Bar codes and Packaging

     This article discusses issues to consider when placing or designing a bar code on a package.  A number of links to industry standards documents are available at the end of the article.  Before printing thousands of labels it is recommended you consult with a bar code professional to make sure to get it right the first time. 

1.Number assignment best practices - getting the number right

Usually the brand owner is responsible for assigning the bar code number. Whoever does it, extreme care should be taken to ensure an old number isn’t accidentally reassigned to a different product, or a new number isn’t accidentally assigned to more than one product. Often this happens when multiple copies of the product data base are kept. Good communication between various functions that must share the data base is not a sufficient solution to the possibility of number assignment mistakes. Build out the possibility with an airtight procedure that draws on one central number assignment agent and one data base.

And don’t forget that different sizes, weights, colors, flavors and other variations must be uniquely numbered. If your bar code numbers don’t reflect product distinctions, the sales and inventory replenishment figures can’t differentiate them either.

It is also very important that the correct symbology is used. Retail point-of-sale (POS) requires a UPC or one of its variants (EAN and JAN in other areas of the globe).  (1) (2-2)

2.Bar code design file

If at all possible create the bar code using a graphics program, not a font program. The problem with font programs is that they don’t always integrate into the larger graphics design file and can get corrupted. The bar code may still look like a bar code but it doesn’t decode properly.

Whatever kind of design program you’re using, design and use the bar code file at its final size (magnification). Never-never-never scale the bar code to make it fit the space left for it in the graphics design.

If your customer provides the bar code design file, make sure it is designed correctly or your process. It should have the correct bar width reduction factor and size (magnification) and, of course, the correct number assignment for the product package.

Always include the entire human-readable interpretation with the bar code and generate the bar code and human-readables together, never as separate operations.

UPC/EAN bar codes on consumer point-of-sale packaging should never be smaller than 80% magnification for offset printing, and never smaller than 100% for flexo printing. Unnecessary truncation (cutting down the height of the symbol) is not permitted by the GS1 specification. When it is absolutely necessary due to space limitations, it should be minimized. Truncation makes scanning the bar code less omni-directional, slowing down the POS process and aggravating retailers. 

More on Barcode Printing Specs (7).

3.Symbol placement

The GS1 specification requires the bar code to be located on or near the natural bottom of the package. The presence of a bar code in a location on the package which slows the point-of-sale process can trigger retailer charge-backs.

A package should never display more than one bar code on any side or facet.

Detailed specifications are available on the GS1.org website.(1)  (3)

4.Verify at every production step

The best time to verify is during a production process. Post-process verification is too late to make any essential adjustments to improve the quality of the bar code. Verification of pre-press bar code images may show negative bar width error because press gain has not yet occurred. Minus-side bar width errors should be approximately equal to design-imposed bar width reduction.

Pre-production is a great place to check symbology, encoded data against human-readables, check digits, symbol location and quiet zones.

Use an ISO-compliant verifier, not a scanner. Testing with a partially ISO compliant or non-compliant verifier is meaningless. Testing with a scanner is only go/no-go testing for that one scanner. It doesn’t signal emerging problems and doesn’t replicate the way other scanners behave.

5.Use your Verifier—and your head

Verifiers test and grade the ISO attributes of the bar code, but not whether the human-readables and the encoded data match. Nor do verifiers test for symbol truncation or location, or whether the correct symbology is present. Some verifiers do not test the symbol for correct structure, such as Application Identifiers in, for example, a coupon code.

      Choosing a bar code font, placement, bar code printing source and dealing with other variables requires patience and attention to detail.  Consulting with an expert can save you time and money in the long run and we encourage you to consider bringing in an expert. 

Written by John Nachtrieb

    Mr. Nachtrieb has 30+ years of hands-on experience in barcode technology. His team imaged the film master for the first commercially scanned barcode in North America (1974). His specialty is barcode quality. He created and hosts a highly customized barcode quality seminar which has been presented to 100's of companies, reaching thousands of quality-concerned people, helping them to avoid barcode problems and manage barcode-related risk.

(Assistance by Craig Aberle)

About Barcode-Test

A 30-year veteran of the bar code industry, John Nachtrieb and his company Barcode-Test help provide solutions for customers' bar code quality challenges. He assists product managers, package printers, and suppliers by managing bar code related risk, and supporting bar code integrity over the long haul. You can find more of his writing on bar code quality at the Barcode-Test blog.

Official Sources of specifications and informational guides

(1) GS1 General Specifications - http://www.gs1.org/docs/gsmp/barcodes/GS1_General_Specifications.pdf

(2) GS1 Bar code Implementation - http://www.gs1.org/barcodes/implementation

(3) GS1 Pick the Bar Code Placement - http://www.gs1.org/barcodes/implementation#9

(4) Getting Started With AIDC - Free white paper By AIMGLOBAL - http://www.aimglobal.org/?page=get_started

(5) Barcode Quality Step By Step - Connecting the Dots from the Verification Report to Solving Your Barcode Problems - Free white paper by Barcode-Test

(6) Assorted Bar Code Resources - http://barcode.com/assorted-bar-code-resources.html

(7) Bar Code Printing Methods -http://www.gs1.org/barcodes/technical/bar_code_printing_methods

(8) Why Bar Code Quality is More Important Than Ever - How Self-check out, Automated Sortation and Drug Dosing Require Higher Quality Codes -http://www.barcode-test.com/barcode-tutorial/bar-code-quality-more-important-than-ever/

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 Case Study:
Monster Inventory Problem Solved by Wasp Barcode Technologies   - Vendor Goes from Excel to a real Inventory Tracking system with great success

     There’s no denying that a monster truck show is exciting, fun, scary and memorable. Your adrenaline races as the air is filled with intoxicating fumes of hot engine oil and gas. Roars of trucks and cheers from spectators punctuate the announcer’s call of the next daring event. It’s impossible to not get caught up in the action, the thrills, the anticipation and the challenges.

     For the owners of the trucks, the scenario is markedly different. They want to be sure they have the parts they need to keep those monsters running at top condition. Many turn to Racesourse, a monster truck parts company based in Tomball, Texas. It has become the “go-to” company for truck racing components and found itself in a bit of a quandary. Managing inventory and supplying parts on order was once a complicated and serious challenge.

The Challenge
Racesource used an Excel spreadsheet to track inventory for the specialized sports of truck racing and trick driving. As the company grew, it was clear that there was a need to find a better way. The volume of inventory quickly became too much to manage, especially when tracking multiple items needed to assemble just one item or asset.

Paul Huffaker, Vice President of Racesource, researched inventory tracking options with specific attention to the reorder or manufacture of parts. He admitted that he often reordered or manufactured parts on hand, “simply because I didn’t know I had them, which was an unnecessary cost. I needed a system that could use the existing UPC codes to track the individual item as well as the assembly.”

The Solution
Huffaker evaluated several companies and selected Wasp Barcode Technologies for their Inventory Control v6 (ICv6). Their software provided a barcode tracking system that could work with existing UPC codes and effectively manage assemblies. Huffaker liked the idea of a downloadable free trial to see if the program worked with his company. Once satisfied, he looked to the barcode scanning and assembly tracking system.  “I found this system very intuitive and my guys got it from the start. The support from Wasp was incomparable when we had any questions,” he said.

