IDP Smart 51s ID Card Printer, Single Sided
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The IDP Smart 51s ID Card Printer is a single-sided ID printer, perfect for medium volume users looking to print up to 10,000 cards per year. Featuring an automatic card feeder, with full colour print in 17 seconds, and comes with a leading five-year warranty, ensuring high quality card printing.
Printer Specifications
Print Technology:
Dye-sublimation
Print Resolution:
300 x 300dpi
Print Speed:
200 Full Colour Cards Per Hour
720 Monochrome Cards Per Hour
Card Capacity:
100 Card Input Hopper
100 Card Output Hopper
Warranty:
5 Years, 3 Years Printhead
Printer Support Packages
For peace of mind after your card printer purchase, we give you 30 days of free email support to help you get up and running.
Or you can choose to upgrade to one of our Aftercare Support Packages to receive expert professional support all year round.
Silver Package - £45 per year
- Email and Telephone Support across printer and software*
- Access to online support library
- 10% off printer consumables (cards, ribbons, cleaning kits)
Gold Package - £145 per year
- Next Day Email and Telephone Support across printer and software*
- Access to online support library
- 15% off printer consumables (cards, ribbons, cleaning kits)
- Remote printer set-up assistance
- Remote access support for troubleshooting
- Zero labour costs if your printer needs repairing
- Loan printer if your printer needs to be returned for a repair.
*Easybadge, CardPresso and ID-ALL software only.
For peace of mind after your card printer purchase, we give you 30 days of free email support to help you get up and running.
Or you can choose to upgrade to one of our Aftercare Support Packages to receive expert professional support all year round.
Silver Package - £45 per year
- Email and Telephone Support across printer and software*
- Access to online support library
- 10% off printer consumables (cards, ribbons, cleaning kits)
Gold Package - £145 per year
- Next Day Email and Telephone Support across printer and software*
- Access to online support library
- 15% off printer consumables (cards, ribbons, cleaning kits)
- Remote printer set-up assistance
- Remote access support for troubleshooting
- Zero labour costs if your printer needs repairing
- Loan printer if your printer needs to be returned for a repair.
*Easybadge, CardPresso and ID-ALL software only.
-
659366 YMCKO Colour Ribbon, 250 Prints
- 659367 Black Ribbon, 1200 Prints
- 659376 YMCKOK Colour Ribbon, 200 Prints (Double Sided Printers Only)
Unsure if this is the best ID card printer for you?
Take our Printer Quiz!
Answer four short questions and get recommendations based on your needs.
Alternatively, you can start a chat with us, we're happy to help!
Need to Print Both Sides of Your Cards?
The IDP Smart 51S prints on one side. If your card design needs printing on the front and reverse, explore the IDP Smart 51D.
View the Smart 51D printer →
Not Sure Which ID Card Printer You Need?
Answer 4 short questions about your cards and printing needs, and we’ll help you find a suitable printer.
Take the 60-second printer quiz →
Already own an IDP Smart 51? Shop compatible ribbons, cleaning kits and blank cards in our IDP Smart 51 consumables collection.
Why Choose the IDP Smart 51S?
The IDP Smart 51S is a fast, reliable single-sided ID card printer designed for organisations that print cards regularly and need more capacity than an entry-level printer.
With an automatic 100-card input hopper and the ability to print around 200 full-colour cards per hour, it is well suited to producing batches of staff ID cards, membership cards, visitor passes and other plastic cards without having to continually reload the printer.
The Smart 51S is a good step up for organisations that have outgrown a lower-volume printer but don't need a high-volume retransfer machine. It combines faster everyday printing with a five-year printer warranty, while optional magnetic stripe and smart card encoding configurations are available for organisations with more advanced card requirements.
The Smart 51S prints on one side of the card automatically. If you regularly need information printed on both the front and reverse, the IDP Smart 51D is the double-sided version and may be the more convenient choice.
Who Is the IDP Smart 51S Best For?
The IDP Smart 51S is designed for regular, medium-volume card printing, with our recommended usage of up to approximately 10,000 cards per year.
