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Bar Code Printing>
Determine Your Printing Needs
Bar Code
Overview | Contact NTI about Bar Coding
Define Your Application
Understanding your labeling needs up front will
simplify the process of choosing the ideal printer for the job. Consider several
key questions:
Why Do You Need an On-Demand Labeling System?
Will your printer be utilized for internal
improvement - such as capital asset management or inventory control - or to meet
corporate or industry-mandated labeling requirements - such as automotive AIAG,
electronic EIA or retail UCC/UPC specifications?
What Do You Need To Print On Your Labels?
Many users of thermal printing technology
generate bar coded labels. However, some labeling applications never use bar
codes, but require high resolution printers to produce text or graphic images.
Your labels may include bar codes, alphanumeric, graphics or any combination of
the three.
Two-Dimensional Symbologies, Which Can Encode Large
Amounts of Data in Relatively Small Spaces
If you'll be printing bar codes for internal
use, you may have the freedom to select a symbology that suits you. But if
you're printing labels to meet customer or industry specifications, you'll need
to use a specified symbology. Make sure the printer you select supports the
symbology you require.
Additionally, if you must meet compliance
labeling standards, you may require a printhead with a specific print resolution
and maximum print width. For example, if you need to print UPC symbols at 100%
magnification, a 152 or 304 dpi printhead is ideal; you'll be outside the
specification with a 203 dpi printhead. Or, if you'll be generating labels to
meet the European automotive industry's ODETTE standard, you'll require a
printhead that's over 6 inches wide.
So remember... it's important to understand
both the bar code and the label specifications when determining what you'll
print on your labels.
Text Considerations
If your labels will include text:
- Determine whether you'll print
small or large characters. Resolution can be a critical concern. Printers with
resolutions of 300 dpi can produce images that are crisper and clearer than
those produced by laser printers. These high-resolution models are ideal for
applications that require very small text, such as PC board labels or jewelry
tags.
- Determine if you'll need special
typefaces. Some fonts are bitmapped, others are scalable. Bitmapped fonts may
require less formatting time than scalable fonts and are excellent for many
applications. But scalable fonts allow for printing of very large, crisp text
without jagged edges, which may be important if you require large bin, pallet
or location labels.
Graphic Considerations
If you'll be printing graphics - logos, line
art, gray scales or other complex images - look at resolution. Detail is
enhanced as resolution is increased. So if your print requirements call for
intricate graphics, you'll probably want a 300 dpi printhead rather than a lower
resolution printhead.
How Will You Create Your Label Formats?
Many printers are programmed via
manufacturing-specific - or even printer-specific - programming languages. If
you don't want to take the time to master a new skill, there are literally
dozens of software packages on the market that may simplify the label creation
process:
- If your printer has a Windows
driver, you can create label forms using virtually any Windows program
including word processing and desktop publishing software.
- Many software packages offer
WYSIWYG "what you see is what you get" support, which enables you to view a
graphic of the label on your monitor.
- The software may allow you to
create custom graphics, logos and typestyles.
- Some software is compatible with
DOS or Macintosh PC environments, other packages are designed for multi-user
midrange or mainframe systems.
- Many will interface with
existing databases.
- Some are easier than others to
master!
As you investigate the alternatives, you'll
discover that functionality varies from basic to complex. If you choose to
purchase a separate label creation package, test it for ease of use and confirm
that it supports your symbology, connectivity and functionality requirements.
Where Will Your Labels Be Printed?
In a controlled environment - such as a
centralized data processing area, laboratory or office - you probably won't need
to worry about such factors as printer construction or internal versus external
media supply and rewind spindles. On the other hand, your printer may be located
in an uncontrolled environment and subjected to temperature extremes, excessive
humidity, airborne particles and other harsh elements. If this is the case, a
rugged steel-cased cabinet that shields the printhead, electronics and media is
advisable.
Which Print Technology Best Meets Your Requirements?
Thermal technology includes direct thermal and
thermal transfer printers. Many support both direct and transfer operation.
These clean, quiet, versatile printers have become commonplace in the widest
range of applications and environments. Direct thermal and thermal transfer
printers offer a variety of performance, functionality and features to meet
varied needs.
Thermal Transfer Technology:
- creates images by using heat to
transfer ink from a ribbon to a label,
- uses a wide selection of paper
and synthetic label materials with matched ribbons,
- produces permanent images with
unparalleled staying power for long-term archival applications, and
- generates bar codes that are
scannable in both infrared and visible light spectrums.
Direct Thermal Technology:
- applies the same basic process
but does not require a ribbon,
- uses heat-sensitive label
materials, typically paper stocks,
- produces images that are
sensitive to ultra-violet light, heat and many chemicals, and
- is ideal for short-lived
applications, such as food processing, shipping or clinical laboratory sample
tracking.
Typical Applications for Thermal and Direct Thermal
Printing Systems Include:
Internal improvement:
- Capital asset management
- Inventory control
- Work-in-progress
- Materials handling
- File tracking
- Component / product marking
- Laboratory sample tracking
Compliance:
- Shipping container / pallet labeling
- Component / product labeling
- Nutritional labeling
- Contents identification
- Regulatory and safety labeling
How Should Your Printer Be Configured?
With all of the options available, it's easy to
get confused and purchase capabilities that aren't required for your
application. That's a mistake you won't want to make because system costs
typically increase as you add options and functionality. Here are some of the
choices you'll be faced with when choosing your printer:
- Print speed can range
from 1-12 inches per second (ips) throughput, a combination of print speed
plus formatting time, is equally important.
- Printhead resolution is
commonly from 100 dpi to 300 dpi.
- Memory from 256K to 8Mb
or more.
- Special media handling
for internal or external rewind, peel and present, media cutters, ribbon
savers.
- Font offerings are stored
on memory cards, EPROMs or cartridges.
- Communication interfaces
are either serial, parallel, coax, twinax or other.
When choosing your printer, understand just
exactly what you'll need to produce the correct output. You may determine that
your application requires everything listed above - or you may find that your
application only requires a 2 ips printer with 256K of memory.
Which Print Technology is Best?
| Laser printers are great for
the office. Dot matrix is a must for multi-part forms. But thermal transfer
is the answer for on-demand bar code labels. Just compare the bar codes to
the right produced by thermal transfer, laser and dot matrix technologies.
The thermal transfer bars look best, not only to the human eye but to the
scanner as well. And that's what counts.
Maximum Readability
For high first-time scan rates and
optimal productivity, you need crisp edge definition and smooth coverage.
High-density codes and 2D symbologies make coverage and edge definition even
more critical. Here, thermal transfer excels, even at lower dot densities. |
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Demand Printing Without Waste
With laser or dot matrix printers,
you'll probably have waste when printing just one label. Even continuous
form lasers apply toner at one point, fuse it at another, and feed to yet
another position for removal. Thermal printers print and present labels
immediately, the way you need them - ready to apply, cut in sets or rewound
for use with automatic applicators - all without waste. |
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Greatest Economy
With lasers, your toner, drum and
supply costs can skyrocket when you print bar codes instead of typical text.
While text requires only about 5% black, bar code needs can exceed 30%. Your
toner costs alone could be six times what you expect. Thermal transfer costs
the same whether you print 5% or 95% black. Thermal systems excel shift
after shift, in harsh industrial environments, with throughput rivaling
laser systems that cost twice as much to purchase and operate. |
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