The Results
The Wasp system has been in place since January 2012. Since that time, Racesource has been able to clearly label all inventory to create a numerical system that identifies every item individually with a barcode. This helps across the board with billing, manufacturing and reordering.

 Racesource has since been able to expand its services and increase its operational efficiency. A corresponding YouTube video Illustrates the effectiveness of Wasp’s inventory solution. Obviously time has been saved, but Racesource has also pared about $8,000 in the past year that was previously spent reordering unnecessary parts. Huffaker was straightforward in his approval for this software: “Wasp inventory control is fast, efficient, and very easy to use.”

About Wasp Barcode Technologies
Wasp Barcode Technologies headquartered in Plano, Texas, manufactures barcode software
and solutions. Solutions include barcode scanners, barcode printers, inventory software, asset
tracking, time and attendance systems, Point of Sale (POS) Systems and a range of barcode
labels and barcode accessories.

Written by Suzi Harkola

   Click to view the exciting YouTube video about this case study.

Other case studies you may find interesting

1. Barcodes & Mobile Computing: A Breath of Fresh Air for Family Respiratory ... the company began to realize additional quality improvement capabilites beyond improved inventory tracking, receiving, shipping, and overall accuracy. The handheld devices allowed for a variety of ...
2. Wash This: Washable RFID Technology for Hotel Linen and Uniform Tracking ... manual counts and searches.  Hotels using RFID technology have experienced various benefits, including enhanced guest experience, maximized use of the items, improved inventory tracking, increased ...

    Click for a list of bar code case studies and success stories

  Long range barcode scanning can be an effective way to reduce labor cost, improve safety and increase profitability in your warehousing management operations.

Mobile computers equipped with long range scanning capability are able to scan at distances exceeding 30 feet, yet many companies do not take advantage of long range scanning technology. At long range an employee can effectively read a barcode at a top tier storage rack, or pallet bin location across a shop floor without moving from their jitney or work area. Time savings can reach up to 2 minutes per scan, and safety concerns from reading at heights are eliminated.

Retro-reflective labels are typically used for scanning ranges beyond 10 feet. They have ground glass embedded in the label, which allows a laser scan to bounce in thousands of directions at once, effectively increasing the barcode range. They also reflect the laser pointer so the employee holding the gun can see they have properly placed the laser on the label. A non reflective surface will not show proper placement. That will make scanning beyond 10 feet nearly impossible.

Retro reflective labels are expensive. A 4 x 8 printed label can range in cost from $ 3.00 to $ 8.00 per each printed, depending on quantity ordered. This cost is offset by the labor saving time achieved with their use. At just 15 seconds labor savings per read, (and typically a long range read will save more time), scanning a label 1
time per day each work day saves 65 minutes per year. At an average cost of $ 12.00 per employee, the 1 label returned up to 4 times its cost in just 1 year. That does not factor in increased efficiency and safety.

Retro-reflective labels also work well outdoors where bright conditions can impede ability to see scanned image. They have a thermal transfer laminate which makes the labels highly durable for the harshest conditions indoors or out. The imprint method for these labels requires thermal transfer printing with a full resin ribbon. This will be very durable with high scratch and chemical resistance, and holds up well to UV exposure.

Standard non reflective labels with reduced barcode density, (more space between bars), can be used for long range scanning from 2 to 8 feet. This speeds up scanning in small warehouses or tight spaces.

Long range and extra long range readers used for these types of applications are typically housed in durable plastic housings. They use laser technology which is extremely efficient and more accurate when compared to other types of scanners. Laser scanners can read barcodes in bright or low light conditions, indoors and out.
Extra long-range laser scanners are ideal for use in work-in-process, warehouse management and in transit visibility applications.

For more information on long range barcode readers, retro-reflective labels, or for test samples of retro-reflective labels contact Paragon Print Systems, Inc. – The Barcode Factory at info@barcodefactory.com, or call 888.237.8525.

Contributed By Robert Hess, President Paragon Print Systems, Inc. 2021 Paragon Drive, Erie PA 16510

(The scanner shown above is the LS3408-ER by Motorola.  Capable of scanning up to 45 feet away, depending on bar code size. )

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Assorted Bar Code Resources and How-To's

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Barcode Beasties is a free gaming application designed for Android-based mobile devices. The current version of Beasties allows you to scan up to two barcodes via barcode scanning software available for free online. Once the scanning software is installed, Beasties will then allow you to scan barcodes via the Beasties interface. With a single tap on the screen barcodes are scanned automatically transforming them into magical creatures. With another touch of the main screen the Barcode Beasties begin to do battle. After an exchange of blows, one beast will eventually become victorious and be declared the winner.

Author, Richard Green, has now released a multi-player environment. The multi-player interface will allow online users to battle each other simultaneously.

Green has ingeniously incorporated Google Apps to be the back end enchantment making his dream totally feasible. With the use of Google services Richard will easily be able to support the up to fifty-thousand users he expects. The combined power of Google servers with Google apps will provide true scalability to meet his goal. Score one battle already won by the Beastie creator himself for having the knowledge and forethought to make his dream reality. Green is truly the wizard behind the scenes as he masterfully monitors the battlefield live while working even more magic in his English fortress.

A 3-D version of Beasties is expected to be released in approximately three to four months. The 3-D version will take this game to a new level. Children and adults will be spellbound by the stunning graphics anticipated to be employed.

Green now sees several niches for his Barcode Beasties game. Of course the main audience will be the mighty road warriors and kids in shopping carts. But even greater plans are in the works as Green explores the limits of his technical skills. He sees his gaming application possibly being used for bar code training, product marketing and even product line promotion.

The future looks bright for Richard Green. Years of hard work is now paying off. There is no limit to what he can achieve as he tactfully masters his engineering skills to produce cell phone magic. Leave it to an Englishman to take on the quest of making Barcode Beasties a reality through pure online wizardry and sorcery.

Game Author: Richard Green

Supported Systems: Android devices (Mobile Market Only)

Web Site: http://online.barcodebeasties.com

The Bar Code News is pleased to present our "Tag of the Week" series, written by Bret daCosta.  Known as the "Tag Master" for his artistic renderings of Microsoft Tag, Bret explains how his obsession began.

Hello, I am Bret daCosta, also known as the “Tag Master.” I am a contributing author and am humbled by the attention I have garnered from my friends at Barcode.com.

It is not by chance that I have been asked to write about my 2D bar code art. If I told you how it came to be that you are reading this you would surely find that life is more than just coincidence and random acts of controlled chaos. It truly is a small world. Enough said.

In December of 2010, as a result of another amazing series of events, I came to discover 2D bar codes and in particular the Microsoft Tag. Being of a curious nature and always looking for different approaches to art, I began to make very minor alterations to the standard Tag--both color and black and white. I was surprised to find that the Tags would still function with these minor changes. That was the beginning of my obsession.

