Section 11 | Barcode

Barcodes have evolved significantly over the years, dating back to 1974 when the first grocery store item marked with one was successfully checked out. Since then, various barcode types of different dimensions (one-dimensional, two dimensional) have emerged.

Seeing as standards exist for each symbology, it would be misleading to suggest barcodes are defined by a single set of (ISO) specifications. There are nonetheless best practices to follow when creating them. These range from recommended color combinations to the minimum required size of the buffers that appear on either side of each barcode (clear zones).

The goal here would be to facilitate the scanning process, with unreadable barcodes possessing the potential to harm a given company’s brand equity at the very least. Even the smallest error can cause catastrophic consequences throughout the entire supply chain. Think of it not as erring on the side of caution, but rather erring on the right side of the bottom line.

In this section, GlobalVision describes best practices when creating barcodes.

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11.1 Create PDFs with separate barcode layers

RISK
Barcodes may not be detected correctly, causing the decoding to be invalid.

ISSUES
Elements may obstruct the barcode, hiding the barcode from detection.

EXAMPLE

SOLUTION
Do:
✓ Create a separate layer containing the barcode.
✓ Ensure barcodes are in a single layer.

Don’t:
✗ Place barcodes underneath text or artwork.

TIPS
The following options detail how to create a barcode in Adobe InDesign:

• Install the appropriate plug-in for the creation of barcodes.
• Import a barcode in EPS format.

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11.2 Place the barcode in a noticeable area on the design

RISK
Barcodes may not be detected correctly, causing the decoding to be invalid.

ISSUE
A barcode may be placed over a carton edge, beneath a carton fold, beneath a package flap, or covered by another packaging layer, causing it to be obscured or damaged.

EXAMPLE

SOLUTION
Do:
Create an asset inventory.
✓ Ensure the barcode is placed >8 mm from the cut and fold lines.
✓ Ensure contents in another layer do not cover the barcode.
✓ Ensure the barcode is not obscured or damaged.

Don’t:
✗ Place the barcode closer than 8 mm from cut and fold lines.
✗ Place the barcode over a carton edge or beneath a package flap.
✗ Cover the barcode with text or artwork.

TIPS
The following options detail how to create a barcode in Adobe InDesign:

• Install an appropriate plug-in for the creation of barcodes.
• Import a barcode in EPS format.

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11.3 Choose the optimum barcode color combination

RISK
Barcodes may not be detected correctly causing the decoding to be invalid.

ISSUES

• Barcodes may not be visible if they are not created using the optimum color combination.
• The lack of contrast in barcode colors can affect their readability.

EXAMPLE

SOLUTION
Do:
✓ Create barcodes with dark colors (i.e. black, dark blue, dark brown, or dark green)
for bars on a light background.
✓ Ensure the bars consist of a single line color.
✓ Use light colors for the background and dark colors for the barcode.

Don’t:
✗ Create barcodes using light colors.
✗ Create barcodes using red colors.
✗ Place dark barcodes on dark backgrounds.

TIPS
See Appendix 08 Color Selection for Barcode Symbols.

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11.4 Create barcodes with the correct height

RISKS
Barcodes may not be scanned correctly and therefore not detected.

ISSUES

• Truncation (shortening the height of the bars) destroys the ability to scan a barcode omni-directionally.
• A truncated barcode can only be scanned when the item is oriented in specific directions across the scanning beams.
• Alignment is affected if the height is reduced.

EXAMPLE

SOLUTION
Do:
✓ Create barcodes with magnifications based on the nominal (or 100%)
size of 1.020” X 1.469”.

Don’t:
✗ Reduce bars to a height of less than ½” tall.

TIPS
See Appendix 07 UPC A Barcode Size Standards/EAN 13 Barcode Size Standards.

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11.5 See Appendix 07 UPC A Barcode Size Standards/EAN
13 Barcode Size Standards.

RISKS
Barcodes may be unreadable causing the decoding to be invalid.

ISSUE

• Clear zone violations can result in the barcode not being read, with loss of data leading to potentially disastrous effects on product and brand integrity.

EXAMPLE

SOLUTION
Do:
✓ Ensure the minimal clear zone for linear barcodes is 10 times the width
of the narrowest bar or 0.25 inches, whichever is greater.
✓ Ensure the minimal clear zone for QR barcodes is five times the size of
the module (the size of one of the black squares within the code).
✓ Ensure the minimal clear zone for Datamatrix barcodes is two times the size
of the module.

Don’t:
✗ Cover the barcode with text or artwork.

TIPS
See Appendix 07 UPC A Barcode Size Standards/EAN 13 Barcode Size Standards.