The Necessity of Barcode Printers in Modern Times

A barcode is a machine-readable representation of information in a visual format on a surface. Barcode is widely used to implement Auto ID Data Capture (AIDC) systems that improve the speed and accuracy of computer data entry.

A barcode printer is a computer peripheral for printing barcode labels or tags that can be attached to physical objects. Barcode printers are commonly used to label cartons before shipment, or to label retail items with Universal Product Codes.

Desktop barcode printer has become a commonplace tool for entering product information at retail chains and shopping complexes. Industrial barcode printers are used in manufacturing facilities and large warehouses helping in inventory management and sales process automation.

The most common barcode standards are UPCs and EANs.

Universal Product Code Bar Code - The standard bar code printed on retail merchandise. It contains the vendor's identification number and the product number which is read by passing the bar code over a scanner.

European Article Numbering is the European standard for barcodes. There are two different versions of EAN bar codes, EAN-13 and EAN-8, which encode 13- and 8-digit numbers, respectively. A special EAN-13 bar code with a 5-digit supplemental code is used on books to encode the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) and the price. This bar code is called ?Bookland?.

Traditional one-dimensional bar codes use the bar's width to encode a product or an account number. Two-dimensional bar codes, such as PDF417, MaxiCode and DataMatrix, are scanned horizontally and vertically and hold considerably more data. PDF417 is widely used for general purposes. MaxiCode is used for high-speed sorting, and DataMatrix is used for marking small parts.

Barcode Printers employ two major printing methods ? Direct Thermal (DT) and Thermal Transfer (TT).

Direct thermal printers use a print head to generate heat that causes a chemical reaction in specially designed paper that turns the paper black. Direct thermal printers are generally less expensive, but they produce labels that can become illegible if exposed to heat, direct sunlight, or chemical vapors. Barcode printers require regular cleaning of the ribbon and the print head. Specks of dust may cause distortion of the bar codes. The outputs of these printers using ANSI software need to be continuously checked in order to check for system malfunctions.

Thermal transfer printers also use heat, but instead of acting directly on the paper, the heat melts a waxy or resin substance on a ribbon that runs over the label or tag material. The heat transfers ink from the ribbon to the paper. Thermal Transfer requires the use of a heated ribbon to produce long-lasting images of data onto a label and/or tag, whereas Direct Thermal process prints the image directly on the label/tag.

Direct thermal and thermal transfer barcode printers can print bar code labels on variety of media. The range of bar code printers vary from light duty printers to rugged and high speed industrial printers for meeting diverse requirements. In industrial printers, the range varies from medium to heavy duty to extra heavy duty printers. These printers can be integrated to existing applications / ERP for on demand label/tag printing.

Industrial barcode printers are used in large warehouses and manufacturing facilities. They have large paper capacities, operate faster and have a longer service life. For retail and office environments, desktop barcode printers are most common.

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Bar Code Software

Barcode software comes in various styles. It is used to create professional barcode labels. It can be uploaded on a computer like any other software program and possesses a myriad of features. The barcode software can print barcodes on any installed printer with graphics capability. Such software often consists of a menu that displays different options in a user-friendly language. Modern software is very easy to use, giving the user the option to decide a label's appearance, including the type and size of text, bar codes and graphics. Dialogs, another important feature of many barcode software programs, offer many options to design labels and print barcodes.

Many barcode software programs available in the market offer tool tips. These are basically quick hints that help in modifying and printing multiple label designs. Similarly, high precision on-screen design mode provides an accurate real-time view of a label. Print preview mode displays exactly how the labels look before they can be printed. Perhaps the best part of barcode software is that it usually comes with an array of font capabilities. It solely depends on the imagination of the user to put these fonts to the most flexible use with maximum speed. Several printer drivers have the option to support font downloading.

Software consists of a toolbox that provides access to an extensive series of barcode components. The rich text option allows for multiple typefaces and styles. Graphics can be easily imported or exported in barcode software. That makes logos, pictures and company images easy to adapt. Barcode software is programmed to be latched onto all kinds of laser, ink-jet and dot-matrix printers. This software also provides access to countless high-quality symbols. They also allow serialization sequences. We can choose the sequence from a variety of character sets. Modern software is armed with the option of customizing a user?s own features.

Bar Code Labels provides detailed information on bar codes, bar code printers, bar code scanners, bar code labels and more. Bar Code Labels is affiliated with Bar Code Label Software

Bluetooth Wireless Barcode Scanners

Bluetooth Wireless Barcode scanners are fast gathering popularity in the retail and service related industries. Many companies have adopted using Bluetooth wireless barcode scanners and found them to be an integrated part of their business operations

Wireless barcode scanners using Bluetooth technology provided wireless coverage and lower cost per barcode scanner compared with wireless 802.11b barcode scanners.

