Image source: http://resources.hwb.wales.gov.uk/VTC/ngfl/dandt/87_new/Graphics/Interactive%20%20Exercises/Packaging%20Notation/barcode.jpg
When it comes to successfully marketing and selling any given food product, the packaging that you choose is incredibly important. In addition to aesthetic concerns like the overall appeal and design of food packaging, practical considerations must be made as well. In most cases, bar codes will need to be included and taken into account when designing a food's packaging. Experienced packaging suppliers will be aware of the many key concerns about using bar codes on food packaging, but it never hurts to familiarise yourself with them in order to ensure the usability and professionalism of your product as a whole. Below, we highlight a handful of the most important concepts regarding packaging and bar codes.
Must Be Clearly Visible -
As you work on the design and appearance of your food packaging, plan where its bar code will be placed in advance. The goal here is to place the bar code in an easily accessible place where it won't be obscured or obstructed by things like seals and seams. At the same time, it should be in a spot where cashiers and others won't have to search endlessly for it. The code should be large enough to stand out readily, and shouldn't be squashed together with a lot of graphics or text. In other words, it should be placed in a way that makes it useful and not a nuisance.
Taking Colour Into Consideration -
Brightly coloured food packaging can definitely add to a product's appeal. However, slapping a bar code over certain colours can render it nearly unusable. Indeed, thee codes rely on high contrast in order to function properly. That, of course, is the reason that most bar codes are printed in a bold, black and white pattern. Even if the packaging you're using includes many different colours, then, take care to designate a blank space for the bar code to be emblazoned. It will make the packaging more usable and effective, and it won't compromise the effectiveness of the bar code.
Make The Bar Code Clear -
As tempting as it might be to squeeze the bar code on your food packaging in as an afterthought, the fact is that you really must make accommodations for it from the get-go. When these codes don't have clearly defined borders - when they are squished in amongst a jumble of graphics or text, for instance - they don't work as well. Similarly, if reflective or glossy material is being used, bar codes might not work as well. While you want your packaging to make your product more appealing - and to protect your product - you also want it to be useful. Having a clear, readable bar code can help it be just that.
