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Badge Printing

Badge design, printer setup, and visitor badge management
By KYBER
2 articles

Designing Custom Visitor Badges

A well-designed visitor badge serves multiple purposes: it identifies visitors at a glance, reinforces your brand, communicates visitor type through color coding, and provides a scannable QR code for verification. KyberAccess includes a full badge template editor that lets you design professional badges tailored to your organization. Accessing the Badge Template Editor 1. Navigate to Settings > Badges > Badge Templates from the main sidebar. 2. You will see a list of existing badge templates (if any). KyberAccess includes a Default Badge template to get you started. 3. Click Create New Template to design a badge from scratch, or click the pencil icon next to an existing template to edit it. The Badge Template Editor opens in a visual drag-and-drop interface with a live preview on the right side. Editor Layout The editor is divided into three areas: - Left Panel — Field Library: All available fields you can add to the badge (Name, Photo, QR Code, Company, Date, etc.). - Center — Design Canvas: The badge layout where you arrange and position elements by dragging them. - Right Panel — Properties: Configuration options for the currently selected element (font size, alignment, color, position). Adding Your Organization Logo 1. In the Field Library (left panel), click Logo. 2. The logo element appears on the design canvas. 3. Click the logo on the canvas to select it. In the Properties panel: - Click Upload Logo to upload your organization's logo file (PNG, JPG, or SVG, recommended minimum 300x300px). - Adjust Width and Height to size the logo appropriately. - Set Position using the X/Y coordinates or drag the logo to your preferred location on the badge. - Toggle Maintain Aspect Ratio to prevent distortion. 4. The live preview updates immediately as you make changes. Adding Visitor Information Fields Add dynamic fields that automatically populate with each visitor's information at check-in: 1. From the Field Library, drag any of the following fields onto the canvas: - Visitor Name — The visitor's full name. - Company — The visitor's company or organization. - Host Name — The name of the person they are visiting. - Visit Date — The date of the visit. - Check-In Time — The time the visitor checked in. - Visitor Type — The category of visitor (Guest, Contractor, VIP, etc.). - Location/Floor — The area the visitor is authorized to access. - Badge Number — A unique sequential badge number. - Custom Fields — Any custom fields you have configured in your check-in flow. 2. Select any field on the canvas to configure it in the Properties panel: - Font Family — Choose from available fonts (Arial, Helvetica, Roboto, or upload a custom font). - Font Size — Set the text size in points. - Font Weight — Regular, Bold, or Light. - Text Color — Use the color picker or enter a hex code. - Alignment — Left, Center, or Right. - Max Characters — Set a character limit to prevent text overflow on small badges. - Label Visibility — Toggle whether to show a label above the field (e.g., show "HOST:" above the host name). Adding a QR Code The QR code allows security staff to scan and verify a visitor's identity and check-in status: 1. Drag the QR Code element from the Field Library onto the canvas. 2. Position and resize it. Recommended minimum size is 20mm x 20mm for reliable scanning. 3. In the Properties panel, configure: - Data Encoded — By default, the QR code contains the visitor's unique check-in ID. You can also include: Visitor Name, Badge Number, or a Custom URL. - Error Correction Level — Low, Medium, Quartile, or High. Higher levels make the QR code more scannable even if partially damaged but increase code density. Medium is recommended. - Foreground Color — The color of the QR code dots (default: black). Ensure sufficient contrast with the background. Adding a Visitor Photo 1. Drag the Photo element from the Field Library onto the canvas. 