A Comprehensive Guide: Activating the Lamination Module on Entrust Card Printers

Entrust card printers are renowned for their reliability and versatility, making them a top choice for organisations needing secure and professional ID card printing.

To enhance the durability and appearance of these cards, many Entrust printers come equipped with lamination modules.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through the step-by-step process of activating the lamination module on Entrust card printers. Whether you're using the SD460 card printer, DS2, or DS3 with a lamination module, you'll find the instructions to ensure your cards are perfectly laminated.

Check out our support video on how to enable this for your card printer.

What is a lamination module?

A lamination module, also known as DuraGuard, is an additional layer of security used in card printing, particularly for ID cards. This added layer acts as a protective shield, preventing tampering and extending the card's lifespan. Users can choose from various laminate designs, including globes and logos, to further enhance card aesthetics.

The key benefits of a lamination module include:

1. Security Enhancement: Laminating cards adds an extra level of security, making it more challenging for unauthorised individuals to alter or counterfeit the card.

2. Durability: The lamination layer safeguards the card from wear and tear, ensuring it remains in excellent condition for an extended period.

Security features often associated with lamination modules include magnetic stripe encoding, smart card encoding, encryption, UV ribbon, and colour ribbon printing. These features contribute to the overall security and functionality of the ID cards.

Lamination modules are typically integrated into card printers, such as the DS2 & DS3 card printers with lamination, which come in two versions:

1. Simplex Version: This version is designed for single-sided card printing. Users need to flip the card over for double-sided printing manually.

2. Duplex Version: The duplex version can print on both sides of the card without manual intervention, streamlining the printing process.

The DS card printers are renowned for their outstanding colour quality, image precision, and cost-effectiveness. It is known for its anti-counterfeiting features, ensuring that ID cards produced with the DS are highly secure.

In addition to security features, the DS offers tactile impression and lamination capabilities, further solidifying its reputation as the ultimate secure ID card printer.

For in-depth insights and guidance on using the DS printer, users can access support videos, ensuring they make the most of this advanced card printing technology. With its combination of security, durability, and exceptional printing quality, the DS printer is a top choice for organisations seeking secure and professional ID card solutions.

Step 1: Accessing Printer Properties

The first step in activating the lamination module on your Entrust card printer is to access your computer's control panel. Here's how to do it:

1. Navigate to the control panel and select 'Devices and Printers': Click on the 'Start' button and then select 'control panel' and then 'Devices and Printers' from the right-hand side of the menu.

2. Find Your Card Printer: In the 'Devices and Printers' window, locate your Entrust card printer. It should be listed with its model name XPS Card Printer (e.g., SD460, DS2, or DS3).

3. Access Printer Properties: Right-click on your Entrust card printer and select 'Printer Properties' from the context menu that appears.

Step 2: Accessing Lamination Settings

After accessing the 'Printer Properties,' you'll have various tabs and settings. Here's how to proceed:

1. Open the 'Preferences' Tab: Within the 'Printer Properties' window, you'll notice several tabs. Locate and click on the 'Preferences' tab, typically positioned at the bottom of the 'General' tab.

2. Select the 'Lamination' Tab: Within the 'Preferences' tab, you'll find various settings related to your card printer. Among these is the 'Lamination' tab, where you'll configure your lamination settings.

Step 3: Configuring Lamination Settings

The lamination settings you choose will determine how your card is laminated. Depending on the number of lamination modules your printer has, you can apply lamination on both sides or only one side. Let's dive into the specifics:

1. Understanding Lamination Modules: Entrust card printers typically come with two lamination modules: 'L1' for the front side and 'L2' for the back side of the card.

2. Selecting Lamination Preferences: In the 'Lamination' tab, you can configure your lamination preferences. For instance, you can choose to apply lamination on the front side only, the back side only, or both sides. Select according to how you want your card laminated. 

3. Using 'Debow Card': A handy standard feature of Entrust card printers is the 'Debow Card' option. Enabling this feature ensures that your card is laminated without bending, maintaining a straight and professional appearance.

4. Applying Your Settings: After selecting your preferred lamination settings, click 'Apply' to save your choices. Then, click 'OK' to confirm and exit the 'Preferences' window.

Step 4: Applying Settings to Printing Defaults

To ensure your lamination settings are consistently applied when printing cards, you need to configure the 'Printing Defaults.' Here's how to do it:

1. Access the 'Advanced' Tab: Within the 'Printer Properties' window, navigate to the 'Advanced' tab. Click on it to access additional printer settings.

2. Select 'Printing Defaults': Look for the 'Printing Defaults' option within the 'Advanced' tab. Click on it to open the configuration window.

3. Configuring Lamination Settings (Again): In the 'Printing Defaults' window, you will see various settings similar to those in the 'Preferences' tab. It's crucial to ensure that your lamination settings match what you've set in the 'Preferences' tab. Specifically, have 'L1' laminate the front side only, 'L2' the back side only, and enable 'Debow Card' to prevent card bending.

4. Saving Your Changes: Once you've configured the settings in the 'Printing Defaults' window, click 'Apply' to save them. Remember to click 'OK' to confirm and exit the window.

Step 5: Final Confirmation

Before you conclude the process, there's one more essential step:

1. Double-Check Your Lamination Settings: Go back to the 'Lamination' tab in the 'Preferences' tab and confirm that the settings match those in the 'Printing Defaults.' This double-check ensures that your lamination preferences are consistent.

2. Save Your Changes: Once you've verified that your settings match, click 'Apply' in the 'Lamination' tab and then click 'OK' to confirm.

With these steps completed, you've successfully activated the lamination module on your Entrust card printer. Your printer is now ready to produce ID cards that are not only secure but also professionally laminated.

Conclusion

Entrust card printers offer a seamless and reliable solution for creating high-quality ID cards.

Activating the lamination module enhances the appearance and durability of these cards, making them suitable for various applications.

By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can ensure that your Entrust card printer consistently produces laminated cards that meet your organisation's standards. Whether you're using the SD460, DS2, or DS3 model, the process remains the same, making it easy to achieve professional results.