When designing barcodes, selecting the right colours can dramatically impact the ease and accuracy of scanning. Ensuring barcodes are scanner-friendly involves opting for optimal colour choices, minimising errors, and speeding up the scanning process. This article delves into why choosing the right barcode colours is vital and what factors to keep in mind for efficient scanning.

The image above displays examples of barcode colour combinations that are easily scanned and decoded by barcode scanners.

The Importance of Choosing the Right Barcode Colours

Picking the right colours for barcodes is essential to make sure they stand out from their backgrounds, enabling fast and accurate scans. High-contrast colour combinations, like black on white or white on black, are generally the most effective. Colours that blend too much can lead to scanning mistakes and delays, as scanners may find it hard to distinguish the barcode from its background. Also, ideal barcode colours help ensure readability under various lighting conditions. For example, good contrast is key when scanning in dim light, while overly bright or reflective colours can create glare and hinder scanning.

Can My Barcode Have a Coloured Background?

Yes, barcodes can have coloured backgrounds, but using light colours is crucial to maintain high contrast between the black bars and the background. Avoid black backgrounds as scanners cannot read the left and right white ‘quiet zones’ effectively.

While black bars on a white background are optimal, other combinations can work as well. However, not all colours are suitable. Here are some tips:

White and warm colours (yellow and red) are not detected by barcode scanners, making them ideal for the background.

Black and cold colours (blue, purple, green, and dark brown) are picked up by scanners, making them suitable for the vertical barcode bars.

High contrast is crucial. The vertical bars should be printed in a darker shade than the background to ensure they can be read easily. Testing your printed barcode label with different barcode scanners is recommended to ensure readability, as scanner colour calibrations may vary slightly.

By selecting high-contrast colour combinations, considering lighting conditions, and keeping in mind the scanning technology's requirements, you can make sure your barcodes are easy to read and can be scanned swiftly and accurately.

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