I need a barcode!

...how do i get one?

This article will guide you through the process of getting a barcode. After working out why you need one in the first place, you will be guided to other articles that can help you through the process in more detail.

Why do I need a barcode?

Almost all products have a barcode of some description. For instance, basically every product stocked by supermarkets (including fresh fruit and veg these days) will have either a UPC or EAN barcode. All books, magazines and newspapers have to have one. Most electronic items have several. And increasing, it is a requirement that aviation and aerospace parts are marked with special barcodes. If you are manufacturing any of these products, you'll need a way of creating high quality barcodes as easily as possible.

What sort of barcode do I need?

You may already have been told what sort of barcode you need. For instance, if your product is a book, your publisher or printer will have told you that it must have an ISBN-13 barcode on the back cover. For more details of that, see 'how to get a barcode for your book'. If your product is any other 'retail' product, it will need either a UPC barcode, or more usually now, an EAN-13 barcode on it. For more details on these types of barcodes, look at 'how to get a barcode for your product', and 'how to get a barcode for your product in Europe'.

If you have been asked to apply "direct part marking" (DPM) to your products, you will probably have been asked to use DataMatrix barcodes - read more about DataMatrix here. You will probably also have been given detailed specifications about what the content of the DataMatrix should be, how it should be encoded, and how the mark will be physically applied to your product.

If you are using barcodes just for your company's internal use, for instance in a warehouse, you may be able to choose your own barcode formats. Formats such as Code 128, Code 39 or the 2-of-5 family may be suitable.

So, how do I get a barcode?

It's a simple process:

Get a barcode number. If this is for a retail product or book, those number are centrally managed, and you need to apply to be allocated some numbers. See the articles linked above for more details and links to the appropriate organisations. If the barcodes are for your company's own internal use, for instance for managing warehouse stock, you may be able to use your own internal part numbers, or any other identifier that your own company will understand.
Convert the barcode number into an image. This can be done with software such as ours - use the links on the left to find out more. The process is simple - you simply enter your barcode number or data, choose a barcode format, select sizing options, and save it as an image such as a TIFF or EPS vector file.
Incorporate that image into your artwork, for instance in your DTP application. For DPM requirements, the DataMatrix will probably be imported into your DPM hardware ready for applying to the product.
Test the barcode. Barcodes can vary a lot in readability, and you'll want to know that your barcode will scan in a wide variety of different situations. Errors can be costly, and you may even be fined by your buyer in some cases. So test your barcodes!

Read more about barcode creation in the articles linked above, and also see our Frequently Asked Questions.

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