I spent the last year at my computer for several hours a day, continuing to experiment with different techniques. In the process, I realized that I had stumbled upon something very special indeed, the ability to use the Microsoft Tag as my palette, in what I believe to be a new medium in art. This is art not just for art's sake, but art as a way to engage the observer in a fully interactive experience.

I will do my best to write about my design work on a weekly basis and hope that you enjoy reading about and viewing the planet's most extreme 2D bar codes.

This week, I present to you "Skinny Tag." Use your smart phone equipped with the Tag Reader App to unlock the my mobile gallery.

 The above artwork was designed by Bret daCosta.   You can see more of his work at http://www.2dartcode.com/  Use the Tag Reader app http://gettag.mobi to read 2D Logo Tags by daCosta, Microsoft Tag, QR Codes and NFC.

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What is a Bar Code Quiet Zone?   This article offers an explanation and illustration and we are grateful to Dennis Hensch at www.autoidsolutions.com for providing it.  (Please allow a few extra seconds for this article to load due to the number of illustrations)

 Quiet Zone Requirements Vary by Symbology...

Quiet zones (QZ) are the area around the bar code that must be kept clear of text, graphics, and any
other printing which also includes ensuring that the bar code is not too close to the edge of the label/packaging. 

Bar code scanners depend on the QZ to help identify the bar code. The lack of an adequate QZ can cause the bar code scanner to confuse the bar codes with text or graphics resulting in the scanner ignoring a valid symbol. Each symbology has a different QZ size requirement, however all quiet zones are based on the size of the Narrow Bar Width (NBW) for linear bar codes and Module (MDL) for 2D bar codes.

The most common QZ error is caused by print growth, especially with bar codes that have a bearer bar around the bar code. This happens when the packaging designer makes a bar code with exactly the minimum QZ but when printing the bearer bars, text, or graphics print slightly wider (or registration shifts) which reduces the QZ size and cause a failure. Because of this we suggest making your QZ 1X or 2X wider than the minimum to ensure your bar codes QZ meet the ISO/ANSI standards.

Examples of various quiet zone requirements:

Minimum quiet zone requirements by symbology:

About Auto ID Solutions:
With over 60 years of bar code experience and two GS1-US Certified Consultants among its three senior staff, Auto ID Solutions offers quick, simple and thorough troubleshooting of bar code issues, regardless of size or scope. In addition to consulting and troubleshooting, Auto ID Solutions provides a variety of bar code verification-related services including calibration, repair, re-certification and sales--all with a guaranteed 24-hour turnaround. If your production line has been shut down, you have received a financial penalty for a bar code issue, or you are simply looking to learn more about the bar coding process, please visit us at www.autoidsolutions.com for more information or call us directly at (866) 828-8643.

Useful Sources:

More information about Quiet Zones for bar codes can be found here:

GS1 Website - http://www.gs1.org/docs/gsmp/barcodes/GS1_General_Specifications.pdf

Other useful information about bar codes can be found here:

AIM - The Association for Automatic Identification and Mobility

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Computer Generated Solutions Inc. (CGS) announces that legendary leather outerwear producer Schott® N.Y.C.  has successfully implemented CGS' Leadtec™ shop floor control (SFC) solution at its Elizabeth, New Jersey manufacturing facility. The state-of-the-art production system utilizes small computer terminals and barcode scannersat more than 50 operator workstations to record all production events and payroll information as they occur in real-time. Schott expects the new system to increase productivity, reduce order throughput time, and improve overall plant efficiency.

 Schott N.Y.C. jackets come with a story that has been written over the course of more than 90 years, four generations of Schotts, and an American love affair with hitting the open road with the wind in your face and your troubles behind you.

In recent decades, Schott N.Y.C has continued to grow under the leadership of new generations of the Schott family. Product lines and styles have expanded, nylons and wools have grown in popularity, and accessories from bags to sunglasses can be found worldwide. But at the core of the business still lies the 100 year old factory just outside of New York City, now updated with the CGS Leadtec solution.

According to President Roz Schott, "Our old piecework payroll system was too cumbersome and it did not give us the accurate and timely information we needed to manage our business. Leadtec eliminates much of the non-productive employee time required in the old system and empowers our operators be more productive. It also gives our managers the information and visibility they need to manage the production floor and make better informed and more timely business decisions."

Schott sewing operators use their Leadtec terminals to clock in and out, scan barcode work coupons, change jobs, request pay and performance information, and as a coaching device to pace themselves and improve their performance. This real-time feedback also provides managers with increased visibility and production tracking capabilities needed to more effectively streamline production flow and improve overall efficiency.

"While we were initially concerned about how our people would react to the new system, we quickly realized that our operators were motivated by the ability to track their own numbers throughout the day and earn more money," continued Schott. "We are already seeing productivity and operational improvements from Leadtec and expect to achieve even more over time. By putting needed information at our fingertips, it is also helping us to find new and better ways to staff and equip each operation. We have some cases where productivity has increased by 40%."

Following a brief installation and training period, the new system went live at Schott early this year.

"We applaud Schott for achieving these significant improvements in just a short period of time," noted Jim Hoerig, Vice President of Manufacturing Solutions at CGS. "We are pleased to play a role in helping this impressive company improve the competitiveness and flexibility of its domestic manufacturing operations. We look forward to contributing to the continued progress and achievements at Schott."

Other articles that may interest you:

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Technology Resource Corporation (TRC) is emerging as the go-to provider nationwide for companies looking for innovative, customizable computer and audio-visual solutions for trade shows and events. Based in Princeton, New Jersey, TRC has built a reputation for trade show success with comprehensive support services and cutting edge IT solutions.

But as the company expanded and business kept rolling in, success brought a new pain point – the need to find a powerful yet compact 2D Bluetooth barcode scanner solution to take its burgeoning business to the next level – and to improve the flow of traffic at trade shows, collect leads and streamline follow-up.

“2D barcodes contain a lot of data and with a simple scan, attendees can share whatever information they want with you electronically,” says Steve Cooper, who co-founded TRC with partner Greg Lazzaro.

“The scanners we were looking at were expensive and bulky and they required a lot of battery power. Their footprint was simply too large for what we were trying to accomplish. One biggest pain point was how do we get this powerful 2D scan engine that fits our needs from a size and portability standpoint.”

After extensive research, Cooper discovered KoamTac, a worldwide innovator in Bluetooth barcode scanning technology. Ironically, he didn’t have too far to look– KoamTac is located literally right up the road from TRC along Princeton’s robust Route 1 business corridor.

Cooper says he met with KoamTac’s founder and CEO, Dr. Hanjin Lee, and fully explored the company’s entire product suite of KDC Bluetooth barcode scanners, card readers and accessories. Though surprised at the compact, fit-in-the-palm-of-your-hand size and as he admits, initially skeptical, Cooper quickly became a huge fan of KoamTac’s entire Bluetooth barcode scanner line, especially the KDC300.

“We did a lot of testing and prodding, and we were thrilled with the KDC300’s footprint, small for a 2D scanner, the smallest we know of, but our real assurance came from the scan engine itself,” says Cooper. “It was probably one of the most reliable can’t-miss imaging scan engines we found of all the devices we tested, including some of the bigger footprints and some of the bigger name brands, and we’ve been doing this a long time. We looked at each other and said, ‘This thing doesn’t miss.’”

