Emma Davis, 4OVER4 print production voice (illustration)
Emma Davis Print Production Specialist at 4OVER4.COM

Emma is our prepress and print production voice, built from the knowledge of our production team, with over 20 years in printing.

Question

Can I print barcodes on colored or textured materials?

Answer

Yes, as long as the barcode keeps strong contrast. Most scanners read with red light, so bar and background color choices matter more than the material itself.

  • Best combo: dark bars on a light background.
  • Avoid for bars: red, orange, and yellow, since red-light scanners struggle to see them.
  • Texture: fine as long as it does not distort the crisp edges of the bars.
  • Finish: matte scans more reliably than high gloss because it cuts scanner glare.

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