There are numerous factors to consider when printing barcodes. Taking all of these into account is crucial. Determining factors such as the font to use and whether the barcodes will be vertical or horizontal is essential. Choosing the appropriate option for your product will effectively meet your needs and expectations.
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Which barcode labels are a better option for your products?
Which barcode labels are suitable for your products is closely related to the labeling system you use. You need to carefully examine and understand the technical specifications and limitations of your system.
- What is the maximum label width that your printer can print?
- Does the wide label, used to remove the narrow side, need to be rotated 90 degrees?
- Can you use a large printer to create a label with your desired specifications without needing to rotate it?
- Are the barcodes produced during printing readable, and are the ribbons and labels compatible?
The questions asked here, and your answers to them, will influence which labels are suitable for your products.(*)
The printing orientation greatly affects the readability of barcodes. The technical specifications of your printer determine the position and orientation of the barcodes. If you choose the horizontal option, you will create barcodes that resemble a fence. If you choose the vertical option, a barcode that looks like a staircase will be created.
You might also be interested in this article: Metal Coding: Systems for Writing on Metal Materials
The Importance of Printing Orientation
Thermal transfer or direct thermal printers have a built-in, fixed printing section that covers the entire label. Each printing section contains numerous small heating elements, which are placed very close together.
The heating elements in the print head create pressure pulses when they are electronically switched on and off. This allows small dots to create the actual print.
Simultaneously with the processes described here, the label is moved by the relevant section of the printer. This causes the label material itself to darken at the desired points (direct thermal printing). Alternatively, a temperature-sensitive section is located between the thermal print head and the label (thermal transfer printing). Thanks to heating elements, the coating on the ribbon is melted directly, allowing the ink to be transferred to the label.
Quality is of paramount importance during barcode printing . Poor quality, missing, or faulty print heads will render barcodes unreadable . Therefore, prints of this type are absolutely unacceptable. To prevent this and avoid buildup, regular cleaning of the print heads is recommended .
Despite regular cleaning and maintenance, and careful use, print heads will wear out over time. In such a case, before it's time for a new cleaning, some of the dots may prevent the print from being made correctly.
The problems mentioned may not be immediately apparent. Therefore, a barcode scanner on the back of the printer can be used to check for issues. This way, it's easy to determine if the barcodes are working correctly .
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How can the problem be identified in a simple way?
There's always a simple way to identify the problem. One way is to draw a thick line across the barcode on the label . By checking this line, which runs the width of the barcode, you can see if the printer is printing correctly. This eliminates the need for a scanner.
Another method is to rotate the barcode layout 90 degrees. During the rotation, the label content must also be fully rotated . This makes any potential printer error much more visible , allowing for problem detection without the need for a scanner.
FINAL WORD
It should be understood that rotating barcode scanners have an unacceptable cost. The dots open and close very quickly. From an electronic point of view, speed isn't necessarily a problem. However, the heating elements have a delay and remain somewhat warm even after being switched off.
When printing barcodes, you should thoroughly understand your product specifications, which type of barcode you should use, and the devices best suited to your needs.
At very high printing speeds, some blurring of the lines may occur. This can create a readability problem, especially since scanners need bars and the spaces between them to have very clear edges. Therefore, it should be checked whether rotating the barcodes is the right option in relation to the materials and printing speeds used for barcode printing.
As Electrojet , we are the main distributor in Turkey for Rynantech (Thermal Inkjet), a Singapore-based company that is a leading firm in the sector with distributors in 65 countries. barcode and other coding needs.
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