Bluetooth wireless barcode scanners are light and portable thus allowing the operator to move easily from place to place.

It also makes it easy to scan huge, bulky and immoveable items as the operator can scan easily without moving the large items.

They are two types of barcode scanners available. One used CCD based technology, the other is laser-based technology. CCD-based barcode scanners uses optical cameras to capture barcode images and then translate that to barcode information. One major disadvantage of CCD barcode scanners is that the scanning distance is shorter. CCD barcode scanners is used mostly in fixed or static barcode scanners where distance is not a problem.

Laser barcode scanners uses a laser to capture barcode information. As such, they have a longer scanning distance and also can scan curved surface. Most Bluetooth wireless barcode scanners are laser-based.

The price of Bluetooth wireless barcode scanners have rapidly dropped over the years and nowadays you can get a pretty good one for a few hundred dollars. Therefore it is a good investment to get these for your business.

Ricky Lim runs a barcode scanners reviews site. Visit his site for reviews of barcode label printers , barcode label software etc.

How POS Barcode Scanners Can Improve Your Business Efficiency

Are you a small retail business owner looking for a way to speed up the waiting time of your customers when they are at the cashiers? Then POS barcode scanners can help you with that.

POS barcode scanners or point of sale scanners will allow the cashier to scan the product and all the important information such as product category, product code, pricing etc will be digitally recorded. This process is very fast and easy to learn. The only difficult part comes when you need to tag all your store's items with a barcode in order for the POS barcode scanner to be able to read.

Another advantage of using POS barcode scanners is that all recorded information is easily retrievable. This makes it easy to generate accounting data, ledgers etc convenient. Also the inventory levels in your store can be easily identified as well.

POS barcode scanners are not just useful in retail outlets but also can be used in clinics, libraries and any other business or organization where a large quantity of items are being transferred/purchased each day.

There are 2 types of POS barcode scanners. They are CCD-based and laser-based. CCD-based POS barcode scanners are more common and cheaper, however they have a disadvantage in that they can't read rounded surfaces. So if you have products which have a smooth curved surface, it is better to use laser-based barcode scanners.

Laser-based barcode scanners can read from any surface and can do this at a greater distance than CCD-based barcode scanners. This is because CCD-based scanners uses cameras to capture the barcode information hence they need to be within close distance of the barcode in order to capture the barcoding information.

An important type of barcode scanner is one that uses CCD technology. This technology was widely used in many retail outlets and involves scanning by pressing the scanner on the barcode to feed information into the computer. But its inability to read from round surfaces has resulted in the development of laser-operated scanners, which pick up barcodes from the surface of products even from a distance. With the advent of omni-directional laser scanners, more and more dealers are opting for those barcode readers that send out laser beams in different directions and pick up the barcodes on the products in a matter of seconds.

There are a wide variety of POS barcode scanners available in many different configuration depending on your market sector. Some uses USB, others wireless and some are handheld.

I personally prefer handheld POS barcode scanners from Symbol and Datalogic. I found they have the best support and handheld POS barcode scanners are light and portable and can easily to transport to other location as I see fit. You can check out their websites for their range of POS barcode scanners.

Ricky Lim runs a barcode scanners reviews site. Visit his site for reviews of POS barcode scanners , wireless barcode scanners etc.

Bar Code Scanners

Barcode Scanners are hand-held or stationary devices used to read information contained in a barcode. These devices are connected to a computer through any type of port. Scanners cannot do calculations; they only capture the barcode into letters or numbers. Information, once fed into a computer is processed by the computer?s software. A barcode scanner consists of a code reader and decoder. The reader throws light on a barcode and measures the amount of light that is reflected back by the barcode. This light energy is converted into electrical energy by a scanner. The electrical energy in turn is changed into data in the computer.

Barcode scanners are available in many different varieties. They can be hand held and hands free, wearable, rugged, scan engines, laser or digital. Pen-wand scanners are perhaps the simplest types of such devices. They have to be kept in direct contact with the barcode and held at a precise angle. A pen-wand scanner is moved over the bar to read it. General purpose scanners are generally used at checkout counters and hospitals and are also used to process identification documents. Certain other kinds of scanners, like rugged scanners, are generally used in harsh or extreme conditions.

Another major distinction of barcode scanners is that of an image scanner and a laser scanner. A camera reader is embedded in an image scanner. The camera captures the barcode images, which are then processed by sophisticated image techniques to decode the barcode. An image scanner can read a barcode from four to ten inches away. Laser scanners use lenses to read the codes. Laser scanners enjoy the advantage of reading the bar even from a distance of 24 inches. Moreover a laser scanner can be positioned at any angle to read a barcode. With the advancement of technology, modern laser scanners can read the barcodes with ease from a distance of 30 feet.

