DataCard CD Series, Installation And Manual

Page: 28 / 86

20 Elements of Card Design
Bar Code Guidelines
Bar codes print more successfully when you observe the following guidelines.
Bar Code Placement
•
Maintain the required quiet zone around the
actual bar code, as shown in the illustration.
•
Locate bar codes at least 0.25 inch (6.3mm)
from other printing and from the edge of the
card.
•
For best results, orient the card so the bars are
parallel to the long edges of the card, as shown.
This orientation most accurately prints
readable bar codes.
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 might 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 K only.
•
Infrared readers require that the K panel be used to print the bar code.
•
Bar codes are usually more readable when they are printed with less power.
•
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
page 38 for information on setting the K power value.