Knowledge of bar code printing

The first printing method is suitable for the barcode with a large number, fixed specifications and the same content, which is designed and printed at the same time with the text and text of the outer package. The second way can be controlled by computer to achieve instant printing as required, with strong flexibility.

Barcode printer equipment has inkjet printer, thermal printer, thermal transfer printer, hit dot matrix printer and laser printer. In order to ensure that the bar code after printing meets the specification requirements, the plate making process should be considered according to the characteristics of the printing process and substrate. Such as flexographic printing process, in the plate can be considered to reduce the line width, in order to make up for the expansion of the printing deviation. For printing thermal shrinkage packaging materials, we should consider the position of the bar code after the film shrinkage, calculate the vertical and horizontal contraction times in advance, so as to adjust the plate making.

Barcode printing attention issues

In order to facilitate the use of normal reading, should pay attention to the color of the bar code.

In the barcode reading system, the scanner light source is usually a red light source with a wavelength of 630~700nm, so the red light effect of ink should be considered. The incident light of the scanner shines on the bar code surface of different materials and colors, and the reflection effect is different. Black ink is completely absorbable to red light, and the reflectance of a print to incident light is generally less than 3%, so most barcodes are designed to be printed with black ink. The white ink is completely reflected to the red light, and the reflectance of the printing material to the incident light is close to 100%, so it is the most ideal blank color.

For these reasons, the bar codes on prints are mostly printed on white paper. But some packaging products, from the decorative effect, there are also other color collocation, so we should pay attention to the nature of the color collocation. Usually the red reflectivity of high color yellow, orange, red, light brown and so on. And black, green, purple, cyan, etc., low reflectivity to red light. The reflectance of color to red light and other factors should be fully considered in the design of barcode printing color. Transparent film packaging is not suitable for directly printing barcode, should be printed with white ink or yellow, orange red as the substrate, and then printed with dark barcode, such as black, dark green, dark blue, so that it is easy to read and use.