Are there many types bar codes?
Yes - though many people refer to all types as a "UPC barcode", there are actually many  different types of bar-codes. All of the them accomplish the same task - converting data into a form that a machine can easily recognize. The different formats are almost like different languages. As the  word "sun" can be said in French or German or Spanish, so too different symbols can be used to represent the same set of data. The different languages are called "Bar code Symbologies."

Some of the names include::
UPC-A/E, EAN, Code 39, Code 93, Code 128, I 2 of 5, Industrial 2 of 5, Matrix 2 of 5, Coda bar, MSI, Book land, POSTNET, UCC/EAN 128, PDF417, Maxi code, Data Matrix

How do I know which type of barcode I need?
Fortunately this part of the process is pretty straight forward. Software programs on the market today print almost all of the various formats. It is simply a matter of telling the software which symbology you want the bar codes in, much like you would select a font on a word processing program.  If you are producing codes for an end user they will know which symbology they are using. If you are printing labels to scan internally, your software program will recommend one of the symbologies to use. . 

There are two methods of printing used by bar code printers, which one do I want?
Bar code printers come in two basic forms, THERMAL DIRECT and THERMAL TRANSFER. Both use the heat of the printing element to form an image on the label. The difference is in the process.

THERMAL DIRECT printers, use the heat of the print head to form an image on specially coated papers. Much like the old style fax paper, that was chemically treated and would react to the heat of the print head on an incoming fax. These labels have been processed to react to the heat of the printing element.

THERMAL TRANSFER printers use the heat of the printing element to TRANSFER the resin from a ribbon onto a label. The image is crisper and longer lasting. 

Most printers come in either configuration, so you could order a particular printer in either the THERMAL DIRECT or  THERMAL TRANSFER model.

Which one should you purchase?
The criteria to make that decision is your application. THERMAL DIRECT (no ribbon) is slightly cheaper, because there is no ribbon involved the cost per thousand labels tends to be less. However the disadvantage of  THERMAL DIRECT is that the label will fade with time. Just like  the old curly fax paper that would  turn gray and fade after about 6 months, so too thermal direct labels, since they are coated to react to heat they will fade with time. If your application involves the need for labels to last more than 6 months, we recommend using a THERMAL TRANSFER printer.

How do I select which printer I need?
There are a few questions you have to determine and then the decision is pretty straight forward. The first question is how many labels do you plan on printing? Bar code printers are largely designed to handle a given work load. The most common method of measuring a printer's capacity is by the amount of  "labels a day" it is rated for. A light duty printer will accommodate up to 200 labels a day. A medium grade printer will handle up to 500 a day. If your application requires you to print more than 500 labels a day then you would need a heavy duty printer. Finally if you find that your application demands printing more than 1000 labels a day you would need an industrial grade printer.

Are their different speeds in printers?
Yes. Thermal printers are rated by how many inches per second (IPS) they print. The print speeds vary from 2" a second up to 10" a second. The actual speed of printing will be determined by the height of your label. If you are printing a 4"wide by 2" high label, then every label will consist of 2 print inches. Assuming that your printer was rated for 2 inches per second (IPS) then it would print one label every second.

How do I determine the correct label size?
The first question you have to ask yourself is how much room do I have? Next you need to determine what you need the label to say. Generally an inch wide by an half inch high is enough to comfortably print a barcode. Any other label space can be used for other coding. So if you need to print a upc barcode, unit price and  short description on a label, you will want to allocate about ½ inch of height for the bar code, ½ inch for the unit price and ½ inch for the description. So a  2 inch wide by a 1 ½  high label would suffice.

Can I put a company logo on my label?
Yes, This is a function of the Software program. The basic software packages that come FREE with the printers do not have this capacity. All the third party software programs that we sell have this as a standard function. For instance we recommend LABEL MATRIX by StrandWare. Besides being an easy to use WYSIWYG label design program it comes with  a built-in function that allows you to easily import graphics, position it where you want on the label and then print them. 

Can my printer accommodate different size labels?
Most printers can accommodate a variety of label sizes. Next to each printer you will see a Media width section this will tell you the maximum width that a printer can handle.  The labels come out of the printer along the height of the label, so any printer can handle a label up to 6 inches high, most printers can print as long as 20". The variable is in the width of the label and each printer comes with its own set of parameters. 

Can these labels be applied with an applicator?
A roll of printed labels is loaded into the applicator and then affixed to the product or carton. The only detail that you must watch for is that these applicators can only take a core size of 1". To use the applicators you must have a reminder that will rewind your labels as they come out onto a 1" core. Most printers come with reminders, or you can purchase a universal rewinder, that will take labels from any printer and rewind them onto cores that can be used in these applicators. 

What software do I need to create bar codes?
Some of the entry level printers already come with software that will print the barcode labels. Look at the quick specs section to determine if that particular printer comes with software or if it must be purchased at an additional cost. If you are looking at a Heavy duty printer you will need to purchase additional software. There are a number of software packages that are very good at creating the labels you need. We recommend one in particular, LABEL MATRIX by StrandWare.

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