Originally invented to manage train cars, the barcode has become synonymous with the supermarket checkout line, and has modernized shopping. Barcodes have improved inventory management and reduced shoplifting via price tag swapping. They have improved the tracking of mail around the world and are responsible for storing membership cards that can track purchases and provide coupons based on buying habits. Below are several methods to create your own barcodes, either for free, or for a fee.

Creating Your Own

The least expensive method for creating a barcode requires little more than a home computer and an inkjet printer. There are several online services, known as barcode generators, that will allow you to create a barcode for free from your home computer. The interface is simple. All you are required to do is input a series of letters or numbers, such as a product code, or even your own name (yes, you can even turn your name into a working barcode) and with a push of a button, your text is generated into a barcode that can be scanned. Barcodes come in a variety of formats known as symbologies. Books commonly use a thirteen digit ISBN symbology while supermarkets and cereal box companies use the popular UPC symbology. All symbologies have their own unique look and can carry varying amounts of information. Online bar code generators will generally give you the option of which symbology you would like to use depending on your needs. There are more than two dozen varieties of UPC symbologies. Once your barcode is generated, it can be easily downloaded directly from the website as a .bmp, .jpg, .png, or .tiff file, and then printed using a graphics viewer or word processing program, such as Word. Another free option would be to use a barcode font. These can be found as freeware on some websites, and then installed in the fonts folder of the corresponding program that you'll use to create the barcode. It creates a working barcode from text, or numbers, and can be scanned.

Printing From a Device

If you own a small business, and you're looking to print barcodes for use with store merchandise, there are numerous affordable printers available. Many can be bought online with a range in size and print speeds, depending upon your needs. These printers are specifically designed to print bar code labels. The standard models use direct thermal transfer printing, which uses chemically treated, heat-sensitive paper that blackens when it passes under the print head. It is less costly than inkjet printing, and is more resistant to light damage, water damage and chemicals, making it more suitable for use in a supermarket or pharmacy. Popular brands include Zebra, Intermec, and Datamax-O-Neill. Connect the printer to a computer and upload the product information into the system. Then print your barcodes.

Source:

Barcode Generator

Barcode Machines

Barcode Generator

More Information:

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Barcode Generator

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