Top barcoding facts

1. All barcode scanners work by; illuminating the code, capturing the reflection and then decoding it so the data is collected.

2. Damaged barcodes don’t scan, so check it has been printed correctly and the ink hasn’t been smudged, all of the barcode is intact and the barcode isn’t obscured! Also make sure that there is a white area at the beginning and end of the barcode so the scanner knows when to start and finish reading the code.

3. The best colour combination for a barcode is black and white but other colour combinations do work just remember to choose a single colour with a lighter background, and test it before committing to a print run!

4. If you supply to the UK retail trade you need to use barcode symbology EAN13

5. The 1st barcode ever scanned was on Wrigley’s juicy fruit chewing gum.