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Can barcodes be scaled? (i.e. Shrunk or enlarged?)

aphex

aphex

Moderator<br>All Things Apple
Moderator
And still be read?

I have a UPS shipping label that im having trouble printing onto my label paper, but I can get it to fit if i shrink the whole page...

Will the barcode still be readable if its shrunk to about 85% of its original size?
 
nope, the split is horizontal right through the middle of the portait page... the way the label prints, its right over the darn crease....
 
I can't say for sure, but I'm assuming yes.

I had to manufacture about a thousand or so a year back using a free program. However, I never changed the size beyond or below the default. Then again, when using the bar code reader, it could read it anywhere from a few inches to a foot away. I think the ratio of line sizes and spaces is more important... I'd do some more googling or just call UPS customer service.
 
Can we get pictures for reference? You can cut the barcode horizontally, I believe. If that would help...
 
yes, they can be shrunk or enlarged. The only thing that matters is the resolution and scanning width of the scanner. I wrote my own font for code 39 a few years ago. Don't worry about shrinking a UPS label, unless you have a crappy printer.
 
Originally posted by: Imp
I can't say for sure, but I'm assuming yes.

I had to manufacture about a thousand or so a year back using a free program. However, I never changed the size beyond or below the default. Then again, when using the bar code reader, it could read it anywhere from a few inches to a foot away. I think the ratio of line sizes and spaces is more important... I'd do some more googling or just call UPS customer service.
Click to expand...

Ding ding. As long as the barcode remains proportional to the original, you're good. That only applies to UPC type barcodes, not the UPS "bullseye mosaic" barcode they need to scan. Make everything but that barcode smaller using photoshop if you're really that desperate 😛
 
ya, at work I have the barcode scanner thing (The one they used in supermarkets) and we have printed out various size of barcodes and still goes through
 
I don't think there's any reason why it wouldn't scan, since the "size" to the scanner is just determined by the distance it is from the bar code.

I used to enlarge the UPS labels I printed through Paypal all the time since it was too small by default.
 
Yes you can scale them. There are many different sizes of barcodes. As long as you keep it proportionally correct you should be fine.
 
On all the work I do we're told that standard Sunday newspaper coupons can't be scaled to less than 1.25 inches, but I don't know how that changes for a UPS bar code. UPS likely uses their own system so it's hard to say. In the trouble of trying to get it to print on a single label you *could* have just printed on regular paper and taped it on. 😉
 
Originally posted by: Injury
On all the work I do we're told that standard Sunday newspaper coupons can't be scaled to less than 1.25 inches, but I don't know how that changes for a UPS bar code. UPS likely uses their own system so it's hard to say. In the trouble of trying to get it to print on a single label you *could* have just printed on regular paper and taped it on. 😉
Click to expand...

Meh, some of the scanners can read from 50+ feet away.

Considering that UPS routes all of their packages by barcode as long as you keep it at the minimum size or larger and keep it proportionally correct it's good.
 
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: Injury
On all the work I do we're told that standard Sunday newspaper coupons can't be scaled to less than 1.25 inches, but I don't know how that changes for a UPS bar code. UPS likely uses their own system so it's hard to say. In the trouble of trying to get it to print on a single label you *could* have just printed on regular paper and taped it on. 😉
Click to expand...

Meh, some of the scanners can read from 50+ feet away.

Considering that UPS routes all of their packages by barcode as long as you keep it at the minimum size or larger and keep it proportionally correct it's good.
Click to expand...

For a 1 D system proportionality is irrelevant and I'm willing to bet you don't even need to keep it proportionally correct in 2 D systems. If you had to then you could never scan on an angle because that would screw up the proportionality. How much you can screw with the proportionality depends on the system.
 
thanks everybody... I ended up saving the page containing the label, then editing the source and adding a few <br>'s to tab it down...

But for next time, I wont even worry. Thanks!
 
Originally posted by: aphex
And still be read?

I have a UPS shipping label that im having trouble printing onto my label paper, but I can get it to fit if i shrink the whole page...

Will the barcode still be readable if its shrunk to about 85% of its original size?
Click to expand...

You should be able to scale it proptionately.... they'd need to move the scanner closer to get a good reading on it....

besides it should ship fine without the barcode anyway... they have a fallback (human operator) for bad barcodes etc.
 
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