Printing Barcodes?

[Shane Drew]

interesting question. I’ve been asked to do barcoades for a hardware store.

as far as I know, there are several types of barcode, you have to get the right one. Corel12 comes with barcode fonts doesn’t it?

as far as I can find out tho, as long as the barcode is the one the reader reads, and they are black, nothing else is required.

could be wrong tho.

[George Elsmore]

I suspect the company will send a pdf of the barcodes with letters underneath the barcodes. I converted the image to a eps and plonked it over the top of my image in the bottom right corner laminated as usual, no special software needed

George

[Ryan Fairweather]

I know you can buy software to ‘create’ barcodes but had assumed that if the company provided me with the pdf’s then all i needed to do would be to print and laminate?

[Rod Young]

quote Shane Drew:

Can anyone tell me what is required to print barcodes? We have a Versacamm 540 and the actual barcodes will be provided by the company in question.
But is there specific software required or is it a simple question of printing and laminating on the Versacamm?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Ryan

quote Shane Drew:

interesting question. I’ve been asked to do barcoades for a hardware store.
as far as I know, there are several types of barcode, you have to get the right one. Corel12 comes with barcode fonts doesn’t it?
as far as I can find out tho, as long as the barcode is the one the reader reads, and they are black, nothing else is required.
could be wrong tho.

quote George Elsmore:

I suspect the company will send a pdf of the barcodes with letters underneath the barcodes. I converted the image to a eps and plonked it over the top of my image in the bottom right corner laminated as usual, no special software needed
George

If the company is sending you the barcodes, then all you need do is plunk the "artwork" into your design and print.

For any of these barcode symbologies, there are specifications for each type that pertain to height, thickness of bars, spacing between bars, and the data (upper case letters, lower case letters, numbers) that can be encoded.

I am aware of about fifteen (15) main barcode symbologies, and then you will have custom implementations of these. For a custom implementation, it merely follows the original specification, but has been modified in some manner to perhaps limit the data for the given application.

As a convenience, you will see sign software that includes functionality to generate barcode objects for these various symbologies. However, more attention is required if the customer has some manner of custom implementation.

Cheers,

Rod at CADlink

[RobGF]

quote :

If the company is sending you the barcodes, then all you need do is plunk the “artwork” into your design and print.

For any of these barcode symbologies, there are specifications for each type that pertain to height, thickness of bars, spacing between bars, and the data (upper case letters, lower case letters, numbers) that can be encoded.

I am aware of about fifteen (15) main barcode symbologies, and then you will have custom implementations of these. For a custom implementation, it merely follows the original specification, but has been modified in some manner to perhaps limit the data for the given application.

As a convenience, you will see sign software that includes functionality to generate barcode objects for these various symbologies. However, more attention is required if the customer has some manner of custom implementation.

Cheers,

Rod at CADlink

Some pretty good stuff fom Rod.

If you want to play with bar codes you need to know that there are hundreds of actual code types and that often times codes which look a lot alike could be from different symbiologies. Additionally, it’s not unrealistic to imagine that some companies modify a code type to their own purposes.

Depending on the code type and it’s application, the versacam may have the resolution to do just fine. After all, some code types have been produced for years on really low res 200 ppi thermal units. Some code types, however, I wouldn’t dream of printing on a low resolution device. For example, UPC and EAN codes are used in the retail end of things and major retailers may impose fines with their suppliers if the codes do not read accurately.

The big thing to do is to find out what type of bar code your client wants to print and then you will be able to research if it is appropriate to do on your machine. For example, if it’s something used for inventory management within a warehouse you may want to print off a few samples and have the client see if they read accurately before you make promises.

Rob

[Ryan Fairweather]

The initial details i have is to create barcodes for their existing ID cards so that they can log into their computers upon arrival (similar to a time card)

[David Rowland]

then you might need to just a sample to test.. i dont think EAN retail one comes into play here… remember white background and black bars, watch out if laminating.. so test it first if poss.

[Ryan Fairweather]

Does laminating have a detrimental effect ont he scanning of the code?

They have already stipulated that lamination is required.

thanks

[Shane Drew]

quote ryan fairweather:

Does laminating have a detrimental effect ont he scanning of the code?

They have already stipulated that lamination is required.

thanks

don’t use a matt/satin laminate. it is harder for a scanner to read. A gloss laminate is the only real option.

[Ryan Fairweather]

Thanks Shane, hope the hand is getting better by the way? I had a motorcycle racing accident a couple of months back and the 1st thing i thought was…’oh god, please dont have broken anything!’

Would completely screw me for work so the bike has been put to one side for the time being. 😮

[Shane Drew]

quote ryan fairweather:

Thanks Shane, hope the hand is getting better by the way? I had a motorcycle racing accident a couple of months back and the 1st thing i thought was…’oh god, please dont have broken anything!’

Would completely screw me for work so the bike has been put to one side for the time being. 😮

Thanks Ryan, I have a whole new respect for blades now 😕 Lost my nerve actually. 🙁 Been using my keencut more at least.

Hands not 100% but I can work with it so thats all I can expect I suppose.

Cheers

[j4mes]

corel draw is pretty good at generating barcodes. can do all sorts off different types. only used this function once mind.

[Rodney Gold]

Its pretty easy , there is a freeware program on engraving etc that will allow you to insert text files with correct spacing etc , much like print merge
(Very useful macro indeed)
http://www.engravingetc.org/forum/messa … msg=4435.1
and heres another for cut and pasting
http://www.engravingetc.org/forum/messa … msg=4563.1

You can use print merge too , heres a VERY good explanation of how to use it with variable text)
http://www.engravingconcepts.com/swf_fi … ergeB.html
http://www.engravingconcepts.com/swf_fi … ergeC.html

All you have to do is use Human readable text and then use corel to convert it to a barcode font
The lams dont really affect the barcodes unless you use something like full matte or wheatgrain.
Be careful of inklaydown , use the highest res your printer is capable of and try minimise edge bleeds . if your heads are adjustable , use the lowest setting and above all use PREMIUM vinyl , we find Starrex from X-film the best for printing on as it has the best detail , however for the ultimate detail , the old coated vinyls that used the non solvent based inks is way and above the best.