Barcode color guidelines

[Gregg]

Wondering if anyone can point me in the direction of a reliable source for acceptable barcode colors and background colors. We follow some rather old guidelines - which have worked for years, and we have never had any issues with our warehouse, but with technology changing so much I'm looking for more current guidelines.

Basically we never print any C or K dot behind the actual barcode, our barcodes are typically 100k, but sometimes that are 100C, or a PMS. The Pantone barcode is where it gets a bit dodgy, certainly we don't use anything red or metallic, but my old guidelines listed only about 10 acceptable PMS colors. Regarding my old guidelines, they were lost when my company moved, last year.

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

 

[PantherMac]

Hi Gregg,

I worked in packaging for several years and learned a few things along the way, but am far, FAR from an expert. I've worked w/ Dave from

http://www.dmhassociates.com/

... and he knows his stuff.. Local vendor, but perhaps he can reference a local guy for you, if'n you're not from 'round these parts....

Anyways, the gizmo's I've bought from him in the past will tell you what's good/bad for a barcode.
The QuickCheck brand of Barcode reader's are pretty nifty in my book (have an 850 we got a deal on).

Softmart.com - Hand Held Quick Check 850 Bar Code Verifier [QC850-1]

The machine will read your barcode, calculate all sorts of variables, and produce an easy-to-read pass/fail check. Great thing to verify proofs, and keep handy on the press to make readings throughout the run. Anybody printing retail barcodes should seriously consider having one or two of these types of devices in the plant.

ANYWAYS.. the difference in contrast between the background and the bar-color itself is one of the variables that gets measured, and determines the readability of the code (it isn't entirely cut and dry)... Bigger bars, larger spaces between the bars, and you can use more similar colors (all depends on the total decodeability of the graphic, there are several variables). The biggest factor is can the code be read - print quality (e.g. Gain) greatly impacts the readings (more so than colors sometimes). Generally speaking however, you want a dark color, on a light background. However I've printed pastel yellow background on a silver paper (letting the paper make the bars) before.... So you can't really apply hard-fast rules. The simplest 'rule' is to make sure there is sufficient contrast between the two.

- Mac

 

[Gregg]

Thanks, Mac.