.

If you have been thinking about getting a card access system for your business or want to enhance the one you already have, you can contact us. We can answer your questions and help you decide what’s right for your needs.