Packaging is an integral part of the identity of any product. Its design is key to getting your product noticed on the shelf, as well as educating the customer about the brand’s values. In fact, 82% of shoppers want a consumer brand’s values to align with their own. But packaging also contains functional elements such as barcodes, nutritional panels, and legal requirements. It is essential that these are accurate. Therefore packaging and other artwork proofs must be checked thoroughly before going to print. PageProof understands the importance of ensuring proofs are pixel-perfect. To ensure the accuracy of barcodes and eliminate any margin of error, PageProof has released an automatic barcode scanner tool. Whether you’re a meticulous designer or a professional in the printing industry, this cutting-edge feature promises to revolutionize the way you verify and validate barcodes (and QR codes), making your review process more efficient and, above all, error-free.
Different types of barcodes
Barcodes play a crucial role in the operations of businesses across various industries. There are numerous types of barcodes, each designed to serve specific purposes. Here are the most common ones:
- Aztec barcodes: versatile 2D matrix barcodes used for storing specific data, allowing for efficient scanning in both horizontal and vertical directions. Widely used in transportation, they simplify check-ins as electronic boarding passes for flights and trains.
- Code 128: an enhanced barcode format capable of encoding all 128 ASCII characters, offering higher data storage capacity compared to Code 39. It finds extensive use in retail, eCommerce, and delivery industries – making it ideal for labeling packages in shipping and transportation.
- Code 39: a linear barcode used to encode alphanumeric data, including letters, numbers, and select special characters (also known as Code 3 of 9).
- Code 93: a compact and secure barcode upgrade from Code 39, reading both letters and numbers. It is used in the military, automotive, and Canada Post for special delivery encoding.
- Data Matrix: a compact 2D code storing large amounts of data, perfect for small products with limited label space. They offer readability in challenging conditions and durability in harsh environments, thus are often found on electrical appliances and surgical tools.
- EAN-8 & EAN-13: EAN barcodes, widely used in Europe, can be found on various consumer products. EAN-13 with 13 digits and EAN-8 with eight digits serve different purposes, with the latter being suitable for smaller items. These barcodes encode product information and are commonly utilized at the point of sale.
- ITF-14: a barcode type commonly used in warehousing, shipping, and distribution. It is primarily used for encoding numerical data, with a specific format of 14 digits (also known as Interleaved 2 of 5).
- PDF-417: a powerful two-dimensional barcode capable of storing up to 1.1 kilobytes of machine-readable data, making it more efficient than other 2D barcodes. It is commonly used on employee ID cards, boarding passes, and government IDs.
- QR code: QR codes, initially used by Toyota to track vehicle parts, have now become ubiquitous. These two-dimensional barcodes can be scanned by smartphones and are widely used in marketing on various mediums like posters, advertisements, and business cards.
- UPC-E: a widely used condensed version of the UPC-A barcode in the United States. It is employed on smaller products where space is limited, commonly found in grocery stores and retail establishments.
Unlocking efficiency with PageProof’s automatic barcode scanner
Are you tired of manually reviewing packaging proofs for barcodes or being limited by barcode scanning tools that only offer partial scanning capabilities? Experience the efficiency and convenience of PageProof’s barcode scanner, designed to streamline the process of checking barcodes and QR codes in a smarter way.
A smarter barcode scanner
PageProof’s automatic barcode scanner makes it simple to identify and highlight the codes on a proof. It will also tell you how many unique barcodes there are on a proof. Perfect for ensuring that there are no surprises when packaging goes to print. And when you hover your mouse over a code, the barcode scanner will display its details for quick and accurate verification. Moreover, you have the flexibility to click on a code and copy its information, or quickly create a comment that includes the code. You can even choose to open links in new tabs for seamless navigation.
Why choose PageProof?
PageProof has many additional powerful features to ensure that your packaging files or other printed artwork are pixel-perfect. PageProof offers the most comprehensive color separation preview feature for proof-ready artwork and is highly optimized for packaging files. This feature is designed to deliver professional-grade accuracy, down to the breakdown of ink coverage. Other features that simplify the review and approval process of every aspect of your document include smart analysis of dimensions, fonts, and colors, along with features like rulers for measuring and grid lines for verifying alignment, making it effortless to perfect each detail.
Discover the incredible power of PageProof’s automatic barcode scanner, designed to save you hours of time in your review and approval process as well as reduce the risk of errors on printed artwork. Reviewing barcodes on proofs has never felt so effortless. Start your free trial below to see the time-saving magic with your own eyes!