Scanning tips for linear barcodes
- Keep the bars horizontal across the frame and fill most of its width.
- Hold steady for a moment; laptop webcams need a second to focus.
- Glossy and curved packaging reflects light. Tilt the item slightly to get rid of glare.
- For photos, crop so the barcode fills most of the image.
What the number means
The reader shows the format and the digits encoded. For EAN and UPC barcodes, that number is the product's GTIN. The first digits indicate the GS1 member organisation that issued the company prefix, which isn't necessarily the country the product was made in.
Checking your own barcodes
Before sending packaging to print, export the artwork at actual size, open it on screen or print a proof, and read it here. If it fails, check the quiet zones and bar colour, and compare the number with what you intended. You can create replacements with the barcode generator.
Note: This tool reads 1D barcodes. For QR codes, use the QR code scanner.
