Guides
Practical answers on choosing barcode types, getting product numbers, making QR codes that scan, and printing labels at the right size.
PrintingHow to print labels at actual sizeWhy labels print too small, how to choose 100% or Actual size in Chrome, Edge, Safari and Acrobat Reader, and how to check and align your labels.BarcodesEAN-13 or UPC-A: which barcode do you need?How EAN-13 and UPC-A relate, which retailers and regions use each, how the check digit is calculated, and where EAN-8 and UPC-E fit in.QR codesWhy won't my QR code with a logo scan?Why QR codes with logos fail to scan: logo size, error correction, colour contrast, quiet zone, print size and dense content, plus a testing checklist.BarcodesHow to get barcodes for your productsWhat a GTIN is, how to get product numbers from GS1, why resold barcode numbers can be rejected, and how to turn your numbers into barcodes.BarcodesWhich barcode type should I use?A practical guide to choosing a barcode format for retail products, cartons, stock, shelving, assets and pharmaceutical packaging.SpreadsheetsStop Excel removing leading zeros from barcodesWhy Excel drops leading zeros and shows barcodes like 8.90123E+12, how to keep every digit in Excel and Google Sheets, and how to fix lost zeros.BarcodesBarcode size and quiet zones: how small can you print?Nominal EAN and UPC sizes, quiet zones, shortened bars, printer resolution and barcode colours, explained so your barcodes scan first time.QR codesWi-Fi QR codes for shops, cafés and officesHow Wi-Fi QR codes work, which details to enter, why to use a guest network, and how to print a table card or sign that customers can scan to join.LabelsStock and shelf labels for a small warehousePlan simple SKU and location codes, print them as Code 128 barcodes in numbered runs, choose label sizes and printers, and test before printing in bulk.