Bar Codes provides detailed information on bar codes, bar code printers, bar code scanners, bar code labels and more. Bar Codes is affliated with Bar Code Label Software

Bar Code Printers

Barcode Printers come in various types, including general-purpose laser and inkjet printers. Then there are printers that support multiple symbologies. They are called Thermal bar code label printers. General-purpose laser and inkjet printers cannot directly print barcodes. That is because these basic printers do not support bar code symbologies and are therefore upgraded to do so. They need to be programmed to support bar coding, which may entail addition of more features and fonts.

Barcode printers employ two major printing methods, namely Direct Thermal and Thermal Transfer. Both methods basically involve the same technique to print bar codes with difference in the use of ribbon. They make use of a print-head that applies heat to a surface that is pre-marked. Heated ribbon is used to produce long-lasting images in Thermal Transfer printing, while Direct Thermal does not use ribbon and instead prints the image directly on the label. In Thermal Transfer printing, a large number of materials may be used. This generally helps in creating durable images over a long period of time. Direct Thermal, on the other hand, helps in making put-away labels, receipts and other such small variety.

Ideally, barcode printers can print on labels that are specifically designed for the purpose. However, the printers are also capable of printing on fabrics like polyester. We have printers etching away prints on headbands and even synthetic materials. Quite contrary to popular perception, barcodes are not only black. Barcode printers can print in various colors, but black is generally preferred because a light color may end up with insufficient contrast between the bars resulting in unreadable barcodes.

Nowadays, several security features are available to ensure that there is no counterfeit coding by the printers. The latest thermal printers are capable of printing smart labels that contain radio frequency identification chips within the label media. These smart features go a long way in plugging any loopholes in barcode printing and provide a guarantee of authentication.


Bar Code Labels provides detailed information on bar codes, bar code printers, bar code scanners, bar code labels and more. Bar Code Labels is affiliated with Bar Code Label Software.

Bar Code Label Printing Software

NiceLabel Barcode Label Printing Software

NiceLabel is a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) bar code label printing software program designed to print barcodes, as well as text and graphics on labels including thermal transfer bar-code printer labels and standard laser/inkjet printers? labels. Main features of NiceLabel include

? Drag and drop functionality and WYSIWYG layout
? Supports Linear 2 dimensional Symbologies
? Supports RSS and Composite bar-code types
? Supports EAN/UCC 128
? Supports laser, inkjet, and thermal printers
? Supports databases such as comma delimited text files and CSV files as a data source
? Supports images formats such as BMP, GIF, JPEG, WMF and PCX; and objects such as squares, rectangles, lines, boxes, and circles

There are two version of NiceLabel - NiceLabel Express, which is completely Wizard-based; and NiceLabel Pro, with advanced features such as RFID Support, Comprehensive database support, Pre-designed templates, ActiveX Programmers Interface, Advanced label design elements, Import labels, and Advanced data processing capabilities.

IDAutomation Barcode Label Software

This is another WYSIWYG bar code label printing software program to print barcodes, as well as text and graphics on labels including thermal transfer bar-code printer labels and standard laser/inkjet printers? labels. Main features of IDAutomation Barcode Label Software include

? Imports label data from comma delimited text files, Microsoft Excel, Access and CSV files
? Ability to increment, static, link or determine barcode value by VB script.
? Embedded database built in for creating custom values
? Supports UCC/EAN 128 identifiers
? Supports laser, inkjet, and thermal printers
? Supports XML-based file formats
? Supports all EAN and UCC 128 AIs
? Source code available
? Multiple symbologies
? Supports images formats such as BMP, GIF, JPEG, WMF and PCX

There is also a PRO version available with additional features such as support for linear barcodes, RSS and Composite Symbology barcode types; ability to connect to additional data sources; and support for VB Script formulas to determine barcode values

Aulux Technologies Barcode Label Maker
Barcode Label Maker is a powerful tool to design and print any size of label with Barcodes, as well as text and graphics. Main features include

? Datasheet Manager to generate sequences data freely
? Ability to import data from Text File, MS Excel, MS Access MDB database, etc
? Supports Linear 2 dimensional Symbologies
? Supports RSS and Composite bar-code types
? Supports images formats such as BMP, GIF, JPEG, WMF and PCX

The Deluxe version of Barcode Label Maker supports read picture's path from datasheet to make ID card easier.

Flexible Information Systems (FIS) LabelVision 20/20

The LabelVision 20/20 from Flexible Information Systems, Inc (FIS) incorporates features such as

? Built-in MS Access-Compatible Database to create MS Access databases and print labels from them without using ODBC
? Ability to create Custom Menus to simplify the interface to the most complicated label printing applications
? Multiple labeling applications
? Supports Automatic print with Record Watch by monitoring data changes in databases or text files to automate label printing.

Print digital photos from as low as 10c. Bar code label printing software, plus reviews on the top 3 digital photo print services online.