2. Position and size the photo frame. Common sizes are 25mm x 30mm or 30mm x 35mm. 3. In the Properties panel: - Shape — Choose Rectangle, Rounded Rectangle, or Circle. - Border — Toggle border on/off. Set border color and width. - Placeholder — Choose what displays if no photo was captured: a generic silhouette icon, initials, or leave blank. - Fit Mode — Cover (fills the frame, may crop) or Contain (fits entirely within the frame, may have whitespace). Layout Options Customize the overall badge layout: Badge Orientation - Portrait — Taller than wide (standard for clip-on badges). - Landscape — Wider than tall (common for adhesive labels). Switch orientation by clicking the Orientation toggle in the top toolbar. Background 1. Click on an empty area of the canvas (deselect all elements). 2. In the Properties panel, set: - Background Color — Solid color using the color picker. - Background Image — Upload a background pattern or branded design. Set opacity to layer it behind other elements. Grid and Snap - Toggle Show Grid in the toolbar to display alignment guides. - Toggle Snap to Grid to automatically align elements to grid lines for precise layouts. - Use Snap to Elements to align items relative to each other. Layers Elements can overlap. Use the layer controls in the Properties panel: - Bring to Front — Move the selected element above all others. - Send to Back — Move it behind all others. - Move Forward/Backward — Adjust one layer at a time. Color Coding by Visitor Type Color-coded badges let staff instantly identify what type of visitor is in the building: 1. In the Badge Template Editor, click Visitor Type Colors in the top toolbar. 2. A panel opens showing all configured visitor types: - Guest — Default: White - Contractor — Default: Yellow - VIP — Default: Gold - Interview — Default: Blue - Delivery — Default: Green - Restricted — Default: Red 3. Click the color swatch next to any visitor type to change its color. 4. Choose how the color is applied: - Header Bar — A colored strip at the top or bottom of the badge. - Border — The entire badge border changes color. - Background — The entire badge background changes color. - Text — The visitor type text is displayed in the assigned color. 5. Click Save Colors. When a badge is printed, the system automatically applies the correct color based on the visitor's type. Badge Size Settings for Label Printers Configure badge dimensions to match your label stock: 1. In the Badge Template Editor, click Badge Size in the top toolbar. 2. Choose from preset sizes or enter custom dimensions: - Dymo 30256 — 59mm x 102mm (shipping label, large badge). - Dymo 30336 — 25mm x 54mm (small multipurpose, compact badge). - Dymo 30252 — 28mm x 89mm (address label, standard badge). - Brother DK-1201 — 29mm x 90mm (standard address label). - Brother DK-1202 — 62mm x 100mm (shipping label, large badge). - Brother DK-2205 — 62mm continuous roll (custom length). - Custom Size — Enter width and height in millimeters. 3. Set Margins (top, bottom, left, right) in millimeters. 4. Click Apply Size. The design canvas immediately resizes to match, and all elements adjust proportionally. Review the layout and reposition elements if needed. Saving and Managing Templates Saving Your Template 1. Click Save Template in the top-right corner. 2. Enter a Template Name (e.g., "Standard Visitor Badge", "Contractor Badge", "VIP Badge"). 3. Optionally assign it as the Default Template for one or more visitor types. 4. Click Save. Setting Default Templates You can assign different badge templates to different visitor types: 1. Go to Settings > Badges > Template Assignment. 2. For each visitor type, select which badge template to use from the dropdown. 3. Click Save Assignments. When a visitor checks in, the system automatically selects the correct badge template based on their visitor type. Duplicating Templates To create a variation of an existing template: 1. On the Badge Templates list, click the three-dot menu next to a template. 2. Select Duplicate. 3. The duplicate opens in the editor with "(Copy)" appended to the name. Make your changes and save. Best Practices - Keep badges readable — Use a minimum 10pt font for names and 8pt for secondary information. Avoid overcrowding. - Test print before deploying — Always print a test badge on your actual label stock to verify alignment and readability. - Use high-contrast colors — Ensure text is legible against the background, especially with color-coded badges. - Include a QR code — Even if you do not actively scan badges, having a QR code provides a verification option for security. - Match badge size to your use case — Larger badges (Dymo 30256) work well for clip-on lanyards; smaller labels (Dymo 30336) suit adhesive name tags. - Review templates periodically — Update logos, colors, and layouts when your branding changes.

