barcodes/packaging Q
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- indian_pole
wanting to use an uncoated dark stock (e.g. brown colorplan) for a small folding carton/box.
I know i can't reverse the positive to negative, but can i print the white background of the barcode using white ink or silver (i.e. letting the brown show through to create the lines/numbers)
anyone had experience of this?
thanks
- monospaced0
I've done this on aluminum cans, printing dark ink and letting the metal shine through. You've gotta test it with them.
- detritus0
Aye, if you've a barcode generator and the facilities and materials to hand to print and test, I'd suggest copying another barcode then using that as a test and checking it scans at your local supermarket.
Easier these days with self-service tills - I did this about 8 years ago and just bothered the poor bastards in the corner shop downstairs.
Generally, there's a balance between barcode size and finish complexity - the simpler and more contrasty the print, the smaller the barcode.
- Gnash0
it will also depend on contrast -- might need a double hit of white. Bottom line, you must test it. Get the printer to print some samples. This will be an expensive mistake if it doesn't scan. (For example, Walmart fines $50K for an unreadable code on a product.)
- uan0
for a first cheap test on contrasts, you could fake it in photoshop
display it on your phone and scan it in a local supermarket.
- indian_pole0
- this worksuan
- should'nt be a problem like thismonospaced
- I did something similar once, except that I played it safe and printed a black barcode over a box, double hit with white.Gnash
- There's not reason this shouldn't work though. as long as the contrast is good. I would be careful using a metallic ink, though.Gnash
- contrast and size, metallic is probably white for the infrared scanner.uan
- printing on uncoated so won't be proper metallic/shiny.indian_pole