Warehouse Bar Code Labels

Warehouses use a special kind of highly durable bar code labels to maintain a list of their inventories. The basic types of warehouse bar code labels are reflective, location, floor and pallet.

Reflective bar code labels are large in size, about 8? by 16,? and they contain both bar codes and a number that can be read by human eyes. They are durable and can be scanned from distances as much as 30 feet. These labels can be printed or blank and are able to be used both indoors and outdoors. In order to provide more durability, they can be laminated.

Location labels are used for pinpointing the position of items. They are stuck on racks or shelves where inventories are placed. These labels have alphanumeric codes, by which they are registered. Since location labels are mostly stuck on metal surfaces, they need to have strong adhesives. Once adhered, they cannot be peeled off. Location labels may be matte finish or polished. They are mostly made of metals.

Floor bar code labels are also large in size and they are stuck on the floor with special adhesives. They are used if there is no other place for the bar code to be stuck. Floor labels require high quality materials because they have to endurance heavy pressure all the time. They are made of metals in order to withstand warehouse traffic, footfalls, chemicals, abrasives, etc.

If the inventories are on the move, then pallet labels work best for them. These labels are made very tough to withstand severe conditions. Their bodies are made of hardened plastic or metal and have special adhesives.

Reflection, location and floor bar code labels are generally available in preprinted conditions. They have bar codes along with alphanumerical codes in a sequential order. The warehouse owners themselves can design pallet labels using printing equipment. Warehouses use thermal or thermal transfer printers to print their own bar code labels to obtain greater accuracy and clarity.


Bar Code Label Printers provides detailed information on bar code labels, bar code label printers, bar code label software, bar code label makers and more. Bar Code Label Printers is affiliated with Bar Code Software.

Preprinted Bar Code Labels

Bar code labels that are manufactured by companies and are retailed to other establishments are called preprinted bar code labels. Preprinted bar code labels are bought and used by establishments that do not have infrastructure to make their own.

Preprinted bar code labels are encoded using computers and sequentially numbered by the companies that manufacture them. These labels are designed on special vinyl stickers with adhesives that make them durable for a longer time. They can be designed in both line and dot formats.

Sellers of preprinted bar code labels use three main techniques to manufacture labels ? film master/printing plate, ion deposition and photocomposition. The first method is like normal printing techniques, where a template of the bar code is prepared and then printed in bulk amounts. Ion deposition technique uses electrolytic deposition of particles on a moving insulating drum to give the impression of the bar code. Photocomposition uses computers to design original bar codes. Out of all the techniques used to manufacture bar code labels, photocomposition is the best and is preferred if the bar code is needed to be exceedingly sharp and easy to scan. In fact, preprinted bar code label manufacturers only use photocomposition.

Establishments who do not have the equipment or expertise to make their own bar code labels buy preprinted bar code labels. Making bar code labels requires money and a technically skilled staff. Hence, companies may evaluate their cost constraints and purchase preprinted bar code labels instead of investing in their own equipment. Buying preprinted bar code labels also makes more sense for companies that are running their businesses temporarily or for promotion.

One more reason for choosing preprinted bar code labels is the rapid dynamism of this technology. Bar codes are fast evolving as makers are trying to pack in more and more information in less amount of space. Already several bar code equipments used in the markets are outdated.


Bar Code Label Printers provides detailed information on bar code labels, bar code label printers, bar code label software, bar code label makers and more. Bar Code Label Printers is affiliated with Bar Code Software.

Bar Code Label Software

Bar code label software is used to print symbols on bar codes. This software can render a pattern of black stripes and dots, each unique from the other, which is used to print bar code stickers. The software prints intricate patterns for each product. The pattern may be several black lines of different thicknesses or it may be a crisscross arrangement of thick and thin black dots.

The software can also identify the product from the pattern. The pattern is fed into the bar code scanner, which transmits it to the computer. There the software can decode the pattern and identify the product.

Bar code label software is used to code and decode stickers on a wide array of products. Departmental store goods, warehouse products, photo IDs, driving licenses and more contain unique bar code labels produced by such software.

Bar code label software is virtually error-free. It can judge labels from the thickness of the lines and dots that by permutation can give several millions of different labels. The software can accurately identify the label from its wide database. The entire process of scanning the label and its decoding by the software takes just a couple of seconds. Hence, bar code label software is almost absolutely relied upon by institutes that retail a large number of goods every day. Such labels are generally foolproof and very difficult to duplicate.

Bar code label software is especially useful when keeping inventory in a large warehouse or a departmental store. This software can be linked with other database programs in order to get a proper census of all the goods or certificates that have been coded or decoded. Using bar code label software to keep inventory of items saves a lot of time and manpower. To maintain a huge inventory, a large workforce is required. Hence, using bar code software is a simpler solution employed by retailers and warehouse owners.