Last updated on Apr 25, 2026

Printing Visitor Badges

Once you have designed your badge templates, the next step is connecting a printer and configuring how badges are printed. KyberAccess supports automatic printing on check-in, manual reprints, and multi-location printer configurations to ensure every visitor receives a badge seamlessly. Connecting a Label Printer KyberAccess works with popular label printers from Dymo and Brother. Follow these steps to connect your printer: Supported Printers - Dymo LabelWriter 450 — USB connection, widely used for visitor badges. - Dymo LabelWriter 550 — USB connection, newer model with improved print quality. - Dymo LabelWriter Wireless — Wi-Fi or USB connection. - Brother QL-820NWB — USB, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. Recommended for wireless setups. - Brother QL-1110NWB — Wide-format labels, USB, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. - Brother QL-800 — USB connection, two-color printing (black and red). Installation Steps 1. Install the printer's driver software on the computer or device connected to your kiosk: - Dymo: Download DYMO Connect from dymo.com. - Brother: Download P-touch Editor and printer driver from brother.com. 2. Connect the printer via USB or configure Wi-Fi/Bluetooth per the manufacturer's instructions. 3. Print a test page from your computer's print dialog to confirm the printer is working. Configuring the Printer in KyberAccess 1. Navigate to Settings > Badges > Printers from the main sidebar. 2. Click Add Printer. 3. The system will scan for available printers. Select your printer from the detected list. - If the printer is not detected automatically, click Add Manually and enter: - Printer Name — A friendly name (e.g., "Lobby Printer", "Reception Badge Printer"). - Connection Type — USB, Network (IP address), or Cloud. - IP Address/Port — For network-connected printers. 4. Click Test Print to send a sample badge to the printer. Verify the output. 5. Click Save Printer. The printer now appears in your printer list and is available for badge printing. Print-on-Check-In (Auto-Print) The most common setup is automatic badge printing whenever a visitor completes the check-in process: Enabling Auto-Print 1. Go to Settings > Badges > Print Settings. 2. Toggle Auto-Print on Check-In to On. 3. Configure the auto-print options: - Printer Selection — Choose which printer to use for auto-printing. If you have multiple printers, select the one connected to the check-in location. - Template Selection — Choose Auto (by Visitor Type) to use the template assigned to each visitor type, or select a specific template for all prints. - Print Delay — Set a delay in seconds between check-in completion and print (default: 2 seconds). This allows time for the visitor's photo to process. - Number of Copies — Usually 1. Set to 2 if you need a duplicate (e.g., one for the visitor, one for records). 4. Click Save Settings. How Auto-Print Works When a visitor completes check-in on the kiosk: 1. The system captures all visitor data (name, company, host, photo, etc.). 2. The badge template is populated with the visitor's information. 3. After the configured delay, the badge is sent to the designated printer. 4. The badge prints automatically. The kiosk displays a message: "Your badge is printing. Please collect it from the printer." If the printer is offline or encounters an error, the kiosk displays: "Badge printing is temporarily unavailable. Please see the receptionist." The failed print job is queued and can be retried manually. Manual Badge Printing and Reprints Sometimes you need to print a badge manually — for example, if a visitor lost their badge, the printer jammed, or auto-print was not enabled: Printing from the Visitor Log 1. Navigate to Visitors > Visitor Log from the main sidebar. 2. Find the visitor using the search bar or filters. 3. Click the visitor's name to open their visit details. 4. Click the Print Badge button. 5. Select the printer and template (defaults to the assigned template for their visitor type). 6. Click Print. Reprinting a Badge If a badge needs to be reprinted: 1. Follow the same steps as above — navigate to the visitor's entry in the Visitor Log. 2. Click Reprint Badge. 3. The system uses the same data from the original check-in. If information has changed (e.g., the visitor checked out and back in), the reprint reflects the current data. 4. Select the printer and click Print. Batch Printing For events or large groups of pre-registered visitors, print badges in bulk: 1. Go to Visitors > Pre-Registered. 2. Use the checkboxes to select the visitors you want to print badges for. 3. Click Batch Print Badges in the toolbar. 