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What is Transparency?

You can learn more about Transparency here:

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BarTender and Transparency

The Transparency program recommends that the Transparency information be incorporated into the primary product label design. Until manufacturers and vendors can fully implement this process, they can configure and print interim labels that they then affix to their pre-existing product labels, in a secondary labeling process that Amazon calls "over labeling."

Seagull Scientific provides a BarTender labeling solution that includes several preconfigured label templates that conform to the branding and application guidelines that the Transparency program requires for interim labels.

These templates include all of the following required elements in the correct format, layout, and dimensions:

• Transparency logo
• Transparency call to action and description
• Data Matrix ECC 200 symbol
• Printed Product ID

Prerequisites

The BarTender interim label solution assumes that you already have a primary label that includes product information, branding, and a product identifier, such as a UPC, GTIN, SKU, or EAN.

BarTender Prerequisites

You need to have BarTender installed in order to use the samples. If you don't have BarTender yet, you can try the solution using the BarTender 30 day trial. This solution requires Starter Edition features as the minimum required Edition.

If you need help getting started with BarTender, check out our getting started videos.

Transparency Prerequisites

To use the BarTender interim label solution, you must first request your Transparency identifier codes from Amazon. These codes are delivered in a CSV file and are listed in the "Public_Code" column. You can get more information directly from Amazon.

After you have BarTender installed and have obtained your identifier codes from Amazon, follow the instructions below to download, configure and print the Transparency labels.

Download Samples

There are currently four label samples for Transparency. Choose the sample that works best for your product.

Transparency Square

If your packaging has a printed product ID (UPC, EAN, SKU, or FNSKU) and a square label fits best, use this label.

Download

1.125” w x 1.125” h

Transparency Rectangle

If your packaging has a printed product ID (UPC, EAN, SKU, or FNSKU) and a wide rectangular label fits best, use this label.

Download

1.75” w x .75” h

Transparency UPC Product ID

If you are applying a UPC product ID barcode and a Transparency barcode, use this label.

Download

1.375” w x 1.375” h

Transparency Branded

If your packaging has a printed product ID (UPC, EAN, SKU, or FNSKU) and logo/brandname, use this label.

Download

3.917” w x 1.375” h

Modifying the Transparency samples to be used with Amazon supplied Transparency files

Once you've downloaded the sample(s) that you want to use, you'll need to connect the sample to the Transparency CSV file provided to you by Amazon instead of making use of the sample Transparency.csv file.

To connect a sample document to your CSV file:

1. In BarTender, open one of the .btw documents that you just downloaded.
2. Now access the "File > Database Connection Setup" Menu item.
3. Under "Connection Properties", click the "Browse" button to replace te existing connection.
4. Select the Transparency ID CSV file supplied by Amazon.
5. Click OK.

When you double-click the Transparency ID barcode object on the template to open the Barcode Properties page, you can see that the Transparency code database field is automatically linked as a data source to the Data Matrix symbol. If your Transparency ID codes are stored under a different field name than "Field 1" (usually called "Public_Code" field) you will need to pick instead the right field name under the "Data Source" tab.

For simplicity and ease of use, the Product ID has been added to every BTW sample as a static data source and object. If you want to enter a different Product ID just double click on the text or barcode object that contains the Product ID and edit its Embedded Data field, or create multiple BarTender documents (one per product ID).

If you would like to prompt instead for the Product ID at print time, you could modify the provided samples and add data entry forms to them. The minimum required Edition to make use of data entry forms is the Professional Edition of BarTender.

For more information on how to connect your BarTender document to a database file visit the following support article: Connecting to a database

Printing Transparency Samples

To print your Transparency labels:

1. Click the Print icon to configure your printer settings and print your labels.
2. One label is printed for each Transparency identifier code in the database.
3. Manually apply the labels to your items.

The Transparency guidelines require that the Transparency symbol and barcode be front-facing whenever possible. If front facing is not possible, priority order would be to affix them on the back, then side, and then the top of the packaging

Other Considerations

• Each product ID (SKU, GTIN, UPC, or EAN) must be printed separately with its own set of Transparency identifier codes.
• If your current printer does not support the label stock that the Transparency labels require, you may need to invest in a separate printer for the interim labels.
• The solution does not yet include verification of whether Transparency codes were previously used in a prior print job.