X-Dimension, Label Width
Hi
We have a 0.6"x0.45" label we use to get from print shop. Now we need to print ourselves.
we use bartender 10.1 and Zebra ZT410 300 dpi printer.label is code 128. please see attached.
The X-dimension is 3.33 or 6.66 mil which one is too fine to scan for standard scanner and 6.66 is too long to fit. there is no other setting in between.
Is there another code setting or X-dimension setting I can try to make it fit?
please help
thanks,
Terry
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The issue you describe is very common. And there is not really a solution the way you want it. With a 300dpi printer, those are the size barcodes you are stuck with for 1D.
Common solutions are to re-vamp your ID system to use fewer digits, use numeric-only data (as this can encode denser), or switch to a 2D barcode such as datamatrix or rectangular datamatrix.
For more information, please see the below excerpt from the Seagull FAQ:
Barcodes
Why does my barcode seem to "jump" when I try to resize it?
A : The X-dimension setting of a barcode specifies the width of the barcode. This in fact adjusts the number of dots a printer uses for the width of the narrowest element of the barcode. All other bars of greater width grow in ratio to the narrowest bar as you expand the barcode's width.The size of the dot and the X-dimension are determined by the selected printer's resolution. A dot represents the size of the smallest mark the printer can print. Each step in the X-dimension increases the narrowest element by a single dot of the printer. The printer resolution is important because it's impossible to increase the narrowest elements by fractions of a dot. It can only increase by a full extra dot. Of course all wider barcode elements grow in ratio to this.
For example if the narrow element is 1 dot wide and the widest element is 10, when we increase the X-dimension by 1, so that the narrow element is 2, the widest element will now be 20. This accounts for the "jumping" in the barcode's width when you increase the X-dimension. The higher the resolution of the printer, the smaller these increments will be, because the size of a single dot will be smaller.
We do not advise that you try working around this physical limitation of the printer by exporting the barcode object as a graphic and then importing it back into your design as a picture object. Although a picture object can be scaled to any dimension desired, it will result in a poor quality barcode and may be unreadable for a barcode scanner.
BarTender allows you to specify a target x-dimension of your barcode, which will tell BarTender to always render your barcode as close to the target x-dimension as possible. This feature can be found in the properties of the barcode on the Symbology and Size page. Click on the Wizard button to the right of X Dimension.0 -
It seem to me by increase resolution to 600 dpi I will get at least a step in between 3.33 and 6.66, is this correct? Is there way to estimate the X-dimension by dpi to know what dpi will I need?
If you see the picture, the barcode type seem different, or it could well be the dpi difference? print shop seem to be able to print it.
thanks,
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If you were to get another printer at 600dpi, your X dimension choices would be:
1.66
3.33
5
6.66
8.33
10
I do not know what your print shop was using to print, but it is the same type of barcode. Sometimes, you can actually even get away by using a 200dpi printer at the lowest x dimension (5) in order to actually print better than on 300dpi.
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Thank you for the info. I also found a x-dimension and dpi table as below. good reference for anyone needed it.
Just this table will not fully help how long my barcode going to be. Is there way to estimate barcode length? in my case code 128 8 digit characters printed at 5 mil
The label gets long when we start using alphabet
Thanks,0 -
Terry,
You are absolutely correct that using letters takes more space in a code 128 barcode than using numbers only.
The best way to get your sizing would be to install a printer driver at 600dpi and design using that. You don't have to have the physical printer to go through the printer install wizard and just tell Windows you are installing a 600dpi printer. Then you can select that "Fake" printer in BarTender and design using it to find your exact sizing.
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Thanks I will give it a try.
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