Parts of a 1D barcode and determining bar sizing. Technical Training Barcode 102 Parts of a 1D barcode and determining bar sizing.

Agenda Parts of a barcode Determining mil’s and width of a bar Print quality issues An example of label and barcode specifications

Objectives You will be able to; Indentify the parts of a barcode Calculate the number of dots needed to produce width of a bar and determine if a printer is capable of a given specification Identify 3 reasons for poor reading of barcode Determine information needed in a specification to print a barcode or label

Technical Training Parts of a Barcode

Parts of a barcode Quiet Zone preceding and trailing barcode. Set by the standard for the barcode application. Often 10X’s the width of a narrow bar, but may vary based on organization that is writing the specifications for the use of the barcode.

Parts of a barcode Quiet Zone preceding and trailing barcode. Set by the standard for the barcode application. Often 10X’s the width of a narrow bar, but may vary based on organization that is writing the specifications for the use of the barcode. Beginning Character Ending character

Parts of a barcode Quiet Zone preceding and trailing barcode. Set by the standard for the barcode application. Often 10X’s the width of a narrow bar, but may vary based on organization that is writing the specifications for the use of the barcode. Beginning Character Ending character Data – Formatted to Industry & Barcode Specifications

Parts of a barcode Quiet Zone preceding and trailing barcode. Set by the standard for the barcode application. Often 10X’s the width of a narrow bar, but may vary based on organization that is writing the specifications for the use of the barcode. Beginning Character Ending character Data – Formatted to Industry & Barcode Specifications 1 or more optional check digits

Some Barcode Specifications or Variables Width of the narrow bar May be identified as X dimension (.xxx” or mil) [.0075” = 7.5 mil] Narrow bar width (.xxx” or mil) Characters per inch (W.X to Y.Z CPI) [6.4 to 7.8 CPI] Ratio between narrow bar and wide bar Fixed (Code 128) Variable (Code 39 or Code 3 of 9) Barcode height Print interpretation line

Some Barcode Specifications or Variables Width of the narrow bar May be identified as X dimension (.xxx” or mil) [.0075” = 7.5 mil] Narrow bar width (.xxx” or mil) Characters per inch (W.X to Y.Z CPI) [6.4 to 7.8 CPI] Ratio between narrow bar and wide bar Fixed (Code 128) Variable (Code 39 or Code 3 of 9) Barcode height Print interpretation line

Some Barcode Specifications or Variables Width of the narrow bar May be identified as X dimension (.xxx” or mil) [.0075” = 7.5 mil] Narrow bar width (.xxx” or mil) Characters per inch (W.X to Y.Z CPI) [6.4 to 7.8 CPI] Ratio between narrow bar and wide bar Fixed (Code 128) Variable (Code 39 or Code 3 of 9) Barcode height Print interpretation line

Narrow bar width calculations Technical Training Narrow bar width calculations

Determine the width of a dot for the printer Determine the DPI 200 = 203 = 203.6 300 & 600 Calculate dot width 1.000” ÷ 203.6 dots ≈ .00491 ≈ .005” wide 1.000” ÷ 300 dots ≈ .00333” ≈ .003” wide 1.000” ÷ 600 dots ≈ .001667” ≈ .0017” wide

Determine the width of a dot for the printer Determine the DPI 200 = 203 = 203.6 300 & 600 Calculate dot width 1.000” ÷ 203.6 dots ≈ .00491 ≈ .005” wide 1.000” ÷ 300 dots ≈ .00333” ≈ .003” wide 1.000” ÷ 600 dots ≈ .001667” ≈ .0017” wide 1 mil = .001 = 1 thousandth of an inch

To print a .010 wide narrow bar Width of bar ÷ width of dot = Number of dots 200 DPI .010 ÷ .005 = 2 Dots 300 DPI 10 mils ÷ 3 mils = 3.3 Dots rounded to 3 dots Actual width would be .0099” 600 DPI .010 ÷ .00167 = 5.988 Dots rounded to 6 dots. Actual width would be .0098”

To print a .025 wide narrow bar Width of bar ÷ width of dot = Number of dots 200 DPI .025 ÷ .005 = 5 Dots Actual width would be .0246 300 DPI .025 ÷ .003 = 8.1 Dots rounded to 8 dots Actual width would be .0263” 600 DPI .025 ÷ .0016 = 15.625 Dots rounded to 16 dots Actual width would be .0256”

Some specifications may not be achievable Some specifications may have a narrow bar specification of say .011” to .013” 200 dpi 2 X .0049 = .0098 3 X .0049 = .0147 Can not get there! 300 dpi .0033 X 3 = .0099 .0033 X 4 = .0132 You are good!

Bar Code Quality Considerations

Ways to generate an barcode image Printer specific commands sent to the printer and printer generates image Created as a bitmap by the application and sent to the printer. Printer may then need to “round” bar widths to match DPI Use of a barcode font in an application

Some Things That Affect Barcode Readability Equal lines & spaces Black lines too wide. How close are the narrow black lines and the narrow “voids" or “white lines” to the same dimension. How straight are the edges of the bars Good Poor contrast Absence of printed clutter around barcode (quiet zones) Contrast between the darkness of the bars and the back ground of the label

Scanners – Reads the bar code Scanner types Scanners – Reads the bar code Laser Red line May use red line or infrared CCD Imager Verifier – Grades the barcode

May be read from left to right or right to left Laser type scanner May be read from left to right or right to left

May be read from left to right or right to left Laser type scanner May be read from left to right or right to left % R “Space” areas reflect light -- high reflectance “Bar” areas absorb light -- low reflectivity

Barcode Specifications Responsibility of the integrator to find and follow

Specifications Organizations American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Electronic Industries Association (EIA) IBM Unicode Code Council (UCC/EAN) To name a few An organization may have more than one specification. May write the specification for just the barcode or an entire label.

Sample Specification – Barcode related EIA-556-A Outer Shipping Container Bar Code Label Standard

Barcode symbology to use Sample Specification – Barcode related EIA-556-A Outer Shipping Container Bar Code Label Standard Barcode symbology to use

Barcode symbology to use Sample Specification – Barcode related EIA-556-A Outer Shipping Container Bar Code Label Standard Barcode symbology to use Width of narrow bar, also referred to as Modules

Ratio between the narrow bars and wide bars Sample Specification – Barcode related EIA-556-A Outer Shipping Container Bar Code Label Standard Ratio between the narrow bars and wide bars Height specification Grade or readability of the barcode

Label readability requirements for Human Readable data Label & Data Specs EIA-556-A Outer Shipping Container Bar Code Label Standard Label readability requirements for Human Readable data

Data that needs to be included on the label Label & Data Specs EIA-556-A Outer Shipping Container Bar Code Label Standard Label readability requirements for Human Readable data Data that needs to be included on the label

Sample Specification – EIA-556-A Outer Shipping Container Bar Code Label Standard

Review Parts of a Barcode Calculating the width of a narrow bar Readability issues Sample Specification

Can you do these now? Indentify the parts of a barcode Calculate the number of dots needed to produce width of a bar and determine if a printer is capable of a given specification Identify 3 reasons for poor reading of barcode Determine information needed in a specification to print a barcode or label