NCR RealScan 7883 Installation and Owner Guide
04/04 497-0424789 Release F
22 of 75
Determining Label Quality
Many labels in a typical retail environment are unreadable. The following illustration shows some of the common
problems. Vendors and printers regularly supply products to the market with bar codes that are overprinted, underprinted,
or truncated. Some labels have missing margins. Others may be printed around the corners of packages, or on media not
likely to remain flat when picked up.
01234 6785 9
06
01234 6785 9
06
01234 6785 9
06
R0026
01234 6785 9
06
01234 67859
06
01234 6785 9
06
Bar Code Scratched Bar Code Folded Bar Code Truncated
Bar Code Torn Poor Color Contrast Red Bar Code On
Red Background
The readability of a label depends on variables such as size, placement, color, paper type, ink viscosity, and package
coatings. The middle of a printing run can yield erroneous labels due to the many variants involved. In particular, poor
color contrast and marginal print quality can make a label hard to read.
UPC bar code requirements are identified in the UPC Symbol Specification Manual that is published by the Uniform
Code Council, Inc. Contact the following for a copy of this document.
Uniform Code Council, Inc.
8163 Old Yankee Road, Suit J
Dayton, OH 45458
Phone: 513-435-3870
Contact the following for information on Code 39 or "3 of 9" bar code labels.
AIM – USA
634 Alpha Dr.
Pittsburgh, PA 15238-2802
Phone: 412-963-8588
EAN bar code requirements are identified in General Specification for Article Symbol Marking, Copyright EAN-1977.
