Entrust Sigma DS1, DS2 and DS3: Which Printer Should You Choose?
A practical guide to the Entrust Sigma DS1, DS2 and DS3 direct-to-card printers, helping Zambian buyers match the right model to their needs.
Choosing an ID card printer shapes how quickly and securely your organisation issues cards for years to come. If you are comparing the Entrust Sigma DS1 DS2 DS3 range, this guide breaks down what separates each direct-to-card model so you can match the printer to your real needs, rather than paying for capacity you will never use or outgrowing a machine within months. Doneright Systems supplies, installs and supports the full Sigma range across Zambia, and the notes below reflect what matters when businesses, schools, NGOs, banks, mines and government choose a printer.
Overview of the Entrust Sigma DS series
The Entrust Sigma DS series is a family of direct-to-card (DTC) printers built on a shared platform, so they use the same software and consumables and behave in familiar ways. What changes across the line is throughput, single or dual-sided capability, and how far you can extend the printer with options such as lamination and security.
Direct-to-card printing prints your design straight onto the surface of a PVC or composite card using a dye-sublimation and resin ribbon. It is the most widely used and cost-effective ID card technology, well suited to staff badges, student cards, membership cards and most access-control cards.
The three models, in ascending order of capability, are the single-sided entry-level Sigma DS1, the single or dual-sided mid-range Sigma DS2, and the dual-sided higher-throughput Sigma DS3. Because they share a platform, you can standardise your team on one workflow and one set of consumables even where sites run different models, a real advantage for organisations with multiple branches.
Sigma DS1: the single-sided entry model
The Sigma DS1 is the starting point in the range. It prints on one side only, which suits the many programmes where all the required information fits on a single face: a photo, name, role, logo and perhaps a barcode or QR code.
The DS1 is a strong fit for:
- Small and medium businesses issuing staff ID badges
- Schools and colleges producing student and staff cards
- Clubs, churches and associations printing membership cards
- NGOs and clinics with low to moderate print volumes
If your cards are simple, your volumes are modest, and you do not need printing on the back, the DS1 gives you genuine Sigma build quality and software without paying for features you will not use. It is the easiest model to justify for a first in-house setup, and you stay inside the Sigma ecosystem, so ribbons, cards and the workflow carry over if you later add a higher model.
Sigma DS2: single or dual-sided for growing programmes
The Sigma DS2 is the flexible middle option and, for many Zambian organisations, the natural choice. It can be configured for single-sided or dual-sided (duplex) printing, so you can print the front and back in one automated pass.
Dual-sided capability matters more than people expect. The back of a card is valuable space for:
- Terms and conditions, or a lost-card policy
- Emergency contact details or a QR code linking to more information
- A signature panel, magnetic stripe note or additional barcode
The DS2 suits growing programmes: organisations whose volumes are climbing, whose card designs are becoming richer, or who want two-sided printing without committing to the highest-throughput machine. If there is any chance your requirements will grow, the DS2 gives you headroom the DS1 does not, at reasonable cost.
Sigma DS3: high-throughput dual-sided for demanding sites
The Sigma DS3 is the top of the direct-to-card line, built for dual-sided printing at higher volume and for the most demanding environments. Where the DS1 and DS2 serve typical office and campus needs, the DS3 is aimed at sites that issue cards continuously or need the strongest security.
The DS3 is the right choice for:
- Banks and financial institutions issuing cards at scale
- Mines and large industrial employers with big, changing workforces
- Universities and large campuses handling high student throughput
- Government departments running national or regional programmes
The DS3 typically supports the widest range of options in the series, including lamination and advanced card-security features the entry models do not offer. If your cards need to survive years of daily handling, resist tampering, or carry visual security elements, the DS3 is built for it.
Shared features across the range
Because all three sit on the same Sigma platform, they share a common feature set that makes the range easy to live with.
Printer dashboard and remote management
Sigma printers include a browser-based dashboard, so administrators can check status, manage settings and monitor supplies from a networked computer rather than at the machine. For organisations running printers across several sites, this makes oversight simpler.
Built-in security
Security is designed into the platform rather than bolted on. Sigma printers support features that protect the device and the data flowing through it, which matters when you print credentials that grant access to buildings, systems or accounts. Higher models add further physical and visual security for the cards.
Ease of use
A clear interface, guided ribbon and card loading, and straightforward consumable changes mean staff can be trained quickly, a real benefit for organisations without dedicated IT teams. Doneright provides hands-on training on installation.
Genuine ribbons and consumables
All Sigma models use genuine Entrust ribbons and cleaning supplies. Authentic consumables protect print quality, keep the printer within warranty and avoid the reliability problems of counterfeit ribbons. Doneright issues genuine consumables from Lusaka stock, so you are not waiting on imports every time a ribbon runs low.
Lamination and tactile options
For cards that must last longer or resist fraud, the Sigma range supports lamination and tactile security options, with the broadest choice on the higher models, particularly the DS3.
- Lamination applies a clear or holographic overlay film that greatly increases a card's lifespan and abrasion resistance. Holographic laminates also add a visible, hard-to-copy security layer.
- Tactile and visual security options add raised or specialist elements that are difficult to reproduce, raising the bar for anyone attempting to forge a card.
If your cards are high value, high security, or need to survive years of daily use in tough conditions such as a mine site, lamination is worth serious consideration and points you towards the DS2 or DS3.
Matching the model to your volume and security needs
The cleanest way to choose is to weigh two things: how many cards you print, and how much security and durability each card requires.
| Consideration | DS1 | DS2 | DS3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Print volume | Low to moderate | Moderate to high | High and continuous |
| Sides printed | Single only | Single or dual | Dual |
| Lamination and security | Limited | Available | Widest range |
| Best suited to | Small business, schools, NGOs | Growing programmes, regional offices | Banks, mines, universities, government |
A simple way to decide:
- Choose the DS1 if cards are simple, single-sided and volumes are modest.
- Choose the DS2 if you want dual-sided flexibility and room to grow.
- Choose the DS3 if you print at scale or need the strongest security and lamination.
When unsure, plan for where your programme will be in two or three years, not only where it is today. The cost gap between models is usually small next to the disruption of replacing a printer you outgrow.
Doneright supplies, installs and supports the full Sigma range in Zambia
Doneright Systems Limited is a Lusaka-based supplier that sells, installs, trains on and supports ID card printers across Zambia, and we carry the full Entrust Sigma range alongside Entrust Artista, Zebra and Evolis printers. We hold genuine ribbons and consumables in Lusaka stock, so your printing does not stall waiting on shipments.
When you buy through Doneright you get more than a box. We help you select the right model, install and configure it, train your team, and provide ongoing support and genuine supplies, local backing that matters for organisations that cannot afford a printer sitting idle.
If you are still weighing the Entrust Sigma DS1 DS2 DS3 options, tell us your card volumes and security requirements and let us recommend a fit. Request a quote or ask our team for advice, and we will help you choose, supply, install and support the right Sigma printer.
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