KoamTac’s KDC300 has become a staple at all of TRC’s trade shows, any event where lead capture, retrieval and follow-up is a vital part of the interaction between the exhibitor and the attendee. Their ruggedness, durability and dependability have also made them the perfect technology partner for TRC’s college fair automation business.

“These scanners go through the wringer,” explains Cooper. “They get shipped from here to every venue; they’re packed en masse. We often put them on lanyards, and you wear them around your neck. People have a tendency to take them off and swing them around. They hit the table and they hit the floor. But they’ve been very durable and rugged, and in fact, we haven’t yet had an issue, even one with a physical drop.”

While portability and reliability have been the foundation of the KDC300’s success for TRC’s business, Cooper says what he truly appreciates is the relationship he and his company have forged with KoamTac and Dr. Hanjin Lee himself.

“A lot of people will sell you stuff, walk away and say great sale, good job, but Hanjin has made us feel like a partner rather than a customer. He is extremely responsive. It’s beyond what we expected,” he says.

Dr. Lee worked with the team at TRC to develop custom features for their scanners – a distinctive color with the company logo and a protective rubber boot. KoamTac’s tech support team also helped TRC develop software, work out firmware, and determine what works best for the business, not just today but down the road as new technologies continue to emerge.

As Cooper observes, “These scanners are allowing us to develop applications for the latest and greatest iOS platforms, Droid platforms, and move forward with all of those smartphone platforms. They’re allowing us to ride that wave into the future instead of watching that wave go by and trying to figure out how we’re going to catch up.”

About Technology Resource Corporation

Technology Resource Corporation (TRC) is the leading, single source provider of innovative, customizable computer and audio visual solutions for trade show and event success. TRC's cutting edge IT and AV solutions, registration products, rental equipment, and comprehensive support services enable you to efficiently and effectively manage every aspect of event planning and execution.

 About KoamTac, Inc

KoamTac was founded in 2002 by Dr. Hanjin Lee, an engineer and inventor who holds multiple patents in the scanning technology field and has many more pending. Dr. Lee's vision was to create a new market in the barcode world with an exciting new product with a quality and versatility that set it apart from the competition. He made his product universally compatible with all technology platforms --PCs, Android, Blackberry, iOS and Mac, and also saw the sweet spot in the market that opened up with the explosion of smartphone and tablet usage.

Other articles that may interest you:

Assorted Bar Code Resources and How-To's

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By now we've all seen, if not scanned, a QR code. But did you know that you don't need to be a corporate conglomerate to benefit from them in business or in life?

The BarCode News happily announces the launch of a new Free QR Code Generator here on barcode.com that allows our readers to experiment with the technology. 

The QR code has become widely recognized as an effective and innovative communication tool. Capable of marrying the physical with the digital, these 2D codes provide compelling reasons and applications for implementation. However, while QR code scans rise exponentially (increasing 1200% in Q4 of 2010), many people are unaware of how easily they can be created and utilized for personal or small business use.

The free QR Code Generator can be used to create multiple types of codes. The most popular code resolve is to contact information. Making a QR code on barcode.com is easy. Simply type your information into the fields provided and the Generator will produce a QR code that when scanned by any Android or iPhone smartphone will automatically populate the contact information in the phone's interface, adding it to the scanner's address book. This type of QR code is often seen incorporated into business cards. Another popular QR code created by the Generator stores the SSID, password and network type for a WiFi connection. Other types of QR codes created by the Generator include those that resolve to a phone number, email address or URL. All that is required to create any of these codes is typing information into the field provided and clicking a button.

“Part of our mission at The BarCode News is to make the industry accessible to those outside of it. The free QR Code Generator offers our readers a free and easy way to explore the technology and experiment with QR code applications in their own lives. This is not your father's barcode, relegated to packaging and libraries, it is a powerful and accessible tool that can be used by anyone to improve communication, productivity, organization-- the applications are unlimited. We encourage our readership to use the Generator and discover how barcodes can improve their lives.” says Craig Aberle, President, The BarCode News.

The BarCode News also offers a free 1D Barcode Generator.

We invite you to explore the free barcode generators and discover how barcodes can affect your world.

If you liked this article, also try:

Feel like a Barcode?

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2D barcodes are typically only discussed when it comes to advertising and marketing. I believe there is much potential for 2D barcodes when applied to sustainability. Tags can reduce wasteful paper products such as text books, ski trail maps, and technical manuals.

If you are not yet familiar with the 2D barcode, here is a brief overview.

2D barcodes, (two-dimensional barcodes), also referred to as QR Codes, stem from one-dimensional barcodes. Most people are familiar with the 1D vertical striped code because it has been prevalent throughout the retail industry for many years.

The 2D barcode is a graphical image that utilizes both vertical and horizontal lines, creating a much greater storage capacity than the original 1D barcode. These 2D barcodes can be scanned with most any smartphone to retrieve information about the product it is found on.

Can you think of some other potential green uses for 2D codes such as the Microsoft Tag?

The above artwork was designed by Bret daCosta.   You can see more of his work at http://www.2dartcode.com/  Use the Tag Reader app http://gettag.mobi to read 2D Logo Tags by daCosta, Microsoft Tag, QR Codes and NFC.

Follow the TagMaster on Facebook.

The Bar Code News is proud to feature creative and artistic uses of bar codes.  Other bar code artists interested in sharing their work may contact us here.

Related articles:

Tag of the Week: Art and the 2D Barcode

Microsoft Tag Artist Blends Bar Codes & Art

Creative 1D Bar Codes: The Wave of the Future

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Assorted Bar Code Resources and How-To's

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Have you seen this QR code sticker in traffic yet?

If you happen to see the sticker on a car that catches your eye in traffic and can't hop out to scan the QR code, you can simply make a note of the license plate number and input it into the website.

Carcle.com has tapped into the true essence and power of the QR code—it's ability to strike balance between the physical and the digital. While barcode scanning on our smartphones may, at first glance, seem like another step toward a world ruled by technology, in reality it adds a healthy dose of humanity back into our lives. It can allow us to access information about objects to which we are in close physical proximity.

Imagine seeing a car for sale in real life, then going to look for it on the internet. Make sense to me. As we continue to utilize QR codes and RFID to connect person to object we may actually find ourselves free to get up and roam about the cabin, if you will. This technology promises to merge our physical and digital realms in a way that will allow us to leave our computer screens while maintaining a connection to the information upon which we've become so dependent.

The Point of Sale News, an online magazine dedicated to the retail industry.

QR Codes Pave the Road to Fame

The Perfect Marriage of Physical and Digital

Thermal printers, both thermal transfer and direct thermal printers have been available since the late 1970’s, with Sato being the first company to introduce a bar code label printer. Today, other label printing options include impact, laser, and ink jet.

However, for the majority of industrial labels which are monochrome, single color labels, and even some pre-printed multi-color labels, thermal printing technology is still the industry standard.

Bar codes which are comprised of lines and spaces are designed to be read quickly and cleanly by the equipment scanning them. Most bar code printers print with tiny dots that are square shaped. These squares have straight edges, which is what bar code scanners like to read.

