Placing Barcodes on Products
Once a company licenses their prefix and is given an allotment of UPCs, a company is now ready to place barcodes on products.
Obtain Print-Ready Digital Barcode Files
For items which have yet to be printed, digital barcode files (.eps format) must be created.
Determine Correct UPC Barcode Sizing
The GS1 standards provide guidance for acceptable barcode magnification (sizing).
Package/Label Placement
Barcode placement requirements are based on the type of packaging and products. The GS1 General Specifications provide detailed instruction for barcode placement.
Barcode Color Selection
In order for a barcode to be functional, it must be able to be read by a point-of-sale scanner. There acceptable color combinations that can be used for bars and spaces.
Create Barcodes – Digital Files
The precision of your original barcode is critical for scanning success. Using the wrong type of file format, such as .png, could result in a barcode that looks ok but cannot be scanned. Digital barcodes should be created as a vector images and the most precise are .EPS and .EMF (Microsoft). Additional information is available at https://www.barcode.graphics/vector-barcodes/.
A critical component of barcode artwork is Bar Width Adjustment. To compensate for bar growth/reduction which occurs during the print process, digital barcode files must include a bar width adjustment factor. Without this factor, the bars in a barcode will grow excessively and result in a poorly printed symbol.
Determing the correct UPC Barcode Sizing
UPC barcodes have a defined sizing range for the width and height dimensions. The minimum sizing dimension is based on the limitations of the scanners used to read the UPC and the printing technology used to create them. Smaller barcodes have tighter print tolerances and can be problematic for scanners.
Included with the GS1 Barcode Service is access to a personal barcode consultant who will assist in determining the correct barcode size and also provide the .eps barcode files. It is very common for new companies to alter the sizing of their barcodes and later find out they being penalized for problematic barcodes.
Placement on Packaging
Placement issues can involve a wide variety of circumstances. The GS1 General Specification has explicit guidelines for UPC barcode placement on most types of products and packaging. The document is extremely comprehensive. It can be viewed by clicking here.
Our certified barcode consultants are versed on the GS1 requirements and assist clients with these types of questions every day.
Barcode Color
Scanners need to dark bars (low reflectance) on a light (high reflectance) background. Although you cannot go wrong with black bars printed on a white background, there are numerous color combinations that work fine. For guidance on barcode color selection, visit https://www.barcode.graphics/upc-color-guide/
To learn more about issues involved with placing barcodes on products, visit https://www.barcode.graphics/top-5-barcoding-mistakes/
How Do Companies Obtain UPC Codes?
The GS1 Barcode Service helps companies with every step. In addition to application processing, personal assistance with GTIN assignments and product data uploads, high resolution digital barcodes (.eps) are included
GS1 Barcode Service Pricing
Get Single Barcodes | License Prefix for 10 Barcodes | License Prefix for 100 Barcodes | |
Starting at $70 | Total Fee: $400 | Total Fee: $1,000 | |
Unique Product Identifier(s) | 10 GTINs | 100 GTINs | |
Digital .EPS Barcode(s) | 10 Barcodes | 100 Barcodes | |
Acesss to GTIN.cloud® | |||
Official GS1 Certificate | |||
Data Validation | |||
Annual Renewal Fee | |||
Supports Cartons & Pallets | |||
Enables Couponing | |||
Identify Medical Devices | |||
Ultimate Guide To Barcodes
UPC Tutorial Videos