Another important aspect of the utilization of bar code label software is the standardization it creates. Each product gets its own bar code, which remains a standard in all shops and retail outlets throughout the country. Computers of retailers linked to the manufacturer?s computers can provide a minute-to-minute progress of items as they are being sold.



Bar Code Label Printers provides detailed information on bar code labels, bar code label printers, bar code label software, bar code label makers and more. Bar Code Label Printers is affiliated with Bar Code Software.

Bar Code Label Printers

Bar code label printers are special, small sized printers that are capable of printing bar code labels. They are used in businesses wherever inventories are required to be recorded such as in retail and departmental stores, ID card offices, warehouses, etc. General purpose printers can be used to print bar code printers. There are also thermal bar code printers specially for printing bar code labels.

General purpose printers are in fact normal printers. They are capable of printing bar codes on white sticker papers. Laser printers are much better than inkjet printers, as they give more clarity and a faster printing rate. General purpose printers are very slow at printing ? they may print as much as 3 to 7 inches per second. They are suitable if the number of bar code labels to be printed is less per day, or if it is a temporary business.

Thermal printers and thermal transfer printers are much more efficient and faster at printing bar code labels. These printers have a thermal head that selectively apply heat on a specially coated paper that darkens the area. The thermal head may be heated directly or indirectly. Such printers can produce better quality images. They are ideal for fast printing, such as in departmental stores, where several goods are sold over the counter every minute. However, one problem with thermal printers is that their thermal heads wear out from time to time and need replacement.

Bar code label printers require regular cleaning of the ribbon and the print head. Specks of dust may cause distortion of the bar codes. The outputs of these printers using ANSI software need to be continuously checked in order to check for system malfunctions.

Most printers are compatible with Windows drivers. They can be connected to computers to check the type of printout they would produce. Software is available to design labels that are exactly printed by the printers. However, many printers are standalone and do not hookup to another computer. Simply feeding the numerical code can generate the requisite bar code label.



Bar Code Labels provides detailed information on bar code labels, bar code label printers, bar code label software, bar code label makers and more. Bar Code Labels is affliated with Bar Code Software.

Bar Code Label Manufacturers

Some companies deal in designing bar code labels and selling them to other establishments. These bar code label manufacturers print both preprinted and custom designed labels according to the specifications provided by the ordering company.

Preprinted labels are ready to use labels that are sold in the market. They are available in bundles of 100, 250, 500, etc. Bar code label manufacturers create preprinted labels with technologies such as reflective printing or photocomposition. Photocomposition is an expensive process, but it produces almost authentic and high quality bar codes. Bar code labels made by photocomposition are sold at higher prices than reflective labels. Companies that do not have their own bar coding equipment buy bundles of them from the market for their use.

Manufacturers also customize bar code labels according to the requirements from the ordering company. They can change the size, color, numerical and alphabetical information, nature of the bar coding, etc. as the ordering company suggests. Information such as name of the company, date of shipment or loading, location, etc. is mentioned on customized bar code labels if needed. Manufacturers use specialized software to design the labels.

Naturally, bar code label manufacturers use high-end equipment to manufacture their labels in bulk. Several companies rely upon bar code manufacturers to buy their labels as it not only saves them money, but also time and manpower.

Computers, scanners and printers are all used in conjunction to design, test and print labels. Sequential numbers are provided on the labels so that they can be used to manage inventory. If desired, manufacturers will also place information in the form of alphabetical and numerical codes on the labels.

Bar code label manufacturers also sell other things such as nameplates, location tags, sealing tags and bar code scanners and printers.

Bar Code Label Printers provides detailed information on bar code labels, bar code label printers, bar code label software, bar code label makers and more. Bar Code Label Printers is affiliated with Bar Code Software.

Using Barcode Fonts To Create And Print Barcodes

What are barcode fonts? Basically they are just that - plain fonts. But rather than depicting numbers and letters they contain the bars and spaces that make up a barcode symbology. They are installed to your fonts folder or directory and will show up in your application's font list just like "Courier" or "Arial".

"That sounds good! So basically I just enter a couple of digits in Word, add the start / stop characters, change the font to Code UPC and have a nice barcode.", you say.

Not quite. You see, this approach will only work for simple barcodes like Code 39 where every group of bars and spaces (also called a symbol) is directly mapped to the character encoded.

Some Conversion Required

However, more complex symbologies like UPC or EAN require one more step to perform before the code can actually be displayed. The number to be encoded has to be "converted" to be usable with a given font. This is usually done with a little software tool that comes with the fonts. Also a checksum or check digit has to be calculated.

The use of such a conversion tool is acceptable if you have to print only a handful of codes. But what if you have to print scores of UPC codes? Hopefully you are not supposed to manually convert all those numbers! Fortunately, most conversion tools provide a batch conversion of numbers. Many vendors will also supply macros, DLL's and sample code snippets to be used, say, in Visual Basic, that handle the conversion.

