Are you thinking about using colored barcode labels?
Wondering why some of your barcoded color labels don’t scan well or even at all?
The ability for a colored barcode label to successfully scan is dependent upon the contrast between the bars and the background. Obviously black on white is the recommended combination for barcode labels, but what if you need to use color in your labels to create a visual identifier as well? You certainly shouldn’t purchase colored labels and start printing without doing a little bit of research first.
Barcode scanners decode best when the reflection of the background is high in contract to the bars which do not reflect anything at all. Yellow and red based colors are colors you should avoid if possible due since they are less reflective (lower contrast). It is also highly recommended that any color chosen should be the lightest variant of that color to maximize the contrast between the the bars and background. The key element to remember is contrast. Not even the best barcode scanners can pick up a code without the necessary contrast.
The good news: Rather than leave the choice up to you, there is a document that lists every single PMS color and whether or not it is recommended for barcoding. This is an extremely helpful document that will help you avoid investing in barcode labels that won’t scan.
Test, test, test! We also highly recommend testing the colored label with the actual barcode scanners that you intend to use. Do not leave it up to chance, test and be sure your colored barcode labels will scan without question! If you would like help getting some colored barcode labels to test with, an Advanced Automation team member would be more than happy to help!
