These are a list of symbologies that are among the "GS1 Family".
These include:
Other symbols are also currently being reviewed. You can find out more about each of these bar code symbols in each of the sections listed.
About the GTIN 13:
The GTIN 13 symbol is the most commonly used of all the GS1 symbols. It is the symbol typically found on most items sold at a retail point of sale. EAN 13 is used to print each of the 13 digit GTIN types namely for fixed weight products, variable weight products, coupons, books, serial publications etc. The GTIN may start with any of the following prefixes: 539, 20, 02, 981, 982, 977, 978 or with the Global Company Prefix (GCP) allocated to your company for bar coding purposes.
GTIN 13 Specifications:
Min. size: 29.83 mm x 20.73 mm
Max. size: 74.58 mm x 51.82 mm
Nominal dimensions: 37.29 mm x 25.91 mm
X dimension at nominal size: 0.330 mm
Magnification factor: 80 to 200 from nominal dimension.
Light Margin: Left 3.63mm (11x), Right 2.31mm (7x)
Bar Height: 22.85 mm at nominal size
Target Location: Rear lower right quadrant
The X dimension or module width is the width of the narrowest bar or space at 100% magnification. The width of the other bars or spaces is two, three or four times the X dimension.
The magnification factor is the size by which the bar code symbol can be varied from the nominal dimension.
About the GTIN 8:
The GTIN 8 symbol is used to print the 8 digit GTIN numbers allocated to identify very small retail products. The numbers are allocated directly by GS1 Ireland to a specific product.
GTIN 8 Specifications:
Min. size: 21.38 mm x 17.05 mm
Max. size: 53.46 mm x 42.62 mm
Nominal dimensions: 26.73 mm x 21.31 mm
X dimension at nominal size: 0.330 mm
Magnification factor: 80% to 200% from nominal dimension.
Light Margin: Left 2.31mm, Right 2.31mm
Min Bar Height: 18.23 mm at nominal size
Target Location: Rear lower right quadrant
About UPC A & UPC E:
The UPC A symbol is used for the 12 digit retail GTIN numbers assigned for use on fixed weight consumer products intended for sale in North America. The UPC E symbol is used for small retail products intended for sale in North America which cannot accomodate a UPC A symbol.
UPC A Specifications
Min. size 29.83 mm x 20.73 mm
Max. size74.58 mm x 51.82 mm
Nominal dimensions 37.29 mm x 25.91 mm
X dimension at nominal size 0.330 mm
Light Margins Both 2.97 mm (9x)
Bar Height 22.85 mm at nominal size
UPC E Specifications
Min. size 17.69mm x 20.73mm
Max. size 44.22mm x 51.82mm
Nominal dimensions 22.11mm x 25.91 mm
X dimension at nominal size 0.330 mm
Light Margins Both 2.97 mm (9x)
Bar Height 22.85 mm at nominal size
About ITF 14
The ITF 14 symbol is used for trade items not passing the point of sale and is ideal for use where the symbol is to be pre-printed onto corrugated fibreboard.
ITF14 Specifications
The following are the target dimensions for a printed ITF 14 Symbol:
Min. size (50%): 71.40 mm x 12.70 mm
Max. size (100%): 142.75 mm x 32.00 mm
Nominal dimensions: 142.75 mm x 32.00 mm
X dimension of the narrow bar at nominal size: 1.016 mm
X dimension of the wide bar at nominal size: 2.540 mm
Magnification Factor: 50% to 100% of nominal dimensions
Light Margins: Left 10.2, Right 10.2 or 10x
Min. Bar Height: 32mm
Target Location: No closer than 19mm from a vertical edge
An ITF 14 symbol has seven character pairs, a target wide - to-narrow ration of 2:5:1, a target X width of 1.016 mm and quiet zones of 10.2 mm. This corresponds to a total symbol width of 142.748 mm.
When printing directly onto fibreboard cases use 100% size symbols which have an X dimension of 1.016. Clear light margins should be provided on the left and right of the symbol. The bar codes must be upright, in picket fence orientation, so that the bars are vertical. Only use ITF14 symbols smaller than 62.5% when printing onto labels or high quality substrates. The performance of these bar codes should be verified. The heavy outer bar should always be printed when printing on fibreboard. If printing onto a label, it is only necessary to print the upper and lower bars to a width of 1mm.
