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6-6 Chapter 6: Operation
Bar Code Quality
Many labels in a typical retail environment are unreadable. The
illustration shows some of the common problems. Vendors and
printers regularly supply products to the market with bar codes that
are overprinted, underprinted, or truncated. Some labels have missing
margins. Others may be printed around the corners of packages, or on
media not likely to remain flat when picked up.
0 1 23 4 67 85 9
06
0 1 23 4 6 785 9
06
0 1 23 4 6 785 9
06
0 1 23 4 6 785 9
06
R0026
The readability of a label depends on variables such as size, placement,
color, paper type, ink viscosity, and package coatings. The middle of a
printing run can yield erroneous labels due to the many variants
involved. In particular, poor color contrast and marginal print quality
can make a label hard to read.
A label should be considered readable if it meets or exceeds the
requirements set forth in the UPC Symbol Specification published by
the UPC Council, Inc. (March 1982), and the General Specification for
Article Symbol Marking, Copyright EAN-1977.