Now that we've learned the basics of barcode fonts, what are their pros and cons?

Advantages of Barcode Fonts

1. Barcode fonts will work in almost any application that works with text: Word processors, spreadsheets, databases, image editing, DTP software, most programming environments etc.

2. Depending on the barcode type involved it's sufficient to simply enter the number and change the font.

3. Barcode fonts will scale and print very well because, unlike images or bitmaps, they are not pixel based.

4. Barcode fonts are available for almost any platform: Linux, Mac, Windows.

5. Barcode fonts are usually the cheapest barcode software available. If you only need Code UPC, you only have to buy a Code UPC font (many vendors will actually provide a collection of fonts for the reasons detailed below). This will usually cost no more that USD 30 to USD 50.

Drawbacks of Barcode Fonts

1. Some symbologies require a conversion before formatting.

2. Scaling a font will scale it in all directions. E.g. it's usually not possible to make the barcode higher while keeping the width unchanged. Generally speaking, fonts are not very flexible. Most vendors therefore supply fonts with different ratios and sizes.

3. The same goes for the human readable text of the barcode. What if you need the Code UPC above without text? You could either cover the text with another object or hope that the vendor supplies a font with the bars only.

4. Barcode fonts are basically an "Add-On" to another software. This means you are stuck with the capabilities of the software in question when it comes, for example, to label printing.

Pro Barcode is your source for Barcode Software. Barcode newbies visit our section Barcode Know How and FAQ.

An Introduction To Barcodes

Barcodes encode numeric or textual information in a printable, machine-readable form. The use of barcodes can significantly reduce cost of warehouse management and inventory. Two main forms of barcodes exist today: Linear or normal barcodes encode data over a horizontal stretch of space or one dimension. This kind of barcode typically encodes between four and forty digits or characters. So called area codes encode data in two dimensions, resulting in much higher density which allows for up to three thousand characters to be encoded.

Most linear barcode types will only encode numbers or digits. Two notable exceptions are Code 39 and Code 128 which can also encode alphanumeric characters like letters. Two dimensional area codes usually encode numbers, letters and special characters.

The most common linear barcode type is Code EAN which is used to encode article numbers in retail. It's used throughout the world with the notable exception of the USA which uses a related code, Code UPC, for the same purpose. A special form of Code EAN carries a so called Addon, a smaller barcode next to the main barcode that can encode pricing information and the like. Code EAN with a five digit Addon is used to encode ISBN (International Standard Book Number), while Code EAN with a two digit Addon is used to encode ISSN (International Standard Serials Number).

Other notable linear barcode symbologies and their applications include Code 39 (used for pharmaceuticals), Code 128 (warehouse management and retail) and Code Two-Of-Five (warehouse management and inventory).

The most common two dimensional area codes are PDF417 and Datamatrix, both of which are used in manufacturing, package tracking and similar applications which require large data amounts to be encoded.

Barcode Checksums

To ensure safe and error free reading and scanning of barcodes, all common barcode symbologies support so called checksum or check digit schemes. A checksum or check digit is an additional character or number that is calculated from the encoded data and appended to the barcode. While reading the barcode the scanner or reader can verify the checksum and determine if the barcode was scanned correctly. This is especially important if the barcode can easily be damaged or be tampered with. Simple check digit systems like the sort that is used with most linear barcodes will only detect simple errors, like a missing character. More sophisticated systems, especially those used with area barcodes can not only detect but also repair any damage that may have occurred to the code.

Barcode Applications

Today barcodes enjoy wide spread use through all types of businesses. The first major application of barcodes was in the retail sector where the codes would encode article numbers, manufacturer data and pricing. Another prominent use of barcodes is in the transport industry where the codes carry address and tracking information. Finally, two dimensional area codes have recently gained much popularity for use in personal identity cards, drivers licenses and so forth. They are also used for the tagging of electronic parts like computer or memory chips.

Pro Barcode is your source for Barcode Software. Barcode newbies visit our section Barcode Know How and FAQ.

An Introduction To Label And Barcode Printing

Using a dedicated label printer

The majority of label printers work either in thermal (sometimes called thermal direct) or thermal transfer mode.

A thermal direct printer has a printhead that applies heat to specially coated, thermal paper. This paper changes its color to black when it is heated. The same principle applies to a fax machine with thermal paper. If you ever used such a fax you may have noticed that the paper gets yellowish or even brown after laying around for some time. That's because exposure to sunlight or any other source of bright light has the same effect on the paper as heating it during the print process.

Obviously, you will only want to use a thermal direct printer if you need labels that must at most be legitable for a few days or weeks. A typical application would be an address label. Also, grocery stores use this type of printing for labeling of vegetables or other short lived goods. Thermal direct printers have the big advantage that only one type of consumable is needed, the above mentioned thermal paper.

