Optimizing Barcodes for Scanning

Your combination of browser, printer, and scanner will have an impact on the success of your implementation, particularly when using printed barcodes. Yansa Labs' Barcode Generator provides all of the tools you need to adjust barcode dimensions & proportions to ensure success.

The value encoded in a barcode is a function of bar (or module) width relative to the whitespace between those modules. For 1-dimensional barcodes, width is the critical dimension. For 2-dimensional barcodes, both width & height are critical. For this reason, barcode width, bar (module) width, and whitespace width are dependent on each other - one of these dimensions cannot be changed without affecting another. And, in the case of 2-dimensional barcodes, height is also dependent. For this reason, it is valuable to consider all of these as a system that must be adjusted together.

When adjusting barcode dimensions to achieve readability, the parameters to adjust are fields on the Barcode Part form. In order of importance, these are:

1. Width (scale): Impacts the overall width of the barcode [default: 1.0]

2. Inkspread: Impacts whitespace between bars (modules) [default: 0.0]

3. Height (in): Impacts the overall height of the barcode [default: 1.0]

4. Server width multiplier (scale): Impacts width of server-rendered barcodes [default: 1.0]

See directly below for additional information about each field. See far bottom for visual examples of an identical barcode rendered with various proportions.

Width (scale)

Updating this value will impact the width of the overall barcode. Increasing this value will increase barcode width. As such, it will also proportionally increase the overall width of each bar (module) and overall width of the whitespace between each bar (module).

Width (scale) is set to a default of 1.0. Typically, this value will range between 1.0 - 2.0.

Inkspread

Updating this value will impact the width of individual bars (modules) within the barcode. Decreasing this value will decrease individual bar (module) size, thus increasing the size of whitespace. Often, this can improve the readability of the barcode for less sensitive scanners.

Inkspread is set to a default of 0.0. Typically, this value will range between 0.0 - 0.6.

Height (in)

Updating this value will impact the height of the overall barcode. Increasing this value will increase barcode height. For 1-Dimensional barcodes, increasing height should not impact readability. For 2-Dimensional barcodes, increasing height may improve readability for some scanners.

Height is set to a default of 1.0 in. The ideal height of a barcode is generally determined by overall label size - choose the height that provides the best label layout.

Server width multiplier (scale)

Updating this value will impact the width of the overall barcode, but only for barcodes that are rendered server-side. Client-side rendered barcodes will not be affected. Generally, client-side rendering and server-side rendering will result in similar sizing. However, this field can be used to adjust server-side rendering for precise applications.

Server width multiplier (scale) is set to a default of 1.0. We do not recommend adjusting this setting unless it is necessary for your specific use-case.

Examples of an Identical Barcode of Varied Proportions

Height=1.0 | Width=1.0 | Inkspread=0.0

Height=0.5 | Width=1.0 | Inkspread=0.0

Height=1.0 | Width=1.0 | Inkspread=0.5

Height=1.0 | Width=1.0 | Inkspread=-0.5

Height=1.0 | Width=1.5 | Inkspread=0.0

Height=1.0 | Width=1.5 | Inkspread=0.5