Check Shipping Label Barcodes Before Batch Printing
LabelCropTools product documentation · Updated
A readable on-screen barcode is only part of the dispatch check. The source document, crop, scale, printer and attached label all affect the final printed pattern. Work through these checks before committing a whole batch to paper.
Keep the original source detail
Use the marketplace PDF when available. A screenshot or repeated image conversion can lose fine edges. LabelCropTools's label output embeds the original PDF artwork rather than rebuilding the shipping barcode from a guessed tracking value.
PDF-to-image exports are useful for reviewing pages, but they rasterise the document. Preserve the original PDF as your print master when vector detail is available.
Preserve clear margins and the complete pattern
Do not cut the blank quiet zones around a linear barcode or the border around a QR pattern. They are part of what separates the symbol from nearby marks. Inspect both the start and end of a barcode after cropping.
Keep proportional scaling. Stretching one axis independently changes the pattern. Use rotation and a suitable paper arrangement to find a larger readable fit, then check the full address, return address and carrier routing code too.
Scan the physical sample
Print one label using the same stock, driver and printer you plan to use for the batch. Scan it with the device or workflow that receives your parcels, and compare the decoded value with the source identifier.
If scanning fails, check print density, stock, alignment and the manufacturer's recommended configuration. Change one variable at a time. There is no honest universal scanning guarantee across every printer, carrier and document template.
Distinguish an image from an assigned identifier
The product barcode generator encodes the value you supply. It does not assign a globally unique retail identifier. EAN and UPC identifiers need legitimate assignment and correct format in addition to an image that can be scanned.
A QR image similarly contains your input. Scan a generated URL to verify the destination before printing it publicly. Do not treat a payment QR image as confirmation that an account was validated or a transaction was completed.
Further reference
Tools for this workflow
Related reading
This guide describes the current product workflow, rather than a marketplace or printer certification. About this documentation · Report an issue · Product limitations