Raster vs Vector Images and How They Relate to BarcodesĮxplains the important difference between different graphic formats commonly used to create barcodes. Video Summary: Creating Barcode Labelsįor an in-depth video explanation and walkthrough for creating barcode labels watch this quick 5- minute video below.What is a Barcode? How is it read? What can you encode in one?ĭiscusses the most efficient applications for each of our barcoding tools. Websites through which you can order labels are popular with manufacturers that need large quantities of labels but don’t want to fuss with printing labels themselves. Shipping times are fast-usually arriving in three to five days-and it can be a great way to save time. For that, you get 700 of the same codes, printed on ready-to-use labels.
Expect to pay about $20 per 100 label sheets. Online Labels and similar sites sell printed sheets or rolls of the barcode labels you create on their site, but that comes with a price. Some sites, like Online Labels, allow you to both generate and order labels. Online LabelsĪs we mentioned earlier, some websites will generate labels for you. Zebra, in particular, offers a variety of high-capacity label printers, including printers that incorporate radio-frequency identification (RFID) smart label technology for wireless inventory tracking and theft prevention. (Source: Amazon)ĭymo and Zebra are top-rated names in thermal barcode label printers. Thermal label printers can print large amounts of labels in a short time. Both laser and inkjet printers are capable of printing a diverse spread of label sizes and types.
If you’re creating barcode labels using a retail POS, an online site, or another software system, you can download your barcodes, convert them to a document, and use a regular printer and label sheets to print out your barcode labels. Here we will look at other options for printing your barcode labels.
As mentioned previously, portable label makers are a great way to make and print your barcode labels. With your barcodes generated, it’s time to find a suitable means to print your labels to attach to your products. However, you can hardly beat the convenience and simplicity if you need to print a limited number of barcode labels on the fly. You do have to purchase label rolls designed for the device, which adds costs depending on the quantities you need to print.
Handheld portable barcode label printers like the one shown above cost around $90. The Dymo LabelManager 420P high-performance label maker.
Portable barcode printers: Handheld label printers let you key in a product code to make a barcode for your labels on the spot.Retail POS systems: The inventory management tools in these all-in-one sales, inventory, and business management systems make it easy to create a barcode based on each item’s product SKU or UPC.
Our free barcode generator is also an example.
TIP: Some products might come with a pre-attached UPC and barcode. With an internal SKU system, you can use letters and numbers that correspond to a systematic organization of your inventory. Internal SKUs are custom alphanumeric codes of variable lengths (typically eight digits) specific to each retailer and designed to suit your business’s unique operations. This code is only for the retail supply chain. This is not the code you will use internally or the barcode you will scan in your POS system. Most products retailers acquire from manufacturers will already have UPCs and their corresponding barcodes attached.
If you make products yourself or sell private label products under your own brand, you should consider registering with the GS1 and getting UPCs.