If you get a computer, software, and printer to make ID badges, you will almost certainly have the option to use pre-designed layouts. In many cases, this will be the quickest and most efficient way of getting things done, and it will be sufficient to your purposes. Occasionally, however, you may need to include information other than that which is included in the pre-designed templates.

In some buildings, you may want to restrict visitor access to certain floors or certain areas. Once you let someone in the building, however, he would be able to roam anywhere he chose--unless there was a visible identifying mark on his guest pass that would get the attention of employees who would know that he wasn't supposed to be in their work area. Color coded or customized badges are a great way to make it easy for anyone to see right away where a visitor is supposed to be.

Customized Badges to Enhance Security

If you work in a very high security location, you will certainly have additional means of tracking your visitors, but customized name tags can still be desirable. You may want to print on the name tag the exact time of a visitor's appointment, or the name of the person with whom they are meeting. You may even print the name of an employee who is supposed to be with the visitor at all times, and make sure your staff is trained to look at visitors' badges to ensure that they are with their designated hosts.

You may also want to be able to create name badges that will let your employees, staff, or students know a little more about a visitor. If you work with children, you might want to customize visitors' badges with graphics or easy-to-read text. A flexible software program would let you import graphics or clip-art and different fonts to make friendly and appealing customized badges. Better yet, you can have the badge manufacturer custom print your badges on professional printing presses. This enhances any company's image while helping reduce the risk of counterfeit badges being used to access facilities.