Thermal transfer printers on the other hand print on labels made of plain or normal paper. The printhead is the same as above but a thermal transfer ribbon or sheet sits between the head and the paper. Heating the ribbon causes ink to transfer from the ribbon to the paper, hence the name. Thermal transfer printing will lead to labels that can last for years. If you had to put labels on shelves that are supposed to last for some time you would use a thermal transfer printer.

It's noteworthy that any thermal transfer printer can also print thermal direct (simply leave out the ribbon and use thermal direct paper) but usually not the other way round because the cheaper thermal direct printers often lack the gear to attach a thermal transfer ribbon. Thermal transfer printers with about 200-300 dpi (which is enough for most purposes) start at about USD 500 and, depending on the volume and speed they deliver, can get very expensive.

Generally speaking, buying a dedicated label printer makes sense if you regularly have to print more than, say, 100-200 labels a day. It really depends on your application. Some advice: Always make sure that the printer comes with appropriate Windows (or Mac) drivers. This will allow you to use any Windows (or Mac) software for label printing, the alternative being that you have to use the printer's manufacturers proprietary (and usually expensive) software.

Using an every day ink jet or laser printer

With regards to print quality or durability, any modern ink jet or laser printer will easily print even the most demanding 2D barcodes in good quality. Therefore, if, for example, your application is to print lists of barcodes on plain paper there's no point in buying a dedicated printer for barcode printing.

However, if you have to print labels on a regular basis, the story is different. For once, these printers won't be able to deliver a single label like a dedicated label printer, instead they consume at least a full sheet of paper, no matter how many labels you need. Of course you could put the sheet back into the printer after peeling the label off but next time you would have to tell the label printing software to skip the used labels. Also after two or three trips through the paper feeding mechanism labels tend to get loose and block the paper path.

Bear also in mind that (on a per label basis) ink jet or laser labels are far more expensive then labels for thermal or thermal transfer printers. It's my experience that people try to cope with this for some time but finally give in and buy a dedicated label printer.
Pro Barcode is your source for Barcode Software. Barcode newbies visit our section Barcode Know How and FAQ.

Choosing The Right Barcode Scanner

Barcode Wands

Barcode wands were the first broadly used types of barcode readers. How does such a barcode wand work? In the tip of the wand you'll find a small LED (light emitting diode) and a photo receptor. The light is reflected from the code into the receiver. From the signal pattern of the reflection the wand can determine the type and content of the barcode. Reading a barcode with a wand is simple but requires some practice. There is no trigger button, basically the wand is "always on" when connected to a PC. Then user holds it like a pen and moves it quickly from left to right to left over the barcode.

Barcode CCD Scanner

It's almost certain that most scanners today are of the Charge Coupled Device (CCD) scanning type. A good CCD Barcode Scanner for less than USD 100 will easily outperform a wand and at times even a laser scanner that costs two or three times as much. A CCD scanner is like an "expanded wand". Where wands have just one light emitting diode and one receiver, CCD scanners have a complete row of those elements. By triggering the scanner the whole code is illuminated and exposed to the receiving elements. Scanning barcodes with a CCD scanner is faster and more reliable than with a barcode wand.

Barcode Laser Scanner

Laser scanners have their name from a laser diode in the scanning head or "scan engine" as it is sometimes called. The beam is projected through a system of lenses and mirrors onto the barcode, resulting in a visible single red line or pattern of lines. Laser scanners have two modes of operation: They can be used in a stand and will trigger automatically if a barcode is held in front of the scanner. This can be very useful because it keeps the personnel's hands free and is one of the real pros of laser scanners. Out of the stand these devices use a trigger button much like a CCD scanner to trigger the scanning process.

Barcode Imager

Two dimensional or area barcodes have gained much popularity in recent years. With a 2D barcode it's possible to encode up to 3,000 bytes of information in a single barcode symbol the size of a stamp. However, this progress comes with a notable drawback: Ordinary barcode scanners will not read this type of barcodes. To scan area barcodes, so called barcode imagers are required. These scanners basically work like a digital camera, that is they take an image of the barcode, decode and process the encoded data and transmit the data to the host computer.

Connecting a Barcode Scanner to a Computer

PCs still outnumber Macs by far so it comes as no surprise that most scanners use an interface that will only connect to PC's: A keyboard wedge. Basically a keyboard wedge is a "Y" shaped cable that connects the scanner, the keyboard and the PC. Everything the scanner sends looks to the computer as if the user have typed it into the keyboard. Drivers are not required, the installation is child's play.

For Macintosh computers or laptops without keyboard ports, a connection via USB is the only viable alternative.

Pro Barcode is your source for Barcode Software. Barcode newbies visit our section Barcode Know How and FAQ.

