Barcode, labelling and utility software

Barcode images by e-mail

We offer an on-line barcode service where you can make you own barcode images, but if you prefer we will make the barcode images and e-mail them to you.

What you need:

1. Your barcode data (i.e. the numbers or codes). If you require barcodes for retail products and do not have the number(s) see here.

2. The graphics type and resolution of the image(s) you require. If you do not specify these properties the images are supplied as TIFF at 600 dpi. More information.

3. An e-mail address that allows you to receive attachments in the graphics format you have requested. The images arrive as attachments to short e-mails that may be taken as spam, so you should ensure that you allow your e-mail system to accept e-mails from dLSoft.com and dLSoft.co.uk

4. A valid credit or debit card. Charges are 10.00 UK pounds plus 5.00 UK pounds for each barcode image. Prices include VAT/TVA at the current UK rate. If you require more than 6 images contact us for rates.

How to proceed

To order you barcode images by e-mail use this form which may be copied and pasted or printed, and either e-mailed or faxed to our offices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Retail Barcode numbers

For use on retail products you cannot just invent the numbers. You must register with your national article numbering body (GS1UK in the UK, the GS1US in the USA) to obtain a company code number and a range of product code numbers. Together these numbers form Global Trade Item Numbers (GTIN) which form the data for the barcodes. Without these numbers your barcodes will not be recognised when you products are scanned at a retail outlet. Furthermore you will probably need to use either EAN (in Europe), JAN (in Japan) or UPC (in the USA) barcode types for retail products, and, if appropriate, you may need to use Code 128 or EAN 128 barcodes on boxes containing multiple items.
For contact points in the UK see GS1UK or for most other countries see GS1

Graphics information

Generally TIFF images are fine for most computer systems (including Macs), although we can provide BMP, EPS, JPEG, or PNG bitmap formats or WMF vector format if you prefer. A resolution of 600 dpi is suitable for retail and "normal" size barcodes, although we can provide 300, 400, 600, 1200 or 2400 if required. The WMF format is a vector format, but only suitable for use on Windows PCs. If you have a graphics designer who will use the images the designer will be able to tell you which format and resolution is preferred.

If you are creating barcodes for use in a retail environment (eg. GS1/EAN-13 or UPC-A) then you should also consider the size of the barcode. The recommended barcode sizes page provide the sizes you would use for creating the barcode at 100% of the nominal size recommended by GS1. GS1 typically permits the size the range between 80 - 200% of this nominal size, and that means when both the height and the width of the image vary by the same proportion. If you need to truncate the barcode to fit on small packaging you are advised to check that the resellers of your products find this acceptable (in our experience many will, but some won't!)

The following extract from the GS1 specifications explains the reason for this:

“Truncation of a barcode symbol is the reduction of the barcode symbol height relative to the width. Truncation is not recommended because it destroys the ability of a symbol to be scanned omni-directionally at the point of sale. A truncated symbol can only be scanned when the trade item is oriented in particular directions across the scanning beam. Truncation therefore reduces checkout efficiency. The more the height is reduce the more critical becomes the alignment of the symbol across the scanning beam. Truncation should be avoided unless absolutely necessary, for example, when printing on a highly curved surface, and then the maximum height should be printed.”

For GS1 barcodes, if you specify a size or specify a % of nominal size outside of the range 80 – 200% then the responsibility is yours.

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25/11/2008

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