| The barcodes that are attached to clothing items and | | | | When choosing software, it is important to keep in |
| any other type of merchandise that you are | | | | mind that it needs to be highly specific and selected |
| purchasing are a series of printed line bars that vary | | | | according to the application. What this means is that |
| in width. These are used to identify the item and | | | | there is different software for print logos, sequential |
| each item will have its very own barcode. The bars | | | | barcodes as well as barcodes that offer product |
| are normally spaced evenly with a specific width that | | | | images next to them. |
| represents the information which is stored in binary | | | | Barcode Scanners |
| digits. These codes can be decoded by a laser or | | | | There are many types of barcode scanners available |
| optical scanner which is attached to a computer | | | | on the market today. The very first barcode |
| network. When the scanner scans the bar code the | | | | scanners were referred to as magic wands as a |
| information within the code is transferred to the | | | | nickname to their look. These were adorned with a |
| computer screen. | | | | single light-emitting diode (LED) plus a single photo |
| A barcode is actually part of a complete set that | | | | detector. The entire barcode needed to be swiped in |
| includes a computer, software, scanners, printers and | | | | order for the want to have the ability to decipher |
| labels. The printers are either thermal transfer printers | | | | the code. In today's world the most desired are laser |
| or direct printers. Mobile terminals can also be used | | | | scanners. These utilize a moving laser beam that |
| for mobile data acquisition. These come with a built-in | | | | reads the barcode accurately even though it has |
| scanner as well as a reader, a display unit and | | | | super fast speed. Small businesses may not use |
| keyboard. The Point-of-sale area is also equipped with | | | | these as they are often times out of reach price |
| a barcode system such as high output laser or optical | | | | wise. If money is a concern these business owners |
| barcode scanners and some have trigger devices for | | | | can opt for the less expensive CCD scanners which |
| hands-free scanning. | | | | use a row of LEDs and photo detectors. |
| Barcode Software | | | | Barcode Printers |
| The software that is used to create the barcodes | | | | Barcode are stuck to products so that they are |
| will vary according to the operating system that is | | | | easily identified when scanned. They are printed on |
| used on the computer. Microsoft Windows is the | | | | self-adhesive labels using barcode printers. These |
| easiest operating system to find software for. Even | | | | printers come in two forms: Thermo Transfer |
| so, Apple Macintosh computers offer the best | | | | Printers and Thermo Direct Printers. The thermo |
| barcode creating software. These computers are | | | | direct prints the barcode directly on the label using |
| perfectly suited for DTP, prepress as well as the | | | | heat and light. This is somewhat reminiscent of the |
| graphics segment. Barcode symbology is what the | | | | first fax machines. Optimal for small barcode print |
| barcode has to incorporate. This is the barcode | | | | jobs, these barcodes are normally not kept for a long |
| language that makes the automatic calculations and | | | | period of time. |
| multiple output options which support the image | | | | Thermo transfer printers utilize heat sensitive ribbons |
| formats such as PNG, TIFF, JPG and EPS | | | | that are placed between the print head and the label. |
| (post-script). | | | | Applying heat to the ribbon creates the transfer of |
| Even though dedicated barcode generators provide | | | | ink from the ribbon to the label. The cost of these |
| the best solutions there are cheaper options that | | | | labels is more than the direct version but they are |
| include barcode fonts. Even though this is an option, | | | | more durable. This type requires ink and ribbon which |
| business owners cannot expect the same quality of | | | | must be replaced from time to time. |
| barcodes with these fonts. | | | | |