While the majority of thermal printers in operation are standard 203 dots per inch, this rather “low” resolution is just fine for most label printing. While 203 dpi equates to 8 dots per millimeter, 305 dot per inch resolution equates to 12 dots per millimeter.

So for label formats requiring tiny fonts, or curved logos, 305 dpi will provide a more suitable quality. Some printer companies also offer 400 dpi, and more recently 609 dpi print resolution.

A few years ago, Sato released their M84 pro printer which is the only printer on the market that allows for 3 different printhead resolutions. So if a company buys some 203 dpi M84 Pro printers, they have the ability to swap out 203, 305, and 609 dpi printheads in order to meet new or revised requirements.

Why does thermal printing, both direct thermal and thermal transfer printing, continue to dominate other label printing technologies?

Cost

Prices range as low as $300 for some low end desktop direct thermal printers. Printhead replacement for these may run $150. Decent industrial printers are priced in the $1500 range.

Media Options and Cost

The thermal papers and media are still the most cost effective, even when transfer ribbons are included. The thermal transfer printers can run papers, films, and foils when paired with the proper transfer ribbon; no laser or ink jet pre-treatment is necessary.

Thermal transfer imprinted with resin ribbons is extremely durable. These printer models will accept roll form or fanfolded stacks of label media. Also important here is the fact that a variety of different adhesives, particularly aggressive ones, can be run through a thermal printer.

Speed

Some of the newer printer models can print up to 10 inches per second. Even the older ones have plenty of speed at 4 or 6 inches per second. Also, thermal printing offers the fastest throughput—the time required to print the first label.

Durability

The majority of industrial model printers will hold up for a decade or more. I have several models in the field, both industrial and desktop, that have been going strong for over 10 years.

Connectivity Options

USB has become the norm, replacing the Centronics/Parallel connections. Serial is still an option on a lot of models. Ethernet connectivity is also popular since companies that operate several printers can easily assign each printer its own IP address and monitor on their network.

When we consider the other label printer options such as laser, ink-jet, and impact, they are not able to match the benefits listed above.

For example, laser based roll printers are priced in the $10,000 and $20,000 price range, and they can’t print on polypro films due to the heat from the fusers. Standard laser printers are inexpensive, but as a rule, sheet fed printers do not have label dispensing and application options; peeling by hand requires a lot of labor. The roll ink-jet printers are priced from $1,500 to the $4,000 range.

Ink-jet and laser media typically needs to be top-coated with a chemical to be more receptive for the ink/toner, and printing bar codes with ink jet uses a ton of ink—the ultra-high resolution often is not necessary for industrial labels.

Yes, laser and ink-jet offer ultra-high resolution printing. But again, for most label print jobs, this is unnecessary. Laser and ink jet also utilize round dots, which is not the best for bar code readers.

Ink-jet printing is fairly slow at up to 4 inches per second, and both laser and ink-jet require a much longer throughput time—the time required to queue up and print the first label. Impact printing is still the slowest, but for some applications it is the only choice.

While some laser printer models are quite durable, they do require more maintenance than thermal units. I have yet to own an ink jet, or laser printer, that functioned successfully for over 10 years.

Finally, most laser and ink-jet printers are USB—most do not offer the variety of different connectivity options as thermal models.

Of course when we start to discuss color label printing, this starts to get into a different realm. Even so, with thermal printing, labels can be pre-printed with color then imprinted with the variable information later. But for most high volume label jobs, printed in-house, low cost, fast, old fashioned thermal printers are still the way to go.

About RighterTrack

RighterTrack offers solutions in bar coding, tracking software, and labeling, including custom labels. For over 20 years, George Righter has helped customers in a wide variety of industries find the right labeling solution for their individual business application. To receive a printer recommendation for your needs and application please contact RighterTrack today. Follow George on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/RighterTrack.

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Are you using QR codes in your email signature? If not, you might want to start.

While not everyone is in agreement whether to include a QR code in your email signature (as many people read their email on their mobile phone), it's like many other forms of marketing - designed to reach some - not all - of your potential prospects.

If you decide to add a QR code to your email signature, be sure not to violate the cardinal rules of QR codes.

(1) Always direct a QR code URL to a mobile-enabled website. Don't annoy potential business or personal contacts by sending them to a site that appears tiny on their mobile device. The good news is that many websites are easily redirected to simpler mobile sites using a simple WordPress widget.

(2) When you create your personalized QR code, producing a smaller 2D code will reduce the file size for your email recipients.

(3) If you can, make the QR code clickable as well as scannable by a QR code reader. That way readers seeing your email on a mobile phone can easily access the information. (If you're not sure how to do that, we'll show you how below.)

If you're using an email service that includes an HTML editor - think Gmail, Outlook Express - then it's a piece of cake to add a QR code to your email signature. Here's what you need to do to add a QR code to your email signature using Gmail.

(1) First you'll need to create your personal or business QR code. You can link to a website, telephone number, vCard, or any number of things. I used QRStuff for this example. The nice thing about this free QR code generator is the URL shortener feature that keeps your QR code from getting too large. Download the image when you're finished.

(2) Then you'll need to find a place to host the QR code image. If you have a website, you can add the image to your Media Library. Then copy the URL that's attached to that image.

(3) Next log-in to your Gmail account and click on the gear icon in the upper right hand corner. Select Settings, and scroll down to Signature (under General options). You'll see an HTML editor.

(4) Create the text for your signature, then decide where you want to add the QR code.

(5) Click on the icon to add an image, and paste the URL for your personal QR code. You should see the image appear below. Click OK to close the window.

(6) Now you have the option of resizing your QR code. Select the image, grab one of the handles and drag it. As you click and drag, you'll see the size of the image in pixels.

(7) Now we'll add the finishing touch, allowing email recipients to either scan your personal QR code with a mobile bar code scanner or just click the image to access your information. (That means anyone reading your email on a mobile device can still read the QR code).

(8) Select the image again and click on the "chain link" icon. Add the URL. When you're finished, click "Save Changes" at the bottom of the page, compose a new email message and try out your new signature.

Watch the video below to learn how to add a QR code to your email signature in Gmail.

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Are you using a QR code as part of your email signature? Leave a comment below and let us know how it's working for you.

From QR to ER: QR Codes for Hospitals and Emergency Care - QR Codes have been used effectively in advertising campaigns to disseminate information quickly. Now they are being used to help save lives in emergency situations, too. By using a mobile device, paramedics ...

QR Codes Make History Come Alive - ... at the site itself. However, even audio tours can’t cover it all; generally they focus on major works or the life of a featured artist. In the past few years, some museums have embraced QR codes as a ...

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QR codes can be a great way to engage, motivate and inform diners. Used on both take-out and in-house menus, QR codes can deliver detailed information about nutritional analysis, calories, even Weight Watcher® points of various restaurant menu items, while keeping the printed menus graphically clean and easy to read.

