Learn the basics
Edge-to-Edge vs Over-the-Edge Printing
0:37 · Published February 5, 2026 · Watch on YouTube
Most ID card printers stop a hair short of the card's edge. This short video shows where that border comes from and when it is worth paying for a printer that prints past it.
Where the border comes from
Most ID card printers sold today use edge-to-edge printing. The design runs very close to the edge of the card but leaves a thin white border. Direct-to-card printers such as the Magicard 300 and the Evolis Primacy 2 work this way, and on everyday employee badges the border is rarely noticed. These printers are reliable and fast, which is why they are the default choice.
Over-the-edge printing, also called high-definition or retransfer printing, prints slightly past the edge of the card. A printer like the Fargo HDP5000e uses it to deliver deeper color and sharper detail with no border at all. It matters most when the card carries a large photo or a dark, full-color background and the finished card needs to look premium.
The short version
- Edge-to-edge printing leaves a border about the width of a hair.
- Over-the-edge printing covers the whole face of the card.
- For standard ID badges, edge-to-edge is reliable, fast and usually all you need.
- If photo quality and a premium finish come first, look at a retransfer printer.