It is particularly suited to organisations such as:
- Businesses and larger offices producing staff photo ID cards
- Schools, colleges and education providers printing staff, student or visitor cards
- Membership organisations, gyms and leisure facilities producing membership cards
- Healthcare and care organisations that regularly issue staff identification
- Visitor management and security teams producing photo ID and visitor passes
- Organisations printing cards in batches that benefit from a 100-card automatic input hopper
If you only need to print a small number of cards occasionally, you may not need the additional speed and capacity of the Smart 51S. A lower-volume ID card printer could be a more cost-effective option.
If you're unsure which level of printer you need, use our 60-second ID card printer quiz to narrow down the options based on how you'll actually use it.
IDP Smart 51S Key Printer Features
The IDP Smart 51S is designed for organisations that need reliable, regular ID card printing with the speed and capacity to handle larger batches. Here are the key features to consider when deciding if it’s right for you.
Print & Performance
- Prints up to 200 full-colour cards per hour
- 300 × 300dpi print resolution for clear images, logos and text
Batch Printing
- 100-card automatic input hopper
- 100-card output hopper for convenient batch printing
Single-Sided Printing
- Automatically prints one side of the card
- Need automatic printing on both sides? Choose the IDP Smart 51D
Encoding & Upgrade Options
- Optional magnetic stripe encoding
- Smart card encoding options available for more advanced card requirements
Warranty & Support
- 5-year printer warranty
- 3-year printhead warranty
Compare IDP Smart ID Card Printers
Not sure whether the IDP Smart 51S is the right printer for you? Compare it with other IDP Smart models based on how many cards you print, print speed, card feeding and whether you need automatic double-sided printing.
Select a printer name to show or hide it. At least three printers will always remain visible so you can make a useful comparison.
| Printer |
You are viewing
IDP Smart 51S
|
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Very light or occasional card printing where cards can be fed into the printer individually. | Small organisations that want automatic card feeding for regular single-sided printing. | Small organisations regularly printing information on both sides of their cards. | Organisations producing regular batches of single-sided cards and needing greater speed and capacity. | Organisations producing regular batches of cards that need automatic printing on both sides. |
| TCN recommended usage | Low-volume / occasional printing | Up to approx. 1,000 cards/year | Up to approx. 1,000 cards/year | Up to approx. 10,000 cards/year | Up to approx. 10,000 cards/year |
| Card feeding | Manual / hand-fed | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Input capacity | Hand-fed | 80 cards | 80 cards | 100 cards as standard. Extendable to 200. | 100 cards as standard. Extendable to 200. |
| Max. full-colour speed | 150 cards/hour | 156 cards/hour | 156 cards/hour* | 212 cards/hour | 212 cards/hour* |
| Automatic printing | Single-sided | Single-sided | Double-sided | Single-sided | Double-sided |
| Colour print resolution | 300dpi | 300dpi | 300dpi | 300dpi | 300dpi |
| Encoding options | Magnetic stripe | Magnetic stripe, contact & contactless | Magnetic stripe, contact & contactless | Magnetic stripe, contact & contactless | Magnetic stripe, contact & contactless |
| Connectivity | USB |
USB Ethernet optional |
USB Ethernet optional |
USB Ethernet optional |
USB Ethernet optional |
| Why step up? | Choose this when low cost and occasional printing matter more than batch capacity. | Adds automatic card feeding for easier everyday printing. | Adds automatic double-sided printing to the Smart 31 platform. | Faster colour printing and greater card capacity for organisations printing more regularly. | Adds automatic double-sided printing while retaining the Smart 51's higher speed and capacity. |
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What's Included With the IDP Smart 51S?
Everything you need to get your Smart 51S connected and ready to start creating ID cards.
In the box:
- IDP Smart 51S single-sided ID card printer
- Starter ID card software for up to 100 records
- USB cable
Need anything else?
Your printer will also need blank cards and a compatible ribbon for printing. You can find these in our Smart 51 consumables range.
Optional upgrades including Ethernet connectivity, magnetic stripe encoding and smart card encoding are also available. If you need any of these features, please contact us before ordering so we can make sure your printer is supplied in the correct configuration.
Using a Mac? Please contact us before ordering so we can arrange the appropriate software option.
See the IDP Smart 51S in Action
Take a closer look at the IDP Smart 51S ID card printer, including its design, card loading and everyday operation, to see what you can expect when using the printer.
