DataCard SD260 - Test Bar Codes

SD Series Installation and Administrator’s Guide 19
Bar Code Size
•
Alowerdensitybarcodeiseasiertoread,becausethebarsarewiderand
spacedfartherapart.
• Thewidthofthenarrowelementsinthebarcodemustbelargeenoughtobe
readconsistently.Thecapabilitiesofthebarcodereadercaninfluencethis.
• Thebarcodemustbetallenoughtobereadundernormalconditions.
Bar Code Print Settings
•
Toachievethebestqualityprintingandimprovethereadabilityofthebar
code,usetheK(black)panelofcolorprintribbontoprinttheblackbars.Bar
codesprintedwithYMCpanelsarenotascrispandsharpasthoseprinted
withtheKpanelonly.
• InfraredreadersrequirethattheKpanelbeusedtoprintthebarcode.
• TheANSIstandardforbarcodequality(X3.182)assignsagradetoabarcode
toindicateitsreadability.ChooseaKpowervalueandbarcodesizeto
producethegradeyoursystemrequires.Referto“PrinterSetting Menu”on
pag e 37forinformationaboutsettingtheKpowervalue.
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.