Photo identification cards are generally produced using either a labor intensive, traditional film-based method or an easier and more practical one-step process using digital printing technology.

The old-fashioned cut/paste/laminate method for producing photographic ID cards is a multi-step process:

First, take an instant photo of the person, cut and trim the picture to fit the card.
Then, separately print the person's ID information on a card-sized piece of paper or card stock.
Last, laminate the picture and card together.

This archaic process has been widely used in various applications including student ID cards, employee ID badges, club membership cards, and driver's licenses. Cards produced by this method are easily counterfeited or changed. Generating cards this way can be both time consuming and labor intensive.

Digital card printing is more efficient and secure.

Digital card printing is a one step process - text, graphics and pictures are physically printed on a card directly from a computer system, without any user intervention. These cards are usually the same size as a standard credit card and made of a plastic called Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). Plastic cards can be printed in monochrome or full color, front side only or on both sides.