Azalea Software, Inc.

"Bar codes from fonts? Why not graphics?"

When most people look at a bar code, they see a picture. When we look at a bar code we see a chunk of text formatted in a symbol font.

Why fonts?
  - Text requires no storage. Not so with graphics; they take up space.
  - Manipulating text is fast and is well-suited for large batch runs.
  - Text works within any application. Compatibility is a given.
  - Text works between applications and across platforms & fits into most work processes.
  - Fonts print at full resolution and aren't locked to any one printer.

If for some reason you do need to create a bar code graphic, be sure to use the right file format for the job at hand. While a relatively low-res GIF works as a picture element on a web site, it isn't appropriate for camera-ready artwork that will be printed and scanned; an EPS or PDF file is better suited. JPEG files involve compression that reduce the bar code's quality and scannability. Uncompressed PDF files can be distributed among a group of people who can display, print, and scan without having access to the font.

Stare at a series of bars and stripes, and seeing "letters" isn't the first thing that comes to mind. Try looking at bar codes as words. Then using fonts to make them will seem natural and intuitive.