Need help about modifying a barcode to fit my design?
Need help about modifying a barcode to fit my design?
Hi,
I’m making a music album cover and have a couple of questions regarding the barcode. I know there are several different types of barcodes with different names, I don’t really know which is mine, it’s one of the highest ones (not a data bar but one of those that are about the same proportions of a CRT monitor screen, if that helps picturing it better)
So, I would like to know if I can cut about 10% of the highest part of the bars to fit it better into the design.
Then, what would be the smallest recommended size? My canvas is 246 x 125 mm (9.7″ x 4.96″). I’m working at 300dpi.
And I have the barcode almost about an inch wide but it looks a little big.. I’d like to have it around 0.8 wide if it’s possible for the barcode readers to read it like that.
And finally, can I have the barcode in white bars, with no background (no solid box holding the barcode) on top of a dark part of my illustration? or it ony works with the bars in black inside a solid white box?
Thank you in advance :)
Best answer:
The height of a barcode does not matter too much, as long as it is still convenient for the shop keeper to scan it with their barcode reader (notice that when they scan, there is laser line?).
And whether you can use white bars, the answer is no. Maybe if you used negative bars it could, but I’m sure it would make it difficult for scanners to read.
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1 Comment for Need help about modifying a barcode to fit my design?
1. Bill F | August 3rd, 2010 at 9:05 am
You’re talking about a UPC barcode. UPC and EAN are the barcodes most often seen in the retail world. It’s recommended to print the codes in percentages. The normal size is considered a 100% UPC barcode. In general you can print down to 80% or up to 130%. It’s also not recommended to truncate the code – truncate meaning cut down the overall height. However, if space is really a limiting factor then you can cut it down. The smallest recommended height is .5″. The reason all these specs. are in place is to ensure the barcode scanners at the checkout counter can quickly read the barcodes. And the specs. I’m referring to pertain to retail codes only. There are other recommendations for other barcodes.
As far as having white bars on a dark background – it’s not recommended. That scheme is known as reverse video. Some hand held scanners can read a reverse video barcode, but many cannot. Depending on where you plan on selling your CD they might not be able to scan the barcode. Then they would have to type the information in. There are some places, like Wal-Mart that regularly fine companies that put barcodes on their products that Wal-Mart can’t scan. If they can’t scan them the employee has to enter the data by hand. That takes time and is error prone.
In summary, you’re ok cutting down the overall height, but I would not recommend using white bars on a dark background unless you’ll be using the barcodes in a closed system and you have a scanner that can read reverse video.
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