For patrons with smart phones (which is almost everyone these days), a QR code on a take-out menu allows customers to place and pre-pay for an order in advance. This is a tremendous time-saver for the patron and a simple bookkeeping task for the restaurant. Additionally, a QR code can direct a customer to a graphic site that includes not only descriptions of the entrée but also photos. These can then be shared via Facebook and other social media. For calorie-conscious customers, providing nutritional and caloric values can be a strong benefit.

When used to power speedier transactions and provide timely information, the QR code is a useful tool for restaurateurs seeking to augment the customer experience. On takeout menus, dine-in menus and real world advertising, the QR code has a purposeful place. The key, of course, is to make the information relevant to the customer, rather than just a marketing gimmick.

Smart restaurants are using QR codes to increase traffic by smart phone users in several ways. Enticing customers to order meals through their phone is just the tip of the iceberg. By printing QR codes on take-out menus, customers benefit by the convenience of direct ordering and payment, with more detailed information about each of the menu items, through their phones; and the restaurant benefits by streamlining the order process, thus saving staff time. Additionally, the restaurant can up-sell, by prompting an interactive experience and avoiding the ordering line.

The mobile landing page launched by the QR code on a takeout menu could include hours, contact information, a map and directions. Special offers and feedback forms could also be part of the mobile-optimized experience. Of special benefit to repeat orderers, most QR readers have a history tab that logs previously visited sites, so the information can be referenced at a later date.

Done correctly, in sync with the restaurant’s overall marketing plan, the QR code transcends the label of “marketing gimmick.” It can easily become a roadmap to information to help customers make informed decisions about their menu selections based on appearance, nutritional value, ingredients (locally-produced veggies, for example) and more. It can, in a nutshell, be the best remote call to action a restaurant can take.

In this video, interlinkONE's Jason Pinto demonstrates how a QR Code could be used on a restaurant menu. The QR Code helps people to easily jump from printed material to the web, enabling them to access all of the information they need easily.

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We’ve all been there - shopping for that perfect pair of shoes in a department store.  If choosing the right pair wasn’t hard enough, finding out that your size or color of out-of-stock is even more frustrating.  Macy’s department store gave me a real treat on a recent shopping excursion.  As I browsed the shoe department I picked up a few pairs of shoes that were exactly what I “needed”.  I sighed as I handed the shoe salesman my choices expecting to be waiting for days while he meandered through the stock room in the back.   To my surprise, he whipped out a digital scanner from his holster (yes it was in a holster) and scanned the barcode on the bottom of each shoe.

Instantly he was able to tell me if the size I requested was in stock as well as the other colors the shoe came in! How’s that for service?  I was  elated.   Having a barcode tracking system like this is beneficial to both the retailer and the customer.   The barcode tracking system helps the store carefully control their inventory and pricing, manage their footwear vendors and even handle services like layaway.  Instant inventory updates let the salesperson know what’s in stock, on order, and in transit.  Customers are happier because it saves their time (for more shopping of course) and there is less frustration due to out-of-stock items because the inventory is being carefully managed.   Additionally, a technically progressive retailer like Macy’s can expect a repeat visits from customers who like the speedy accurate service.

For a girl that likes her shoes, and wants what she sees, shoes with a barcode tracking system are a little slice of heaven.

This video from Unitech shows a PDA in use to check shoe inventory - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMSJALonqPw&feature=channel&list=UL

This custom 2D bar code was created from a Microsoft App Download Tag. It recognizes the type of phone scanning it and automatically directs golfers to the right download for their specific device.

If you’re publishing a mobile app, use a custom Tag by daCosta with recognition technologies to target customers at the specific time and location they are most likely to need your app.

Print them on stickers, t-shirts and other swag.

The Bar Code News is proud to feature creative and artistic uses of bar codes.  Other bar code artists interested in sharing their work may contact us here.

The above artwork was designed by Bret daCosta.   You can see more of his work at http://www.2dartcode.com/  Use the Tag Reader app http://gettag.mobi to read 2D Logo Tags by daCosta, Microsoft Tag, QR Codes and NFC.

Check out these other cool Tags!

1. Tag of the Week: Chocolate Tag

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2. QR Codes All Around You

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3. 2D Barcodes offer a new way to store memories

   ... this.  Attach it to a photocard, storybook, box of chocolates, you name it. The barcode can then be scanned whenever you like to relive the moment,  or sent with a gift for a loved one to ...

4. Microsoft Tag the Best Tasting Barcode

   ... a chocolate with a barcode on it for some time. To be precise, I’ve been saving it since the January NRF show and the party at the Hard Rock Café, where attractive young Microsoft Marketing personnel were ...

    

   Enjoy this article?  Please Like us and tweet to your friends, by clicking some buttons below.

    Barcode.com, the bar code industry's hub for industry-related news, events and information, offers the world's largest online directory of its kind. 

The directory's database contains over 1,600 companies representing 50 countries, providing products and services related to the bar code and point of sale industries; categories include barcode scanners, barcode printers, barcode labels, bar code fonts, bar code software, used bar code equipment, manufacturers, distributors, resellers, mobile bar codes and more. The directory is offered as a free service to anyone seeking information in the field.

It is our goal at barcode.com to act as a hub for the industry. We provide a single source where readers can go to find answers to their barcode-related questions and stay up-to-date with industry news and advances. This directory of bar code companies satisfies an industry deficit; we are proud to offer the world's most comprehensive list and are confident that it will be of great benefit to our readers and colleagues in the field. 

The team at Barcode.com has been maintaining the list for over 3 years, and will continue growing the list by adding new companies. Companies in the barcode industry are invited to check the list for their inclusion and to add their company if it is not present.

Barcode.com also offers a weekly, daily or quarterly newsletter that is free to industry members and bar code enthusiasts. Click to subscribe.

About Barcode.com:

Barcode.com is a free, online magazine providing a single source for all industry-related news, information and advances. It also operates www.pointofsale.com as a news and information hub for the point of sale (POS) industry.

For more information, contact us here

www.barcode.com
www.pointofsale.com

   Is this material useful?  Let others know about it by using the buttons below to Like it, tweet it, send it to LinkedIn, etc.  Thanks!

  Be sure to click on the Resources link on the left for a variety of useful bar code tools and information.

 Written by Craig Aberle

More than 6,000 Assets Tagged

In the Richardson, Texas, police department, equipment check-ins and check-outs are mandatory with shift changes. Officers were spending up to 15 minutes each shift recording the serial number from every radio, shotgun, citation printer and other piece of equipment in the vehicle.
     It’s a time-consuming task that is also repetitive, boring and often not given a lot of attention. To address those issues, Richardson’s Police Chief Jimmy Spivey searched for technology that would make the shift transition easier and faster, and found it in Xerafy’s RFI (radio frequency identification) asset management software. Chief Spivy credits the new system for saving 7.5 to 12 hours of labor on this task per day, allowing his officers to better serve the community of Richardson through patrolling and intervention.

     RFID is certainly not a new concept in inventory management, but its deployment in Richardson is somewhat unique. The officers coming on shift use a handheld computer with an integrated RFID reader to do a quick sweep of the vehicle in which all elements needed to be inventoried are barcoded. Using GlobeRanger software, the reader automatically identifies the assets in the vehicle and records their serial numbers plus a time/date stamp of the scan, which is then updated in real time to the Richardson PD. Any missing parts can be instantly located or replaced, prior to the officer going on patrol. The system is not just saving time; it may be saving lives.