How To Choose A Barcode Printer

Barcode Printers nowadays comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes with varying price range. It can also either be hand-held or desk bound. Technically, general purpose laserjet and inkjet printers cannot print barcodes by default. Usually, they require a add-on component or module. An example is Capella Technologies which provides barcode printing functionality to standard HP laserjet printers through an add-on flash card. Such barcode printers are usually limited in the number of symbologies that can be used.

Thermal Barcode printers, on the other hand supports multiple symbologies right out of the box. The more common barcode printer manufacturers include zebra and symbol.

There are two ways barcode printers print barcode, the first method is Thermal Transfer and the second method is Direct Thermal. Direct Thermal prints the barcode directly on the label while Thermal Transfer make use of a ribbon and a printhead. The ribbon is heated and the image is etched on by the printhead on a pre-defined area.

Thermal transfer allows you to print barcodes on a wider variety of materials than direct thermal. As such, the type of material you are going to print barcodes on is a crucial factor in determining which barcode printer to purchase.

Larger barcode printers usually have the ability to switch between direct thermal and thermal transfer. One disadvantage of thermal transfer is that the ribbon needs to be changed quite frequently. If you are using the barcode printer in a manufacturing environment, there could be a lot of downtime. A direct thermal printer is faster and is useful particularly where speed is required and you are not printing a lot of barcodes all the time. An example would be in a hospital where each patient warded is given a barcode to identify them.

If you need to print thousand of barcode labels at a time. Look at purchasing one of the thermal printers from symbol or zebra. I found them to be pretty good in terms of speed and functionality. I would advise to get a barcode printer that has a larger print width and a larger print label capacity.

Barcode Printing technology has evolved tremendously over the last few years. Lately, barcode manufacturers have implemented several security features to ensure there is no counterfeit coding. The latest models of barcode printers are capable of printing labels with RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Devices) tags in them. Such security features are mandatory in some highly sensitive industries and help to provide a guarantee of authentication.

KB Lim is the owner of http://all-barcode-scanners.info Visit his site for more barcoding equipment reviews and barcode scanners recommendations

Bar Code Label Makers

Bar code label makers are special computer programs that can design templates for bar code labels. These programs can perform tasks such as sizing the bar code, encoding the numerical information, database features and include other information such as name of company, product name, date of packaging and other customized details.

Programs to design bar code labels are similar to desktop publishing programs. Sizing, resizing and other tools decide label sizes, i.e. borders. Inputting a number will create the bar code. There are also tools to print bar codes in a sequential number format. The customized bar codes are then fitted into the border where required.

Bar code label makers have their own set of true type fonts. Sans-serif fonts like Unicode and Arial are popular in designing bar code labels. Required details such as the name of the company, name of the product, date, etc. are inserted. This text can be resized and properly aligned into the template.

Coloring the bar code label is also possible. Label makers have their own custom colors. Some of them even provide palettes to create any desired hue.

Once the label is done, it is sent to a printer for printing. A laser printer is preferred for its high quality and fast speed. The labels are usually printed in rows and columns on a special A4 sized paper that has a shielded adhesive surface beneath. Individual labels are cut and removing the shielding paper, the prepared bar code labels are stuck on the inventories.

Designing a bar code label using a program is a very easy process. It requires very little or no training at all. The interfaces of these programs are generally kept very simple and with a few clicks of the mouse, desired labels can be made.

Bar code label makers are available for download from many Programs to design bar code labels are similar to desktop publishing programs. Sizing, resizing and other tools decide label sizes, i.e. borders. Inputting a number will create the bar code. There are also tools to print bar codes in a sequential number format. The customized bar codes are then fitted into the border where required.

Bar code label makers have their own set of true type fonts. Sans-serif fonts like Unicode and Arial are popular in designing bar code labels. Required details such as the name of the company, name of the product, date, etc. are inserted. This text can be resized and properly aligned into the template.

Coloring the bar code label is also possible. Label makers have their own custom colors. Some of them even provide palettes to create any desired hue.

Once the label is done, it is sent to a printer for printing. A laser printer is preferred for its high quality and fast speed. The labels are usually printed in rows and columns on a special A4 sized paper that has a shielded adhesive surface beneath. Individual labels are cut and removing the shielding paper, the prepared bar code labels are stuck on the inventories.

Designing a bar code label using a program is a very easy process. It requires very little or no training at all. The interfaces of these programs are generally kept very simple and with a few clicks of the mouse, desired labels can be made.

Bar code label makers are available for download from many Internet sites. Most of these downloads are for a time-stipulated trial, after which it can be purchased. These programs are also sold in markets.



Bar Code Label Printers provides detailed information on bar code labels, bar code label printers, bar code label software, bar code label makers and more. Bar Code Label Printers is affiliated with Bar Code Software.