4. Select the printer and template. 5. Click Print All. The system queues all badges and prints them sequentially. A progress bar shows the printing status. Printer Selection Per Location If your organization has multiple locations or lobbies, each with its own kiosk and printer, configure location-specific printer assignments: 1. Navigate to Settings > Badges > Printers. 2. Click on a printer in the list to edit it. 3. In the Assigned Locations section, select which locations (lobbies, floors, buildings) this printer serves. 4. Click Save. Repeat for each printer. When auto-print is enabled, the system automatically selects the correct printer based on which kiosk the visitor checked in at. Fallback Printer 1. On the Printers page, click Set Fallback Printer. 2. Select a printer to use when the primary assigned printer is offline or unavailable. 3. Click Save. If the primary printer fails, the badge is automatically routed to the fallback printer. An alert notification is sent to administrators about the primary printer issue. Label Stock Recommendations Choosing the right label stock ensures your badges look professional and adhere properly: For Dymo Printers | Label Model | Size | Best For | |---|---|---| | Dymo 30256 | 59mm x 102mm | Large visitor badges with photo | | Dymo 30252 | 28mm x 89mm | Standard name badges | | Dymo 30336 | 25mm x 54mm | Compact name tags | | Dymo 30857 | 57mm x 57mm | Square badges | | Dymo 30854 | 57mm x 32mm | Lanyard insert cards | For Brother Printers | Label Model | Size | Best For | |---|---|---| | Brother DK-1201 | 29mm x 90mm | Standard address-style badges | | Brother DK-1202 | 62mm x 100mm | Large visitor badges with photo | | Brother DK-1234 | 60mm x 86mm | Name badge size | | Brother DK-2205 | 62mm continuous | Custom-length badges | Tips for Label Stock - Use genuine labels from Dymo or Brother for best print quality and reliable feeding. - Store labels in a cool, dry place — thermal labels are heat-sensitive and can darken or fade in warm environments. - Adhesive vs. non-adhesive — Adhesive labels stick directly to clothing. Non-adhesive labels require a lanyard or badge holder. - Order in bulk for cost savings. A roll of Dymo 30256 contains 300 labels and typically lasts 2-3 months at moderate visitor volume. Print Preview Before enabling auto-print or printing a batch, preview how badges will look: 1. Go to Settings > Badges > Badge Templates. 2. Click the Preview button next to any template. 3. The system generates a preview using sample data ("Jane Smith", "Acme Corp", etc.) and displays it on screen. 4. Check for: - Text alignment — Is all text properly positioned and readable? - Photo placement — Does the photo frame fit correctly? - QR code — Is it large enough to scan? - Color coding — Preview different visitor types to verify color application. - Margins — Ensure nothing is cut off at the edges. 5. Click Print Preview to send the sample badge to your connected printer and verify the physical output. Adjusting After Preview If the preview reveals issues: - Text cut off: Reduce font size or increase the field's max width in the Badge Template Editor. - Misalignment: Adjust margins in Badge Size settings or reposition elements on the canvas. - QR code too small: Increase the QR code element size to at least 20mm x 20mm. - Faded print: Check label stock quality and printer head cleanliness. Run the printer's built-in cleaning cycle. Troubleshooting Common Print Issues Badge Not Printing - Verify the printer is powered on and connected. - Check the printer status in Settings > Badges > Printers — a green indicator means connected; red means offline. - Ensure labels are loaded correctly and not jammed. - Try clicking Test Print to rule out a software issue. Poor Print Quality - Clean the print head using the manufacturer's recommended process. - Replace the label roll — old or improperly stored thermal labels produce faded prints. - Ensure the correct label size is selected in the badge template. Wrong Printer Selected - Check the location-to-printer assignment in Settings > Badges > Printers. - Verify that the kiosk is assigned to the correct location under Settings > Kiosks. Best Practices - Always run a test print after setting up a new printer or changing label stock. - Keep spare label rolls on hand to avoid running out during busy periods. - Assign printers to locations for multi-site deployments so the right printer is always used. - Configure a fallback printer to handle hardware failures gracefully. - Enable the print delay (2-3 seconds) when using photo badges to ensure the image is fully processed before printing. - Clean your print head monthly for consistent print quality.

Last updated on Apr 25, 2026