Police impersonators pose tremendous risk to the public, and Richardson’s PD wanted to do whatever possible to minimize that risk. Although turnover isn’t a huge issue, uniform replacements are frequent, and old pieces of uniforms are not always returned. Manual inventory was a difficult and time-consuming chore.

GlobeRanger provided its asset tracking system to the Richardson PD and worked with the department to find the best RFID tags for uniform tracking and to get all uniform items tagged. Now when new shirts, jackets or other items are issued, the officer presents his or her ID card, which is scanned along with the apparel item to associate it to the specific officer. The system has greatly improved record keeping accuracy while saving time.

One of the challenges faced by RFID tags is heat, and the heat inside unattended squad cars in Richardson routinely exceeds 120 degrees. GlobeRanger selected Xerafy to help it find the best tags and adhesives for the Richardson PD project.

With more than 6,000 tagged assets in the program, Richardson Police Department is using several types of Xerafy tags, enabling officers to complete the inventory in just a few seconds.

Saving lives, saving time, RFID provided a technological solution to a human resource challenge.

About Xerafy

Xerafy’s innovations have changed the price-performance ratio for RFID tags and made it possible for customers to track assets in a wide range of harsh environments. Xerafy provides read-on-metal tags that can be embedded directly into assets to meet a full range of needs for RFID asset tracking in the aerospace, industrial, data center, healthcare, energy and other industries. Xerafy is headquartered in Hong Kong and maintains U.S. sales and support offices in San Jose, Dallas and Minneapolis, and additional offices in the U.K. and China.

Written by Suzi Harkola

Did you enjoy this article or find it useful?  Please share it with others by using one of the buttons below.

(This article by Marsha A. Harmon was originally published in 2011, and remains one of our most popular articles)

Black and White

Have you ever looked at the black and white symbol on your grocery product packaging, or on the cover of a book that you just bought or even a department store receipt and wondered how the information is encoded in those bars and spaces? Understanding how a bar code symbol is constructed might even show you how to actually read a symbol without the aid of a scanner.

We're talking about linear bar codes here and not about two-dimensional (2D) symbols. Although the PDF417 symbol on the left below is constructed of rows of linear symbols stacked on top of one another and could technically be called a bar code, it is not possible to interpret what is encoded without the aid of a scanner. And even though the information from the QR Code symbol on the right can be easily decoded using a common cell phone application, it is not possible to visually interpret what is encoded.

2D symbols, whether stacked like the PDF417 symbol or matrix like the QR Code, encode information in two dimensions -- horizontally and vertically, which allows a large amount of data to be encoded in a small space. The symbols above contain the same 60 characters of information about the author of this article.

Code 39

A linear bar code, on the other hand, encodes information only horizontally and fewer characters can be encoded in the same amount of space. The Code 39 symbol below contains six characters of data, the first name of the author, and is about the same size as the PDF417 symbol above encoding 60 characters.

Code 39 is a common bar code used for various label applications such as on name badges and for inventory and industrial applications. It's easy to use and there is technically no limit to the number of characters that can be encoded in a symbol, although there are practical limits to consider regarding the usable length and how it will be read.

Code 39 was so named because the original character set consisted of 39 alphanumeric characters. Additional punctuation characters have since been added, expanding the character set to 43. It is also sometimes called Code 3 of 9 because each character encoded in the symbol consists of nine elements, five bars and four spaces, and three of the nine elements are wide.

The example below illustrates the encoded asterisk (*) sign, used as the start and stop characters in a Code 39 symbol. Start and stop characters tell the scanner when the bar code begins and ends. The asterisks are sometimes printed in the human readable interpretation, but not always. Conventionally, the character on the left is considered the "start," and the one on the right, the "stop." In a Code 39 symbol, the start and stop characters are the same, but that is not the case for all bar code symbologies.

Counting the bars and spaces in the example will give you a total of nine elements. Two of the bars and one space are wide and the remaining three bars and three spaces are narrow. This pattern is found at the beginning and end of every Code 39 symbol.

*

Another purpose of the encoded start and stop characters in a Code 39 symbol is to tell the scanner if it is reading left-to-right or right-to-left. If the pattern begins with a narrow bar followed by a wide space and a narrow bar, etc. it is scanning left to right. If the pattern begins with a narrow bar and then a narrow space and a wide space, etc. it is scanning right to left.

An important rule for all machine-readable symbols is the Quiet Zone, a blank area that tells the bar code reader or scanner where the data begins and ends and prevents the scanner from picking up information that is not part of the bar code. A quiet zone is required to completely surround a two dimensional symbol and at the beginning and end of a linear bar code. For a Code 39 symbol, the quiet zone will precede the start code and follow the stop code and should be ten times width of the narrow element. The narrow element is also known as the "X" dimension. Understanding this concept becomes more important when discussing other symbologies.

The "M" character below follows the same encoding rule as that of the asterisk character, but in a different pattern: wide bar, narrow space, wide bar, narrow space, narrow bar, narrow space, narrow bar, wide space, narrow bar.

M

Following are the remainder of the characters encoded in the symbol above.

A

R

S

H

Because Code 39 is a "discrete" symbology, it is possible, by looking closely, to identify the encoded asterisks at the beginning and end, as well as the individual letters in the Code 39 symbol above. In a discrete symbology, each of the characters is a standalone like the characters on a typewriter. As shown in the examples above, each of the characters is encoded to begin and end with a bar. This design requires a small space between the characters that serves no purpose but to separate the individual characters.

U.P.C.

The bar code we see in our daily lives is the symbol marked on our grocery product packages, the Universal Product Code, commonly called U.P.C. As a bit of trivia, the official abbreviation for this symbology should contain periods after each of the letters so there will be no confusion with references to the Uniform Plumbing Code, which has a trademark for the designation "UPC" without the periods.

The design of U.P.C. is much different from the design of Code 39, most notably because a U.P.C. symbol encodes only numeric characters and there is no inter-character space.

As with Code 39, a U.P.C. symbol begins and ends with a Quiet Zone. In U.P.C., the first and last human-readable numbers are sometimes placed outside the symbol to help protect the quiet zones.

Unique to U.P.C. are the three sets of "guard bars" at the start, middle and end of the symbol. These bars separate the encoded numbers on the right and left sides of the symbol and they establish timing for the scanner that reads the symbol.

The six digits encoded on the left side of the symbol identify the manufacturer of the item – 098756 in the example above. The first five digits on the right side, 50001 in the example symbol, is the item code.

Every item sold must have an item code, and because they're priced differently, each method of packaging for every item must have a separate item code. For example, a 12-ounce can of Coke requires a different item number from a 16-ounce bottle of Coke, a 6-pack of 12-ounce cans requires a different number than a 24-pack, etc. Surprising to many customers, the price of the item is not encoded in the item code. Instead, the cash register system retrieves the price from the store's database when the item is scanned at the checkout. This means, if there is a difference between the shelf price of the item and the price that rings up at checkout, it's an issue with the database and not a failure of the symbol.

