Since wristbands are often curved in nature and there is limited space for printing, printing on wristbands can be challenging. The following are some basic guidelines on barcode printing on wristbands:

1) Manage the Symbol Size
Often times, information that Hospital administrators would like to include in the barcode is far too much in relation to the wristband space. While 1-D barcodes cannot always fit all of the information, they can be scanned by all types of barcode readers, unlike 2-D barcodes which can fit more information, but require a 2-D capable scanner. In addition, when the end of the barcode curve around patients wrists, it is difficult to scan, thus, it is necessary to choose a barcode symbology that will fit on the flat part of the wristband, but also hold all of the necessary information.

Rather that choosing a UPC code, which is commonly used in retail applications, it would be wise to choose a dense barcode symbology, such as Code 128, which can hold a lot of information in a small amount of space.

2) Optimize Scanning Performance and Image Durability
Since patients’ wristbands go through a lot of wear and tear, barcode durability is crucial. In addition, exposure to alcohol or other solvents can cause the barcode to become unreadable. By printing on a direct thermal printer with the proper settings recommended by the manufacturer, fading can be decreased, increasing durability and scanning performance.

3) Calibrate to Avoid Waste
Since the wristband is a delicate media, it’s important to properly calibrate your barcode printer to accommodate the dimensions of the band, making sure they print properly aligned. Printing labels requires a different setting than wristbands, so be sure to consult your printers manual in order to get the proper settings and configurations for optimum printing.

Source: Zebra Technologies White Paper

While many of us may see the PDF 417 barcode on the back of our licenses, or on certain packages, such as FedEx, what is the PDF417 really all about? Basically, the PDF417 barcode allows users to securely and inexpensively store large amounts of text and data; it is the most commonly used 2D barcode. The barcode consists of many linear rows of stacked codewords, with each codeword representing 1 out of 929 possible values from one of any three different clusters. Within each cluster, a different cluster is chosen for each new row, repeating every third row. Since codewords within each cluster are unique, the barcode scanner is able to easily determine which line each cluster originated from.

Typically, PDF 417 barcodes are printed at an X to Y ratio of 1:2 to 1:5, with 1:3 being used most frequently. Lowering the ratio saves a lot of space, but not all scanners can read X to Y ratios of less than 1:3. In addition to X and Y rations, row and column limitations also exist in the PDF417 symbology. While the number of rows and columns can be selected, the PDF417 barcode can only have 30 columns and 90 rows, having only the number of data columns in the symbol selected.
The PDF417 Barcode also allows ASCII functions to be encoded for various operations, such as denoting tabs and returns.

Learn more about the PDF417 barcode and other symbologies here.

I received this short and simple question the other day….although there isn’t much to the answer, I’m making it a Question of the Week because I’m going to take a closer look at Code 39 in the next couple of days.

QUESTION:

Is barcode 3 of 9 the same as Code 39?

ANSWER:

Yes, code 3 of 9 is one name for Code 39.  It is also known as barcode 39, 3 of 9 barcode and more.

Keep reading to catch my post A Closer Look at Code 39!

GS1 Databar (formerly Reduced Space Symbols or RSS), is joining the EAN/UPC family of barcodes, but this new point-of-sale barcode has a lot more to offer than meets the eye.  GS1 Databar is ideal for small, hard-to-mark products and enables GTIN (Global Trade Item Number), allowing the barcode to hold additional information, such as weight, expiration date and lot numbers.  Basically, GS1 Databar promises more data in less space, making it a “super barcode” symbology that provides:

• Traceability
• Shrink Control
• Supplier identification and category management in fresh foods
• Product management
• Ability to barcode hard-to-mark products
• Ability to provide more consumer information on packaging due to additional space

The global implementation target for GS1 Databar is scheduled for January 1, 2010, so you may want to learn more about the latest in the evolution of barcodes now.  For more information on GS1 Databar you can access the GS1 Databar Brochure, which provides more details on the benefits, capabilities and implementation requirements.

Once you’re ready to begin printing your barcode labels it is important to not only choose the right software, but also the right kind of printer for the best quality. Printing your own barcode labels is an easy way for your company to increase productivity, reduce costs and improve data management, so you want to do it right.

The first step is to decide what kind of barcode printer you’ll need for your label type. There are so many different types of printers you need to be sure you purchase the best one for what you require. Pictured above is a Zebra ZM400 printer, this printer has both thermal transfer and direct thermal modes and a quick throughput. You’re probably wondering what that even means, that’s why it’s important to ask yourself several questions before making this big purchase:

1. What size labels will I be printing? -typically smaller labels will require a higher quality printer to provide sufficient resolution. You’ll want a printer capable of providing crisp lines and a readable barcode.

2. What kind of conditions will the labels be exposed to? -determining the required life span of your labels will help you decide what kind of printing method would work best. Direct thermal printers are best for common print jobs that don’t require labels to have a long life span, but thermal transfer printers produce durable, long-lasting barcode labels for permanent or long-term labeling applications.

3. What kind of symbologies do I need supported? -you must be sure that you choose an appropriate printer that supports the barcode symbology you’ll be using for your labels. The printer must support the symbologies, graphics and international characters you require. Thermal label printers have the ability to support multiple symbologies, but general purpose laser or inkjet printers may not.

4. What volume of labels will I be printing? -throughput is the true measure of how quickly a printer can complete a print job, it can be an important factor if you’ll be printing a large volume of labels. You don’t want a job to take all day. If you plan on printing a large volume of labels on a regular basis you’ll also want to be sure that you purchase a dependable printer with a long life expectancy.

The second step is to purchase software that supports barcodes. There are many options available and many barcode label design packages have templates for compliance formats used in retail, automotive, distribution and other industries. You need to be sure that the software you have chosen supports the type of labels you’ll be making and the model of printer you have chosen.

Seagull Scientific offers an easy to use label printing software package called BarTender that runs on Windows and supports both laser and thermal printers. Seagull offers a free trial version available for download at this link:

Free BarTender Download

I recommend you download this software and try it out, it may be the perfect label software for your needs. If it’s not, please contact me and I can offer you some different alternatives or get you in touch with someone that can help you decide what’s right for you.   Purchasing the appropriate printer and software for your label needs is an important decision, so feel free to contact me if you need anymore information.  You can read more about the different types of barcode printers in my post Types of Barcode Printers.