Making IDs at home
Regardless of the reason behind needing the ability to make IDs from your home, there is a complicated but doable process. It may be more challenging for some, and will not be free as all of the necessary materials cost a pretty penny. However, if you are in the business of supplying people with unofficial IDs, it could be a profitable avenue. Perhaps you have a small business that resides inside a multi-business office building and you want to provide your employees with ID cards so the security guards will not give them a hard time. This is a way to make them yourself so you do not have to pay someone else to do it for you.
It is important to have all of the materials that you will need, though that varies with each printer. However, the process is virtually the same. Get online and find a template, which can usually be found on a site that is shared by peers, such as Limewire. After you find a basic template, you can use Photoshop to edit it so it looks however you prefer. Standard IDs use the Arial font on Windows, but you can select whichever font you want.
Depending on what information you feel necessary to put on these IDs, you can look up proper abbreviations for hair and eye color, as well as restriction and permission codes. Once you have all of the information put into the template, scan a photo of the person you are making the ID for. It is important to have a passport-like picture so the ID appears legit. Use Photoshop to get rid of all background colors.
A barcode can be added to the back, just looking up a free barcode generator online. If you want a magnetic stripe, you will have to purchase an encoder. You may also want to get a laminator, unless you are handy enough with a home iron and won’t melt the plastic. Once the lamination is done, place IDs under a heavy, flat surface (ie. Book) so it cools flatly.
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