HID Fargo DTC1000 / DTC1250e / DTC1500 — PVC card printing setup

Printer setup › HID Fargo DTC1000 / DTC1250e / DTC1500

Printers: HID Fargo DTC1000, DTC1250e, DTC1500, C50, HDP5000

1. Install the printer driver

Download the driver for your exact model and Windows version from the maker’s website: HID Global drivers ↗. After installing, print a Windows test page once to make sure the printer works.

2. Windows Printing preferences

1. Switch the printer on. Open Windows → Printers & scanners (Devices and Printers) → right-click your printer → Printing preferences.
2. The values below are a starting point for a double-side printer with a half-panel colour ribbon (colour on the photo side, black on the back). With a full-panel ribbon choose that ribbon and colour on both sides.
3. Set these options in Fargo DTC — Card tab:

   Card Size

   CR-80

   Orientation

   Landscape

4. Set these options in Fargo DTC — Device Options tab:

   Automatically detect the installed Ribbon for every print job

   ticked

   Print Both Sides

   ticked (double side)

   Split 1 Set of Ribbon Panels

   ticked (half-panel ribbon)

   Rotate Front / Back 180 Degrees

   not ticked

5. Set these options in Fargo DTC — Overlay / Print Area tab:

   Overlay / Print Area

   Full Card

   Mode

   For Print and Overlay

6. Set these options in Fargo DTC — K Panel Resin tab:

   Back → Print All Black with K Panel

   Full Card

   Front → Print All Black with K Panel

   Full Card (or Defined Area(s) leaving the photo out)

7. Set these options in Fargo DTC — Image Color tab:

   Color Matching

   System Color Management

   Resin Dither

   Optimized for Graphics

   Resin Heat Front / Back (K)

   +10 % if black text is faint

8. Click Apply / OK so Windows remembers the settings. Repeat them if Windows creates a second copy of the printer on another USB port.

3. Settings in Print Perfect Ai

1. Set these options in Print Perfect Ai → App Settings → Printer & output:

   Select Printer Type

   Single Side or Double Side

   Select Printer Brand

   Fargo

   Select Printer Name

   your card printer

   Half Panel Ribbon

   tick for half-panel ribbon / pre-printed cards

2. Double Side sends front and back as one job — no card flipping. Back side upside down? Tick “Rotate back side 180°”.
3. The card always fills the whole card page of the driver, so there is no white edge.
4. In the software click Print test card. If the print sits a little off the card, correct it with X Offset / Y Offset (mm) and print again — the values are saved.