Specifications
Print Technology:
Direct-to-card dye-sublimation
Print Resolution:
300dpi, edge-to-edge
Print Speed:
Up to 212 full-colour / 720 monochrome cards per hour
Card Capacity:
100-card input hopper
Card Size:
CR80 (standard ID card size)
Connectivity:
USB; optional Ethernet
Printing:
Automatic single-sided
Encoding Options:
Magnetic stripe, contact & contactless
Dimensions:
165 × 390 × 210mm
Weight:
4.5kg
Warranty:
5 years; 3 years printhead
Compatibility:
Windows compatible. Using macOS? Please contact us before ordering so we can supply the correct software option.
IDP Smart 51S FAQs
Get answers to common questions about The IDP Smart ID Card Printer.
Is the IDP Smart 51S a single-sided or double-sided printer?
The IDP Smart 51S is an automatic single-sided ID card printer. If you only occasionally need to print on the reverse of a card, you can print the first side, turn the card over and feed it through again manually. If you regularly print both sides, the IDP Smart 51D is the automatic double-sided version and will usually be more convenient.
For more information, read our guide to printing double-sided cards with a single-sided printer.
How many cards is the IDP Smart 51S suitable for?
We recommend the Smart 51S for organisations printing regularly, up to approximately 10,000 cards per year. Its automatic 100-card input hopper and faster print speed make it particularly useful when printing cards in batches.
If you're unsure how much printer you actually need, our ID Card Printer Buying Guide explains the main things to consider, including print volume, card feeding, single or double-sided printing, running costs and computer compatibility.
How fast does the IDP Smart 51S print?
The Smart 51S can print up to 212 full-colour cards per hour using a YMCKO ribbon, or up to 720 monochrome cards per hour. Actual print speed can vary depending on the card design and printing setup.
Which ribbon does the IDP Smart 51S use?
The correct ribbon depends on what you're printing. For example, full-colour photo ID cards normally use a YMCKO ribbon, while single-colour designs can use a compatible monochrome ribbon.
If YMCKO, YMCFKO and the other ribbon codes look like alphabet soup, our ID card printer ribbon guide explains what the letters mean and when you would use each type.
Does the IDP Smart 51S work with macOS?
The Smart 51S printer supports macOS, but the standard card software supplied with our package is intended for Windows. If you need to use the Smart 51S with a Mac, please contact us before ordering so we can make sure the appropriate software option is supplied.
What software comes with the IDP Smart 51S?
The Smart 51S is supplied with starter ID card software for Windows, suitable for up to 100 records. If you need more advanced database, design or card-management features, contact us and we can help you choose the appropriate software before ordering.
Can the IDP Smart 51S print RFID and access control cards?
The Smart 51S can print on many suitable printable RFID and access control cards. However, because it is a direct-to-card printer, an embedded chip can sometimes affect the print finish, particularly with dark or full-colour designs.
If you're planning to print smart or access cards regularly, read our guide to printing RFID cards with a direct-to-card printer before choosing your setup.
Does printing an RFID card also encode it?
No. Printing the design onto an RFID card and encoding the chip are separate processes. Optional contact and contactless encoding configurations are available for the Smart 51S, so contact us before ordering if you need the printer to encode cards as well as print them.
What is the difference between direct-to-card and retransfer printing?
The Smart 51S is a direct-to-card (DTC) printer, which prints the design directly onto the card surface. Retransfer printers print onto a clear film first and then bond that film to the card. Retransfer can be a better option where premium print coverage or consistent printing over uneven smart-card surfaces is important.
Our Direct-to-Card vs Retransfer guide explains the difference in plain English.
How often should I clean the IDP Smart 51S?
Regular cleaning helps maintain print quality and can prevent dust and debris causing printing problems. As a general rule, card printer manufacturers recommend cleaning the printer each time you change the ribbon, alongside periodic deeper cleaning.
Our ID card printer cleaning guide explains why cleaning matters and when to use cleaning cards, rollers and swabs.
What warranty does the IDP Smart 51S have?
The Smart 51S comes with a 5-year printer warranty and 3-year printhead warranty. Keeping the printer properly maintained is important because failure to follow cleaning and maintenance requirements can affect warranty cover.
How much does the Smart 51S cost to run?
Running costs depend on the ribbon you use, the type of cards you're printing and whether you're printing in full colour or monochrome. When comparing printers, it's worth considering the cost per printed card as well as the initial printer price.
Our guide to the real cost of an ID card printer explains why consumable costs matter when comparing printers.
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