Barcode labels play an important role in food packaging, warehousing, and logistics. Choosing the correct barcode color combinations can help improve scanning efficiency and accuracy. This article will introduce the best and worst color combinations, as well as how to verify your barcode colors.
Why Does Barcode Color Selection Matter?
Ensuring Accurate Scanning
Choosing an incorrect color combination for barcode labels may cause inaccurate scanning or failed scanning. When barcodes cannot be properly identified, it will cause unnecessary delays and errors in inventory management. For specific scenes where barcodes are scanned on automated production lines, one mistake can lead to a chain of mistakes in various processes.
The selection of barcode label colors plays an important role in maintaining the overall efficiency of your business. Adopting the correct barcode label color combinations ensures that scanners can accurately read barcode information for the first time. Proper barcode label color combination can help simplify the process, reduce delays.
Impact on Your Business
If the barcode label cannot be scanned successfully, your products may be returned by distributors or retailers. It will result in high return costs and wasted time. It may also lead to customer complaints and damage your corporate image and reputation.
If barcode labels cannot be recognized automatically by machines, human-powered scanning will be employed, which will lead to the increase in labor costs.
If the inappropriate barcode label color combinations are used for retail end, it will directly affect customer satisfaction of their shopping experience. Easy-to-scan barcodes will help accelerate the transaction process and enhance the overall customer experience.
Industry Standard Requirements
Many industries, such as retail and logistics, have specific requirements and acceptable color combinations for barcode readability. Complying with these standards is essential for your products to enter the market, ensures that the product complies with the regulations of the regulatory authorities, and helps you avoid potential punishments.
Best Colors for Barcode Labels
Barcodes are read by scanners that use a light source, typically red or near-infrared light, to detect the contrast between the bars (dark elements) and the spaces or backgrounds (light elements).
Most Recommended Combination—Black on White
The higher the contrast between the barcode bars and the background, the easier it is for scanners to read them. So the most recommended barcode label color combination is black bars on a white background.
This combination offers the highest contrast and the most stable scanning performance. It is basically applicable to nearly all scanning devices. And it has low costs and low risks. This makes it an ideal choice as your barcode label color combination.
Acceptable Color Combination Alternatives
If you think that the combination of black and white is too plain, there are other choices. But these alternative color combinations must meet certain requirements to ensure readability:
- There must be high contrast between the bars and the spaces, and the color of the bars should always be darker than the background.
- Ideal dark colors for the bars: black, dark blue, dark green, dark brown.
- Ideal reflective colors for the background: white, yellow, light pink.
For example, the combination of dark blue bars and white spaces shows the same excellent scanning performance as the combination of black and white. Blue bars with yellow spaces also provide sufficient contrast for scanning.
Select Color Combinations Based on Use Case
- For warehouse and logistics applications, give priority to high-contrast combinations such as black and white to ensure successful scanning even over long distances.
- For retail product packaging, you may take into account the aesthetics and brand colors. But you need to ensure that the color choices do not hinder barcode label readability.
- For barcode labels used in outdoor or industrial environments, a protective laminate can be applied to protect them from UV rays and water.
When choosing a color combination for barcode labels, functionality should be taken into consideration first. You can choose your preferred colors based on the specific use case.
Worst Colors for Barcode Labels
Color Combinations to Avoid
- Avoid using red bars, and the combination of red bars and a green background is also not acceptable. Red bars will reflect the scanner’s light, which leads to a failed scan.
- Avoid low-contrast color combinations, such as light gray bars with a white background, red bars with a yellow background, or black bars with a green background.
- Avoid any combination of light-colored bars and dark backgrounds. Light bars do not absorb enough light, making it difficult for scanners to read.
- Avoid metallic-colored bars with any background, since they may cause specular reflection and affect the scanner’s reading performance.
Using the color combinations mentioned above has a high risk of scanning results, which will impact your business negatively.
Printing Considerations
- Use standard color combinations. Non-standard colors will reduce barcode readability.
- Avoid printing barcodes on smooth or reflective materials, because they will cause uneven light reflection and make scanning difficult.
- Choose high-quality inks with low diffusivity. Ink diffusion will affect the clarity of barcode edges and further reduce readability.
If you choose the wrong barcode label color combinations, it will slow down the speed of shipping, warehousing and checkout. It will easily cause returns and customer complaints, and increase your costs. So choose the correct, effective color combinations and avoid the worst ones we mentioned.
How to Verify Your Barcode Colors Are Effective and Safe?
Scanner Testing
Verifiers can be used to check the barcode’s quality, including whether the contrast is sufficient for it to scan smoothly. You can also test the barcode label with several types of scanners to ensure readability.
It is necessary to verify scanning performance at different distances and angles during testing. It can help you ensure the barcode label color combination can be read accurately from various positions.
Real-World Simulation
You can conduct bulk scanning in an offline warehouse or store to test if the color combination works well.
Staying Updated with the Latest Industry Standards
You should check barcode quality according to established standards regularly. Pay attention to whether the relevant industry regulations have been updated. Many excellent manufacturers have installed verification systems on their production lines.
Alternatives to Conventional Barcodes
Besides traditional one-dimensional barcodes, there are many types of barcodes with different characteristics available for you to choose.
Data Matrix Codes
Data Matrix codes are two-dimensional barcodes, which can offer more design options and require less space.
QR Codes
QR codes can store more information. They are mostly used in marketing and brand display. But there is a high probability of recognition failures in the high-speed industrial scanning environment.
JAB Codes
JAB Codes are also appropriate for large amounts of data. It enables stable recognition even in harsh operating environments, but requires dedicated scanning equipment and is far less versatile than standard QR Codes and Data Matrix Codes.
FAQ
Can Barcodes Be Placed on Colored Textures or Gradient Backgrounds?
Not recommended. Colored textures or gradient background may reduce the contrast of barcode colors, which may affect the accuracy of edge scanning.
If barcodes must be used on colored textures or gradient background, you can leave a small clear area around the barcode and perform tests after printing.
Can Brand Colors Be Used as the Barcode Label Color Combination?
Yes. You can use your brand colors on the edges of the label.
If brand colors must be used for the barcode itself, you need to ensure high contrast between the bars and the background: dark brand colors should be used for the bars, and light brand colors for the background. Various tests are also required to ensure scanning accuracy.
Which Is More Important: Barcode Size or Color?
Both are equally important. Size decides the scanning distance of barcodes, while color decides whether they can be recognized. Only when the two work well together can barcode labels be scanned efficiently and accurately.
In warehousing and logistics, give priority to size to ensure scannability.
In retail, give priority to color contrast. Make it of an appropriate size.
Does the Lighting Environment Affect Barcode Scanning Performance?
Yes. Strong or low light and reflections can all affect scanning stability. So the matte materials are a good choice. It is recommended to test in actual working environments such as warehouses and stores.
Does the Position of Barcode Labels Affect Scanning Performance?
Yes. Avoid attaching barcode labels to folded edges, sealed areas, or curved surfaces, where may cause incomplete scanning. Try to apply them on flat areas instead.
Is a Scan Test Required for Every Batch?
It is not necessary to check every single barcode, but several samples from each batch should be tested.
If materials, inks, or suppliers are changed during production, a full test must be performed to reduce risks.
Final Thoughts
Selecting barcode label color is very important for barcode scanning. You can produce or buy labels in bulk by using the color combinations which are recommended in this barcode color guide. If you need high-quality barcode labels, please contact us.
