If you want to purchase a system to print photo ID cards, you do not necessarily have to purchase a really expensive machine. Now, your regular laser ink jet printer will not be able to provide you with the services that you need, so you will have to purchase something with a little dollar sign on it, but you do not have to go broke when buying a photo id card printing systems. I would suggest that you look around locally and on the internet so that you can price out your options and find the best machine that will print just what you want and have the smaller dollar sign behind its name.