An indent printing apparatus for use in a desktop card printer or in a central card issuance system for performing indent printing on a card, comprising: a first indent wheel positioned on a first side of a card transport path through the indent printing apparatus and positioned to contact a first side surface of the card, the first indent wheel is rotatable about an axis that is generally perpendicular to the card transport path and parallel to the first side surface, and the first indent wheel includes at least one indent character; a wheel positioned on a second side of the card transport path opposite the first indent wheel, the wheel includes a first anvil positioned to contact a second side surface of the card during indent printing by the first indent wheel; a first indent ribbon on the first side of the card transport path; characterized in that said indent printing apparatus further comprises: a second indent wheel positioned on the second side of the card transport path and positioned to contact the second side surface of the card, the second indent wheel is rotatable about an axis that is generally parallel to the rotation axis of the first indent wheel, and the second indent wheel including at least one indent character; a wheel positioned on the first side of the card transport path opposite the second indent wheel, the wheel includes a second anvil positioned to contact the first side surface of the card during indent printing by the second indent wheel; and a second indent ribbon on the second side of the card transport path. a first indent wheel positioned on a first side of a card transport path through the indent printing apparatus and positioned to contact a first side surface of the card, the first indent wheel is rotatable about an axis that is generally perpendicular to the card transport path and parallel to the first side surface, and the first indent wheel includes at least one indent character; a wheel positioned on a second side of the card transport path opposite the first indent wheel, the wheel includes a first anvil positioned to contact a second side surface of the card during indent printing by the first indent wheel; a first indent ribbon on the first side of the card transport path; characterized in that said indent printing apparatus further comprises: a second indent wheel positioned on the second side of the card transport path and positioned to contact the second side surface of the card, the second indent wheel is rotatable about an axis that is generally parallel to the rotation axis of the first indent wheel, and the second indent wheel including at least one indent character; a wheel positioned on the first side of the card transport path opposite the second indent wheel, the wheel includes a second anvil positioned to contact the first side surface of the card during indent printing by the second indent wheel; and a second indent ribbon on the second side of the card transport path. a second indent wheel positioned on the second side of the card transport path and positioned to contact the second side surface of the card, the second indent wheel is rotatable about an axis that is generally parallel to the rotation axis of the first indent wheel, and the second indent wheel including at least one indent character; a wheel positioned on the first side of the card transport path opposite the second indent wheel, the wheel includes a second anvil positioned to contact the first side surface of the card during indent printing by the second indent wheel; and a second indent ribbon on the second side of the card transport path.