The Entrust Sigma DS3 is the security-focused printer in the Sigma direct-to-card line. It prints single- or dual-sided cards at up to 250 cards per hour, and it is the model to choose when the credential itself has to resist copying — with an optional 600 dpi build for micro-text and fine security artwork, and an optional inline lamination module for a tamper-evident overlay.
Configure it to the card program you actually run: pick your resolution, your print configuration, and whether cards need lamination. Every build ships with USB and Ethernet, a 125-card input hopper, and a 36-month manufacturer warranty.
Why Choose the Sigma DS3
- Choice of 300 or 600 dpi — 300 dpi covers standard photo ID work; 600 dpi renders complex fonts, miniature QR codes, and micro-sized security printing that lower-resolution printers blur.
- Single or dual-sided — up to 250 cards per hour single-sided colour and 180 cards per hour dual-sided colour at 300 dpi.
- Optional inline lamination — apply a protective or holographic overlay in the same pass, for credentials that need to last and to visibly resist tampering.
- Layered security — secure boot firmware authentication, a Trusted Platform Module holding an Entrust-backed TLS certificate, UV printing support, and Zero Trust networking via RADIUS-enabled IEEE 802.1x.
- Network-ready as standard — USB and Ethernet included, with optional 802.11g/n/ac dual-band wireless.
- Rewritable card support — reuse visitor and temporary cards instead of reprinting them.
Choose Your Configuration
The DS3 is ordered as a configured unit. Three decisions determine your part number:
- Resolution — 300 dpi (300 x 600, 300 x 1200) or 600 dpi (600 x 600 colour and monochrome, 600 x 300 colour selectable).
- Print configuration — True Simplex for the lowest-cost single-sided build, Simplex for single-sided printing on the standard DS3 platform, or Duplex for dual-sided cards.
- Lamination — with or without the inline Sigma Card Lamination Module.
Not sure which combination fits? Tell us your annual card volume and whether your cards carry security features, and our team will spec it for you.
Print Speeds
- 300 dpi, colour single-sided: up to 250 cards per hour
- 300 dpi, colour dual-sided: up to 180 cards per hour
- 300 dpi with lamination and tactile impression (YMCK): up to 195 cards per hour
- 600 dpi, colour single-sided (YMCKT): up to 120 cards per hour
- 600 dpi, colour single-sided with laminate (YMCK): up to 150 cards per hour
- 600 dpi, monochrome single-sided: up to 500 cards per hour
- 600 dpi, monochrome dual-sided: up to 255 cards per hou
Encoding Options
- Magnetic stripe encoding — available as a factory option
- Contact smart card — ISO 7816 T=0 (T=1), Class A 5V (3V and 1.8V)
- Contactless smart card — available as a factory option
Encoders are built in at time of order, so confirm your access control platform with us before you buy.
Supplies and Media
The DS3 uses genuine Entrust prefilled ribbon cassettes — colour ribbons rated from 250 to 650 images, monochrome ribbons averaging 2,500 images, and laminate or overlay materials from 300 to 1,000 images depending on type. Genuine Entrust supplies keep colour consistent and protect your warranty.
Ahearn & Soper is an authorized Entrust dealer with Canadian service and supplies support. Compare the DS3 with the Sigma DS2 and the single-sided Sigma DS1, browse our full range of ID card printers, ribbons, and cleaning kits, or contact our team to configure the right DS3 for your card program.
