Why won't an image of a barcode scan but a real bar code will?
I’m trying to send someone a barcode from a software that generates barcodes. To do this, I took a screenshot of it using snagit. The only problem, no matter what the resolution or size is, is that a barcode scanner won’t read it. If I print directly from the barcode software it reads fine. I don’t get it. I played with size, resolution, substrate and nothing works. Please help!
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Are you printing it out? I imagine that home printers can’t actually get the kind of tiny width differences that real bacodes have.
And if it is on a screen, maybe the scanner is picking up the imperceptible-to-the-human-eye white spaces around all the pixels.
Are you printing? Is the white between the bars truly white, if there is any grey I don’t it would scan.
…..print directly to pdf rather than to your printer…... then email the pdf and they can print a scannable barcode (... if their printer is ‘suitable’ for barcode s)
Wait, seriously? You mean like the image on the screen won’t scan? I’m not sure what you’re using, but I’ve scanned many a barcode off the screen of my computer using my phone. It’s an app called BarcodeScanner. I’m certain it works, because I’ve scanned before.
we once printed out a barcode to replace the barcode on a printer cartridge that prevented the printer from accepting the cartridge as new. after we replaced the sticker, it worked, indicating it depends on the quality of the printout.
A laser scanner works by reflecting light off the barcode and reading the result. A glossy screen will simply reflect too much light.
@Allie
yours works because it is software that interprets an images, not laser reflections.
You could either get software like Allies, or print it out like others suggested.
…..on your screen you must use the highest resolution… say e.g. 1280×1024 and full 32 bit color…..... <control panels> <display control panel> < settings tab> ..... that should help…....
@aphilotus Actually, I have a cheapie $39.99 WM printer. I did Ebay for a while, and I was able to print off the bar codes just fine.
It has nothing to do with my printer. I scanned a package with a barcode to my computer and then printed it on paper and it read fine. Using the barcode software which I have connected to label printers, I printed a label with 2 barcodes on it. One of them was a screenshot I took of the real barcode using Snagit, and the barcode generated by the software. The software allows you to insert images. I printed them on the same label. The image of the barcode could not be read. The real one read fine. I’m still wondering why. I had the resolution to 300 DPI in snagit and it printed crystal clear.
I work with barcodes all the time, but I create them in Excel through the formula. In order for ours to work a * needs to be at the front of the numbers as well as the end. This let’s the scanner know when to start and finish. I believe copying the image in a snap shot takes the * away causing the image to be distorted from the original serial. Also if you end up sending the Excel file, the person on the receiving end must have the serial font “ID Automation” installed on their computer as well so when they print it prints in the barcode format for scanning purposes. Don’t forget the Stars!
contrast for print
refresh rate for on screen
choose
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