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In the modern world with a high level of computerization, accounting is greatly facilitated by the use of bar codes. A fairly simple sequence of white and black stripes is easily readable by technical means. All barcodes are subdivided into linear and two-dimensional. Both those and others have certain advantages, thanks to which they have gained great popularity in many areas of human activity.
Types of barcodes
Rectangular stripes and spaces of varying width are called linear bar codes. They are read in only one dimension - horizontally. Mostly this encoding is used to encode a small amount of information. The most popular type of linear barcode is the European EAN (European Article Number) specification. The most common standards are EAN-8 and EAN-13 (full) - the most common. Only 13 digits can be encoded in it, where the last, 13th digit is a check character and is calculated automatically, based on the algorithm, based on the previous twelve digits. According to technical requirements, the size of the window in which the barcode will be printed must be at least 35mm by 10mm. In cases where there is little space on the card, we do not recommend compressing the barcode, since a decrease in the size of the code leads to a decrease in the width of the strokes, which in turn will entail incorrect reading of the encoded information. In such cases, you can use the EAN-8 barcode - an abbreviated barcode, you can encode 8 digits in it, where the 8th digit is a check character and is calculated automatically, based on the algorithm, based on the previous seven digits.
Linear bar codes also include quite common types of bar codes - Code 128 and Barcode (aka Code) 39. A significant difference between these types of bar codes is the ability to encode not only numbers, but also symbols and letters. So in Code 128, you can encode up to 70 characters, including large Latin letters (from A to Z), numbers (from 0 to 9) and some special characters and does not use a check character. Barcode (aka Code) 39 allows encoding of no more than 30 characters, including large Latin letters (from A to Z), numbers (from 0 to 9) and some special characters, and the check character is not necessarily used. The check digit is used only at the direction of the owner of the barcode or customer.
In two-dimensional shaded codes, they are also called matrix codes, you can accommodate much more information - they are designed to encode a large amount of data. The image of a two-dimensional barcode is presented in the form of a matrix, measured vertically and horizontally. High density 2D codes allow for a maximum encryption of over 4000 characters.
The most famous two-dimensional type of barcode is the QR code. The main advantage of this type of barcode, in addition to the ability to encode a larger size of information than in linear barcodes, is easy recognition by scanners. The maximum number of characters is 7089, when encoding alphanumeric information - 4296, binary code - 2953 bytes and even hieroglyphs - 1817 characters.
The most common two-dimensional codes can also be attributed to the PDF 417 specification. This code can contain up to 2710 and up to 90 lines of information, and each line can contain up to 30 keywords containing various data - texts, bytes and numbers. The barcode PDF 417 is more often used in personal identification and can be found on air tickets, as well as insurance cards.
Technical requirements and recommendations
Any of the listed bar codes is used on plastic cards, depending on the purpose of the card and the amount of encoded information. There are some technical features of barcode placement that we would like to draw your attention to.
If you want to indicate a barcode on the layout, create it with dimensions of at least 10 mm in height and at least 25 mm in width. By default, the barcode is printed in black, the normal background color is white. A different background color may reduce the confidence in the barcode reading. The length of the barcode depends on the information being encoded and the type of barcode. The barcode on the card must be spaced at least 3 mm from any edge of the card and from the magnetic stripe.
• Requirements for a specific type of barcode are specified additionally when agreeing on the original layout of the card.
• When placing barcodes, it is necessary to take into account their minimum and maximum allowable sizes when printing in the selected method for subsequent confident reading.
A white rectangle is shown in the plastic card layout, where the barcode should be located.
A barcode can be executed both with the display of encoded digits under it (open barcode) or without them (hidden barcode). It should be noted that if the card has printed numbering or embossing (squeezing information on the card), which coincide with the numbering of the barcode, it is advisable to abandon the hidden coding in order to avoid errors. This will help speed up the card production process.
Types of barcodes
Rectangular stripes and spaces of varying width are called linear bar codes. They are read in only one dimension - horizontally. Mostly this encoding is used to encode a small amount of information. The most popular type of linear barcode is the European EAN (European Article Number) specification. The most common standards are EAN-8 and EAN-13 (full) - the most common. Only 13 digits can be encoded in it, where the last, 13th digit is a check character and is calculated automatically, based on the algorithm, based on the previous twelve digits. According to technical requirements, the size of the window in which the barcode will be printed must be at least 35mm by 10mm. In cases where there is little space on the card, we do not recommend compressing the barcode, since a decrease in the size of the code leads to a decrease in the width of the strokes, which in turn will entail incorrect reading of the encoded information. In such cases, you can use the EAN-8 barcode - an abbreviated barcode, you can encode 8 digits in it, where the 8th digit is a check character and is calculated automatically, based on the algorithm, based on the previous seven digits.
Linear bar codes also include quite common types of bar codes - Code 128 and Barcode (aka Code) 39. A significant difference between these types of bar codes is the ability to encode not only numbers, but also symbols and letters. So in Code 128, you can encode up to 70 characters, including large Latin letters (from A to Z), numbers (from 0 to 9) and some special characters and does not use a check character. Barcode (aka Code) 39 allows encoding of no more than 30 characters, including large Latin letters (from A to Z), numbers (from 0 to 9) and some special characters, and the check character is not necessarily used. The check digit is used only at the direction of the owner of the barcode or customer.
In two-dimensional shaded codes, they are also called matrix codes, you can accommodate much more information - they are designed to encode a large amount of data. The image of a two-dimensional barcode is presented in the form of a matrix, measured vertically and horizontally. High density 2D codes allow for a maximum encryption of over 4000 characters.
The most famous two-dimensional type of barcode is the QR code. The main advantage of this type of barcode, in addition to the ability to encode a larger size of information than in linear barcodes, is easy recognition by scanners. The maximum number of characters is 7089, when encoding alphanumeric information - 4296, binary code - 2953 bytes and even hieroglyphs - 1817 characters.
The most common two-dimensional codes can also be attributed to the PDF 417 specification. This code can contain up to 2710 and up to 90 lines of information, and each line can contain up to 30 keywords containing various data - texts, bytes and numbers. The barcode PDF 417 is more often used in personal identification and can be found on air tickets, as well as insurance cards.
Technical requirements and recommendations
Any of the listed bar codes is used on plastic cards, depending on the purpose of the card and the amount of encoded information. There are some technical features of barcode placement that we would like to draw your attention to.
If you want to indicate a barcode on the layout, create it with dimensions of at least 10 mm in height and at least 25 mm in width. By default, the barcode is printed in black, the normal background color is white. A different background color may reduce the confidence in the barcode reading. The length of the barcode depends on the information being encoded and the type of barcode. The barcode on the card must be spaced at least 3 mm from any edge of the card and from the magnetic stripe.
• Requirements for a specific type of barcode are specified additionally when agreeing on the original layout of the card.
• When placing barcodes, it is necessary to take into account their minimum and maximum allowable sizes when printing in the selected method for subsequent confident reading.
A white rectangle is shown in the plastic card layout, where the barcode should be located.
A barcode can be executed both with the display of encoded digits under it (open barcode) or without them (hidden barcode). It should be noted that if the card has printed numbering or embossing (squeezing information on the card), which coincide with the numbering of the barcode, it is advisable to abandon the hidden coding in order to avoid errors. This will help speed up the card production process.
