PRINTING BARCODES AND LABELS

• July 19 2022, by Dora
• 5 min reading time

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We all deal with the use of barcodes every day. Whether we are at the supermarket, going to a concert, or visiting a parking garage, we are surrounded by barcodes.

PRINTING BARCODES AND LABELS

We all encounter the use of barcodes on a daily basis. Whether we are at the supermarket, going to a concert, or visiting a parking garage, we are surrounded by barcodes.

In retail as well as in the logistics sector, the use of barcodes is indispensable. We often see barcodes on receipts or cardboard cards (for example, in a parking meter), but they are also widely printed to identify pallets, boxes, or products. Barcodes are therefore essential in a logistics process.

What benefit do you get from using barcodes?

• You register your transactions in a simple way
• Work is faster and more accurate
• Far fewer errors are made on the shop floor
• It works much more efficiently
• Integrated with software

What do you need to print barcode labels?

• First and foremost, a label printer
• Labels and tags
• Possibly a thermal transfer ribbon
• Label design software

Label printers: what can you do with them

• You can print labels or tags with text, an image, or a barcode
• It can be used as a standalone printer, but usually the label printer is connected to a computer.

What are the considerations when purchasing a label printer?

• What are you going to use the label printer for?
• How many labels are you going to print per hour / per day?
• How long must the labels remain legible?
• What should the dimensions of the barcode labels be?
• What are you going to print with your label printer? Will it be exclusively barcodes - are you going to print images with it - will it be printed only in black and white, or do you also want to print in color?
• Will the labels be used in areas with extreme temperatures or, for example, for outdoor use?

There are many questions that are important to determine which label printer is suitable.

What are the differences between label printers? We are happy to explain.

• The Desktop Label Printer: This is a small, compact label printer that fits on any workspace or desk. It has the size of a shoebox, is suitable for dozens of labels per day, and has a low throughput speed. This is widely used for printing shipping labels, for example.
• The Mid-range Label Printer: If you want to print large quantities of barcode labels or tags daily, this printer is the perfect solution. It is fast and delivers high volumes. This mid-range label printer is widely used in warehouses, distribution centers, etc. This printer does not have the compact size of a desktop label printer. Note: this is almost 4 times the size of a shoebox.

• The industrial label printer: The name says it all; these label printers are used in heavy production environments. They can easily print tens of thousands of labels per day, and the housing is water-resistant and dustproof. Barcode labels are printed in high volumes. This printer also has a substantial size.

Which printing methods do you have with a label printer, and which labels do you use?

• Direct thermal: With this direct thermal printer, printing is done directly onto thermal paper. You can apply this if the tags or labels do not need to be legible for a long time. You can use this to print shipping labels for packages, but it is also used for fresh products in a supermarket, for example.

• Thermal transfer: With this printing method, you make prints by using a ribbon. This label printer is recommended if your labels or tags need to remain legible for a long time.

• If the label needs to be durable, or if it will be exposed to weather conditions, choose a thermal transfer label printer. If this is not the case, choose a direct thermal label printer.

• Labels come in all shapes and sizes and are used for various applications. Shipping labels for logistics are well-known, but also think of labels for fresh produce, labels in healthcare, and clothing tags for retailers.

• Labels and tags are available on thermal material, but can also be supplied in plastic or paper.
• Thermal labels: These can only be used on direct thermal label printers. These labels have a certain dye in the top layer where the heat of the printer causes the text to be pressed directly onto the label. Therefore, it does not print with ink. Thermal labels are often supplied on a roll.
• Printing on paper and plastic labels: For this, you use a thermal transfer label printer. With this printer, you use a ribbon for printing on paper and plastic labels. If your labels need to remain legible for longer, use a thermal transfer label printer. These labels have, as it were, a longer shelf life.

• Always choose the right label size that is compatible with your printer. This applies to both thermal labels and paper or plastic labels.

Which software are you going to choose?

Before you even want to print anything, you must research which software you want to use. Both your labels and your label printer cannot operate without the correct specific software.

An example of software packages are the Zebra Designer software and the Bartender software. These can create a link to a database where the data is further processed. Also, the Pro versions of these two packages can create a link to a simple Excel or database. These software packages also have variants that can be linked to, for example, SAP or other database software that works with XML files.