How to print barcode labels?
In every manufacturing company, in logistics and warehousing companies, as well as in retail stores, barcode labels help manage goods efficiently. Barcodes help optimize processes and improve production and warehouse management. They allow quick and error-free identification of products, which significantly speeds up goods receipt, inventory, production tracking and shipping units. A smoothly functioning system based on barcode labels requires appropriate Auto ID devices (such as a printer, among others) and software. Learn the basic steps to generate a barcode labels.
How to print barcode labels?
To ensure high quality and legibility of the code, the label printing process should be carried out in a thoughtful and professional manner. An important element is to choose the right label printer. Thermal transfer printers, also known as barcode printers, are used for printing self-adhesive labels. Standard office printers usually do not meet the requirements for printing self-adhesive labels.
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The second important component is the labels on which the barcode is to be printed. Usually these are self-adhesive paper or foil labels with a higher durability. The choice depends on how long the barcode label will need to be readable and under what conditions it will be used. For example, in refrigerated warehouses or places exposed to moisture, you should choose self-adhesive foil labels resistant to the elements.
Another important aspect is the software that will help such a barcode label to be designed and printed. In the software for creating is labels is a generator of barcodes and 2D codes. With it, we can enter from the keyboard the numbers to be encoded, and the program will create a barcode for us from this.
On which printer to print a code label?
On the market you will find many models of label printers, which differ both in functionality, size and price. Label printers use either thermal or thermal transfer technology. The former use heat to print directly on labels from short-life thermal paper. Thermal transfer printers, on the other hand, use a thermal transfer ribbon that engraves the print onto the label under the influence of a hot print head. This allows labels and printed barcodes to survive harsh conditions such as high humidity, high exposure to light, as well as contaminants and chemicals.
When choosing equipment, pay attention to its performance – some models of industrial printers are capable of printing hundreds or even thousands of labels per day, which is important for companies with large production needs. For users with smaller needs, desktop label printers are designed. Etisoft offers a wide range of thermal and thermal transfer printers from recognized brands such as Zebra, TSC, Citizen, Printronix, Honeywell and Toshiba.
How to generate a barcode?
To generate the code, we need to use the appropriate software installed on the computer. Label maker software allows you to create graphic elements, write text and generate a barcode. All we need to do is enter from the keyboard the sequence of numbers to be encoded and the program will generate the desired barcode for us. Depending on our needs, we can get different types of codes – from traditional one-line barcodes, such as EAN-13 or Code 128, to more advanced two-dimensional codes, such as QR. The basis for generating a barcode is to assign it a unique value that will identify the product or goods. In most cases, this value is assigned by a warehouse management system or other database.
What kind of barcode printing program?
There are many labeling programs on the market dedicated to specific printer models. The software we recommend is ETILABEL by Etisoft.
Check out how ETILABEL works, download the free Starter version!
ETILABEL software works with many types of printers, including Zebra, Citizen, TSC, Printronix, Honeywell or Toshiba Tec. It is a professional software that allows you to comprehensively design barcode labels, as well as automatically generate barcodes based on databases.
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It also allows integration with other systems, which is a big help for companies that print hundreds of labels a day. ETILABEL program is simple and intuitive to use, so people who have no experience can quickly create barcode labels.
In summary, printing barcode labels is a process for which you need to prepare properly. The choice of printer and label design software depends on the scale of the operation and the specific needs of the company. Therefore, it is worth taking advantage of the expertise of experts to choose the best solution for you.
