Bar Width Reduction compensates for the way that the bars in a barcode get thicker when they are printed. If they get too thick, they will not scan, so it is important to use the correct amount of reduction.

The safest way to do this is to print a barcode and measure the amount of thickening using a barcode verifier. Alternatively, we will analyze your barcode for free and provide you with the correct compensation factor.

The number you enter indicates the number of microns (1/1000th mm) that that width of each bar will be reduced by.

If there is not enough time to produce samples for testing, you can use the following table, but remember, it is always better if you can test first:

600 dpi desktop printing:   -40 microns / 1.75 thou.
1200 dpi desktop printing: -20 microns / 0.85 thou.
2540 dpi imagsetting + litho print -10 microns / 0.45 thou.