There is an exception to the practice of not encoding the price in the symbol, and that is the Bookland EAN symbol (a version of U.P.C) on books. The five-digit add-on code to the right of the symbol designates the form of currency, (e.g., "5" equals U.S. dollars) followed by a four-digit price without the decimal point.

The final digit on the right side of every U.P.C. symbol is the check digit, a number created by a complicated mathematical calculation, that allows the scanner to determine if the number was correctly scanned. Most bar code symbologies incorporate the use of a check digit, and some methods are more complicated than others.

The printer software performs the initial check digit calculation from the information in the symbol and the checkout scanner performs the calculation each time it scans an item. If the check digit calculated at the point of sale is different from the check digit on the symbol, the scanner knows that something went wrong and the item needs to be rescanned.

Encoding a U.P.C. symbol

The "X" dimension in a bar code symbol refers to the width of the smallest bar. As is apparent in the example above, the bars and the spaces that make up a U.P.C. symbol are of various widths: they can be 1, 2, 3 or 4 times the width of the narrowest bar.

Each encoded number in a U.P.C. symbol has four elements assigned to it, 2 black and 2 white. The numbers on the left side of the symbol always begin with a space and have bars and spaces in a white-black-white-black order. The numbers on the right always begin with a bar and have the correlating bars and spaces in the opposite black-white-black-white order. Each number is allotted a total of 7 widths.

It's possible, by using the table below and with a bit of patience, to find the encoded numbers in the sample U.P.C. symbol above

Code 128

Of the many bar code symbologies left to choose from, the last one for review here is Code 128, so named because it encodes the complete character set of the American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) characters. The ASCII Code Chart below includes 128 characters, some of which are non-printable. The space character is considered a non-printing graphic.

As with Code 39, this symbology is alphanumeric. Like U.P.C., it uses bars and spaces of multiple widths to encode the data characters.

A Code 128 symbol is made up of six sections:

• Quiet Zone
• Start Character
• Encoded Data
• Check Character
• Stop Character
• Quiet Zone

But this is a complicated symbology. In Code 128, each encoded character is composed of three bars and three spaces, and like in U.P.C., a bar or space can be 1, 2, 3 or 4 units wide. In U.P.C., the total of the widths of the bars and spaces must equal 7 units. But in Code 128 the sum of the widths of the spaces must be odd, the sum of the widths of the bars must be even, and the total must equal 11 units per character. Whew!

And that's not all! Code 128 provides a choice of three code sets, to encode various combinations of upper or lower case alphabetic, numeric and special characters. One of the code sets allows two characters to be encoded in the space of one, which makes the symbol very space efficient. In addition, the character sets can be mixed in a single symbol, making it useful for a variety of applications.

"Red" all over?

For years industry experts have predicted the demise of the bar code in favor of new and exciting technologies like Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). Today, however, the cost of printing a bar code on a product package is basically cost-free because the symbol is already a part of the design. In addition, point-of-sale systems around the world have been successfully using the technology for decades, and they work well! The philosophy, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" seems prevalent with both manufacturers and retailers. So, until the tags associated with RFID are as cost-free to the manufacturer as printing a bar code, and then only when a tag can be read without the investment of higher cost reading technology currently in use, will the replacement of bar codes be seriously considered. Realistically, however, there will likely always be applications more appropriate for bar codes than any other technology.

There's a riddle that was well known decades ago and it still seems relevant today: "What's black and white and 'red' all over?"

The answer could easily be "bar codes."

Author

Marsha A. Harmon is Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Q.E.D. Systems, an organization providing standards development, as well as educational, advisory, and systems design services; focusing primarily on electronic commerce/business technologies, including the disciplines of bar code technology, two-dimensional symbols, radio frequency communications, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and Real Time Locating Systems (RTLS).

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How to get a Bar Code

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So, you have a product, and you want to be able to sell it through retailers.  Now you’re wondering how to get a bar code, or more specifically, a Universal Product Code (UPC).

A UPC is a unique 12-digit number that can be linked to your product information (name, description, price, etc).  The retailer will ask you to fill out a product information form with your company information, product information, and the UPC bar code number.  The retailer will put this information into their computer.  When your product is purchased and the bar code is scanned, the UPC number brings up your specific product information.  This allows the retailer to track the sales of your product within their inventory system, and to credit you for the sale.

UPC bar codes can be used for any retail product in the U.S., with the exception of magazines or books, which use ISBN numbers.  Since bar codes are used for tracking inventory, you will need a different bar code for each product, and also for each variety of the same product (sizes, colors, etc.)  UPCs will work anywhere that barcodes are used, meaning most of the modern world.

Although bar codes can be generated for personal or private use, for your bar code to work in the world of commerce, it must originate from GS1.  GS1 is a not-for-profit association that sets international standards for bar codes and commerce.

There are two different ways to get a bar code for your product(s):

Option 1 – Become a member of GS1 and lease your bar codes directly from GS1.org.

For this option, you must apply to GS1 for your own company prefix, which will become the first part of any UPC code used for your company’s products.

You will probably have to go this route if you need a large number of UPC numbers (in the hundreds or more), or if you are going to sell your products through a major retailer such as Walmart, Krogers or Macy's (they require a company to have its own company prefix).

This option is the more expensive option, since the fees start at about $750 and go up into the thousands. The GS1 organizations also charge annual renewal fees of at least $150 for their codes.  For a small or start-up business, this option often proves to be challenging because of the costs.  

Option 2 - Purchase UPC codes from a vendor who has surplus codes.

Some companies on the Internet, such as Bar Codes Talk, Inc., have purchased bar codes in bulk from GS1 (or, as it was formerly known, the UCC), and will resell UPC codes to you for a much more modest price.  This may be a better option for small to medium sized business, those dealing with small or independent retailers, those selling on Amazon, or those with only a few products to sell.

If you do this, you will actually be getting UPCs with that company’s identification number (ex. If you bought the UPC from Bar Codes Talk, it would use the company identification number of Bar Codes Talk).  Again, while a few of the major retailers (like Walmart or Macy’s) fuss about this, there are a multitude of instances where buying bar codes this way has proven to be a viable, and affordable, option for businesses.   Bar Codes Talk sells tens of thousands of bar code numbers annually.  

You can find many bar code resellers online. We’ve looked at several of them, and are pleased to recommend Bar Codes Talk.  This company offers low prices, with no annual fees or hidden charges.  You receive your unique bar codes instantly, with both an Excel and PDF Spreadsheet of your numbers.  You will receive the UPC as well as the EAN code for one price, as well as a certificate of authenticity and agreement.  Barcodes purchased from Bar Codes Talk will not expire, and you can be assured that they are unique to your products.  The company reports selling over one million bar codes so far.  The artwork for the UPC code is also included.  

When putting your bar code on the product for the first time, it is a good idea to test the scanability of the code with a few different bar code readers. 

Bar Codes Talk, Inc. offers a variety of file types to choose from including EPS, JPEG, and TIFF.  They email the bar code art  directly to you or your printer. 

To get a bar code click here and go to www.BarCodesTalk.com

Written by Craig Aberle 

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