Prerequisite Skills

Event Mobile Passes & Badges

On-demand Badge Printing is a comprehensive, self-service solution that eliminates the need for pre-printing or outsourcing to third-party event technology companies. Our system supports efficient configuration of event badges with a polished, professional look.

Customize your event badges using liquid markup, merge fields, and conditional logic. Our event badge service also lets you scan and print badges on-site, which will automatically update a registrant’s status to “Attended”.

We designed the system to ensure badges are crafted to meet your precise specifications. Here's an example, which we used for guests and staff at Summit 2022 in Nashville:

How It Works

1. The e-ticket, using the same QR codes already available for scanning in the Slate app, can be scanned using a wireless barcode scanner that doesn't require Wi-Fi. The scanner connects wirelessly to its docking station via USB to the tablet or via Bluetooth.
   

2. Within less than a second, printing begins using either internal stock inside the printer or fanfold stock (for the poly badges) from outside the printer.
   

3. Within about three seconds, you'll have a fully-printed name badge in full color. A live-enqueuing process ensures scanning continues and the printers are fed data in a single-document, variable-pages approach that provides continued output during the peak of check-in.
   

Slate can run on any Windows laptop, desktop, or tablet, such as a Surface tablet. Download the registration data for the event locally (to ensure fast printing even if the network connection is spotty) and connect to the hardware peripherals to bring this together. 

Step 1: Purchasing the Required Hardware

Printer & Ink

Badge printing requires a specific printer and its own particular ink.

Epson ColorWorks CW-C4000 Color Inkjet Label Printer

Locate participating retailers on Epson's website. They can also be found at: 

• TexasLabelPrinters

• Dell Technologies, and others.

 

The CW-C4000 printer uses SJIC41P ink cartridges.

Available at Amazon, TexasLabelPrinters, Jet City Label, and others (you can purchase additional cartridges).

• Epson SJIC41P Ink Cartridges:

  • Black – SJIC41P-MK

  • Cyan – SJIC41P-C

  • Magenta – SJIC41P-M

  • Yellow – SJIC41P-Y

Epson TM-C3500 Color Label Printer

The TM-C3500 is an old model that is no longer available.

The TM-C3500 printer uses SJIC22P ink cartridges.

Available at Amazon, TexasLabelPrinters, Jet City Label, and others (you can purchase additional cartridges).

• Epson SJIC22P Ink Cartridges:

  • Black – C33S020577

  • Cyan – C33S020581

  • Magenta – C33S020582

  • Yellow – C33S020583

 

Hand Scanner (Zebra DS2278)

 Available at Amazon, Barcode Factory, POSGuys, and others.

Tablet or Laptop

These can be Surface Tablets or Windows Laptops. Must run Windows 10+ with a 64-bit Intel processor.

Name Badges

Technolutions partners with KLEERTECH to offer name badges that can be used for on-site badge printing. This partnership allows us to provide timely shipment and a discount in price, as we have purchased in bulk. While multiple sizes and formats of badge stocks will eventually be supported, this partnership currently offers the following style and format:

• 4”x 11”

• Matte poly ELC synthetic badge

• Fold at 5.5”

• Scan mark on back every 11”

• 2 slots

Step 2: Downloading the Required Software

The following software applications and drivers are required for badge printing:

• Printer Drivers: 

  • C3500 Printer Driver v2.6.0.1

    • Additional C3500 Downloads (not required)

  • C4000 Printer Driver v1.1.0.1

    • Additional C4000 Downloads (not required)

  • Additional Information and Links to Downloads

• Scanner Drivers

• Slate Desktop

• Microsoft .NET 6.0

• Scan to Connect Utility for Windows (required for Bluetooth scanners only)

Step 3: Purchasing the Badges

Before you can start printing badges, you'll need to purchase the blank labels. We provide a form in your database to purchase labels using our existing Deliver Credits system:

... and so on, up to ten boxes of labels at a time. Shipping costs are included in the total.

To purchase boxes of labels:

1. From the main navigation in your database, click Database.

2. Under Communications, click Deliver Configurations.

3. At the top right, click Order Paper.

4. Complete the form. Verify a mailing or shipping address before submission.
   

   

Step 4: Printing at the Event

Printer Setup

Before you can start printing, you must perform some initial physical setup, configure the printer settings on your Windows device, then reset the printer's media name.

Initial setup

1. Remove the roll of paper that was sent with the printer.

2. Open the front of the printer and remove the roll. 

3. Open the back flap, remove the round piece, and snap it into the front. The round part follows the contour of the printer.

4. Close the printer. Leave the printer on. 

5. Connect the Printer to your Windows device.

6. If you haven't already, install the appropriate Printer Driver from Epson. 

Reset the media name

1. Open the printer under its new name.

2. Click Edit Preferences.

3. Reset Media Name as Badge.

Setup specific to the EPSON TM-C3500

Scanner Setup

Performing a factory reset for each scanner

To configure a Zebra DS2278 barcode scanner for Slate, scan the following barcode once for each scanner. This barcode triggers a factory reset of the barcode scanner and will adjust the settings necessary for compatibility with Slate.

Configuring scanner settings on your Windows device

1. If you haven't already, install the required Scanner Drivers.

2. Click Install > Next > Complete > Finish.

In your event, make sure to configure your Mobile Pass. This pass should include the QR code that will be scanned at your event. 

Click on any individual registration on the event management page to view the merge fields/design of the Badge or Mobile Pass. 

Launching the Scanner

The Launch Scanner button is on the event management page. Clicking this button for the first time prompts you to download the Slate Desktop app, if you have not done so already. 

Clicking Launch Scanner again downloads all of your badges and stores them on your local device. When the Launch Scanner page opens, click the Refresh icon to pull in new registrations. 

The Search icon on the Launch Scanner page will enable you to manually print a badge without scanning. To search:

1. Type the name of the registration. 

2. Select their name from the results. 

3. Click Print.

The name badge then prints on demand.