Purity-san
Con Regular
Posts: 77
Loc: San Antonio, TX
Reg: 02-13-07
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08-15-12 12:13 PM - Post#11304
Where's the best place to get badges printed?
I want to use a convention badge approach to my badges for my anime club, by having around 10 Officer bagdes and a stock of 100 blanks (at-the-door) to have on hand.
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 PatrickD
Executive Producer
Posts: 5073
Loc: California
Reg: 12-07-06
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08-15-12 12:47 PM - Post#11305
In response to Purity-san
Depends how many you need. If you only need a few hundred, you can probably get away with color copying and lamination. Just make sure you use a paper cutter for straight edges and have extra lamination machines on hand because they WILL break on you.
If you need more than a few hundred, then it's time to start looking into other options and perhaps some sort of anti-counterfeiting holograms or photocopy-proof paper. This isn't an area I have much knowledge in.
When you're at 10,000+, it's time to outsource registration to a professional company. Yes, it costs A LOT more, but it's well worth the peace of mind knowing that people who handle large conferences can take care of registration for you...often from the online registration straight through the on-site pickup. It's dangerous when your entire 10,000+ person convention is resting on volunteers in registration. I've seen problems like a lost database, a poorly planned on-site registration process, volunteer staff siphoning money off the top, missing chunks of data, lack of registration statistics, or any number of other potential problems that have caused things like people waiting in line for HOURS. This is always worth the investment. Just make sure you shop around and ask other large conventions (even on the other side of the country) who they use and what issues they have.
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Purity-san
Con Regular
Posts: 77
Loc: San Antonio, TX
Reg: 02-13-07
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08-15-12 01:03 PM - Post#11306
In response to PatrickD
Like I said, no more than 10 or 15 for "staff" and then 100 or so for members, which we'll use the "write your own name" onto the badge.
So Kinkos and a lamination machine.
I need a lamination machine. XD
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PatrickD
Executive Producer
Posts: 5073
Loc: California
Reg: 12-07-06
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08-15-12 02:08 PM - Post#11308
In response to Purity-san
I need a lamination machine. XD
Get 2 or 3. When one breaks at the con, you don't want to be stuck.
...and if you never end up needing it and don't open the box, bring it back to the store. (Check their return policy first.)
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Proz
Con Addict
Posts: 141
Loc: Texas
Reg: 08-08-07
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08-15-12 10:15 PM - Post#11310
In response to PatrickD
For minimal amount of laminating for a 100 badges, get a Scotch TL910. Sells for ~$30 at Wal-Mart. Used it for years, works great.
If you decide to print them yourselves then look into a ream of 250 count cardstock. Has a heavier 'weight' than regular paper.
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Purity-san
Con Regular
Posts: 77
Loc: San Antonio, TX
Reg: 02-13-07
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08-15-12 10:44 PM - Post#11311
In response to Proz
Thanks guys. :3
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Cimmy
Newbie
Posts: 1
Loc: Indianapolis
Reg: 08-18-12
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08-19-12 04:44 AM - Post#11329
In response to Purity-san
Another thought for printing is to speak with your local news paper they have a printing facility that produces their newspaper and other printed products. They could lead you in the right direction on a professional badge background. While this may not be the cheapest option it could be the most economical in the long run as the size of your con grows.
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Daniel DAmours
Attendee
Posts: 26
Loc: Thunder Bay
Reg: 04-11-08
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06-13-13 01:29 AM - Post#12518
In response to Cimmy
If you have access to paypal or a credit card, I personally recommend 4x3 badge kits. Most of these kits will run you from $.25 to $.50 a badge + ink costs. They come with the badge holders, 8.5/11 perforated cardstock, and strings.
It costs us about $150, that's including the ink, to print 300 badges. It's a bit more expensive than investing in laminaters, but they look much better in my opinion.
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