DataCard SD260 - Test Bar Codes; Card Design Changes that Affect Bar Codes; Print Bar Codes with the Card Printer Driver

22 Elements of Card Design
Test Bar Codes
Alwaystestthereadabilityofbarcodesunderproductionconditions.Factorstoconsiderinclude:
 Ifyouprintcardsoneatatime,printthesamplesusingthatmethod.Ifyouprintcardsin
batch(manycardssenttotheprinteratthesametime),useaproduction‐sizedbatchand
evaluatecardsfromthebeginning,middle,andendofthebatch.
 Useexactlythesamecardstockfortestingthatyouuseforproduction.Thecardstockcan
affectthereadabilityofbarcodes.Usually,awhitesurfacethatreflectslightinmany
directionsisneeded.Testcardsbeforepurchasingproductionquantities.
 Includeothercarddesigncomponentsthatyouuseinproduction,suchastopcoat.
 Usethesamebarcodereadersasusershave,andtesteachcardmultipletimestosimulate
anywearthecardmightexperience.Alsotestmultiplecards.
Card Design Changes That Affect Bar Codes
Ifyoumakesubstantialchangestothewayyouproducecards,reviewyoursetuptaskstomake
surethatcardscontinuetohavethequalityyourequire.
Changesthatcanaffectbarcodesinclude:
 Purchasinganewbrandofcardstock,whichcanchangethecolorofsomeimages.
 Changingto,orfrom,preprintedcards,whichcanchangethecolorofsomeimages.
Ifyouchangethedesignofyourcards,orifyoustartproducinganadditionalcarddesign,test
eachdesignasdescribedin“TestBarCodes”tomakesurethatthebarcodeprintsasexpected.
Print Bar Codes With the Card Printer Driver
TheCardPrinterDriverincludes asettingthatallowstheprintertousetheblack (K)panelto
printthebarsofabarcodeembeddedinacolorimage,makingitmorelikelytobereadbya
scanner.WhentheDriverPrintingPreferencesoption“Printblackimagepixelsusing
monochrome”
issettoOn,theCardPrinterDriverprintsthesevenblack‐mostshades(froma
paletteof256shades)usingtheKpanelofacolorprintribbon.Refertotheprinter’sDriverGuide
forcompleteinformationabouthowtospecifythissetting.