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Understand your Barcode

understand-barcode-printing-basics

What is a barcode

Barcode is visual data in machine readable format. It consists of varying widths and spacings of parallel lines.  Barcodes are broadly used by a wide range of industries and vertical segments.  From product identification to warehouse management, from package shipping to healthcare and hospital setting, from vehicle tracking to airline boarding, from people’s ID to any device or special material handling, barcode is everywhere.  Our life's quality and pace increasingly depends on how efficiently we can use the barcode.  

Different Types of Barcodes

There are many types of barcode symbologies, such Code 129, Code 39, UPC, EAN, PDF 417, or the the really popular QR code. It could be very confusing.  However no matter what symbology the barcode use, it falls under either one of the two general barcode types.  There are two general types of barcode, 1D linear barcode and 2D Barcode.  We will review each kind of detail and the different symbologies for each type. 

1D Linear Barcode

The most common pattern of barcode is linear 1 dimensional (1D) barcode, which is using a group of varying vertical lines (bars) and spaces widens as a barcode to present special and unique data.  This data could be product manufacturer name, delivery date, product weight, size, price, etc.  You can use barcode scanner to read this barcode for product tracking, package shipping, warehousing management and so on.   The barcode scanner has the illumination system, the sensor and the decoder. The barcode scanner scans the barcode by illuminating the code with a red light, and converts the barcode to a text for people to read.  The converting process is automatically done by the decoder (a computer).  

Code 128

The Code 128 barcode is a high-density linear symbology that encodes text, numbers, numerous functions and the entire 128 ASCII character set. Code 128 barcode is extensively used in packaging and shipping applications world wide. 

Code 39

Code 39 is one of the most commonly used barcode types. It is used for various labels such as name badges, inventory and industrial applications.

Universal Product Codes (UPC)

UPC is found on nearly every retail product. These barcodes were originally created for grocery stores to provide quick receipt printing and inventory tracking. 

2D Barcode

Matrix (2D) Barcode is basically using 2 dimensional (2D) way to represent data. Instead of only using a series of vertical bars and spaces as Linear (1D) Barcode to carry simple text data, matrix 2D barcode can carries much more information such as images.  To use Matrix (2D) Barcode, you definitely need the image scanner to read the 2D barcode.  

PDF417

PDF417 symboloy allows large amounts of text and data to be stored securely and inexpensively. This stacked linear 2D barcode can be found in your driver's license. It is also used by USPS for its advanced capability in encoding links to more than one data file.

QR Code

QR means Quick Response.  As the latest trend in barcoding, QR Codes are gaining popularity as marketing tools to link to web based information.  It is often used on advertizing materials and storefronts, linking to special promotions or details about a certain product.

Barcode by Orientation: Rotated (Ladder) vs Non-Rotated (Picket Fence)

Barcode can be placed along the direction of the label or in perpendicular direction of the label.  Difference orientation of the barcode affects how the barcode is printed and its legibility. Read on to understand the two types of orientation of barcode. 

Picket Fence Barcode

When the lines of barcodes are parallel to the movement of the label through the printer, this is referred to as a “picket fence” barcode.  It is also called non-rotated picket fence barcode. Printing a picket fence barcode involves heating the individual printhead elements for a longer length of time, depending on the height of the barcode. Barcode lines are in parallel with the print direction, so relatively easy for a ribbon to do.

Ladder Barcode

When the lines of the barcode are perpendicular to the direction of the label through the printer, this is a ladder barcode. It is also called rotated ladder barcode. Printing ladder barcodes require the printhead elements to heat and cool (on and off) in rapid succession because the barcode lines are horizontal to the print direction.  This rapid firing of the printhead is more demanding on the ribbon performance and often requires a wax ribbon with a higher resin content, such as the W502 resin-enhanced wax ribbon, W601, W701 or W605 in order to provide good print resolution and edge definition.

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