About GS1 128
GS1 128 is the new name for the UCC/EAN-128 symbology in keeping with the new brand image.
The GS1 128 bar codes, together with Application Identifiers (AIs), enable companies to provide additional information about a product alongside the GTIN for the product itself. GS1 128 may be used presently only on a trade item as retail systems are not capable of scanning this bar code. Therefore its use is not recommended on consumer units until this technology is made widely available. It is also recommended not to use the GS1 128 symbol when printing directly onto corrugated board. To download a simple guidline, please click x/GS1-128 Label Guideline(1).pdf
GS1 128 & Food Logistics
GS1 Ireland, in conjunction with a number of leading suppliers, distributors and retailers drew up a set of guidelines on the use of the GS1 128 symbology on outer case and pallet labels. The GS1 128 for pallet and outer case labelling in the retail grocery sector is now available to download from the Useful Documents section of the website. Hard copies of these guidelines are available for every FMCG member. If you would like to receive a copy or request additional copies please click here or telephone 353 1 208 0660.
GS1 128 Specifications
Size: Variable and dependant upon content
X dimension at nominal size: 1.016 mm
Magnification Factor: 25% to 100%
Target Magnification: 48.7%
Min. Bar Height: 32mm
Target Location: Min. 19mm from a vertical edge.
About GS1 DataBar
GS1 DataBar (formerly Reduced Space Symbology - RSS) and Composite Symbology (CS) are the latest developments in space-constrained identification from GS1. GS1 DataBar is a family of linear symbols capable of encoding the 14-digit GS1 Global Trade Item Number (GTIN). GS1 DataBar is designed to bring the benefits of full product identification, as well as other supply chain applications, to space-constrained situations where existing linear symbols cannot be used.
To allow for broad functionality, the GS1 DataBar linear symbols have been designed in several formats which include, GS1 DataBar 14™, GS1 DataBar 14 Truncated, GS1 DataBar Stacked, GS1 DataBar Stacked Omni-directional, GS1 DataBar Limited, GS1 DataBar Expanded™ and GS1 DataBar Expanded Stacked.
GS1 DataBar 14, GS1 DataBar 14 Truncated, GS1 DataBar Stacked and GS1 DataBar Stacked Omni-directional enable the full 14-digit numbering of items. They are smaller than EAN-13 or UPC-A Bar Code Symbols and GS1 DataBar 14 and GS1 DataBar Stacked Omni-directional have omni-directional scanning capabilities.
GS1 DataBar Limited encodes AI (01) in a linear symbol and is designed for use on very small items that will not be scanned in an omni-directional scanning environment. GS1 DataBar Limited encodes 14-digit item identification using indicator digits 0 or 1 only.
GS1 DataBar Expanded and GS1 DataBar Expanded Stacked encode all GS1 System Application Identifier (AI) Element Strings. Each symbol has a variable length with a capacity of up to 74 characters. Unlike the GS1 128 Bar Code Symbol, the GS1 DataBar Expanded Symbologies are designed to be read in an omni-directional scanning environment.
GS1 DataBar Scanner Compliance
January 1st, 2010 has been designated the Global Sunrise date for the GS1 DataBar symbology. In an effort to assist retailers ensure that their PoS scanners are ready to scan the new symbology, GS1 has worked with some of the major producers and suppliers of scanners to compile a series of reference tables on the compatibility the various models available.
Currently, we have information from NCR, Hand Held Products, Datalogic, Metrologic and DENSO WAVE providing scanner model numbers which are currently ready, which are capable with an upgrade and which are obsolete. This information greatly improves our knowledge to work with our members to assess where their equipment and understand what needs to be done to be 2010 Sunrise compliant. Additional manufacturers will be added as their information is returned.
Please click on the link below to check the compatibility of your scanners.
If you have any questions, please contact GS1 Ireland on (01) 2080660.
http://www.gs1.org/productssolutions/barcodes/databar/implement.html
CS: Combined Power: linear symbols with two-dimensional components.
RSS, EAN and UPC bar codes can be combined with a unique 2D Composite Component to form an entirely new class of symbology called EAN/UCC Composite Symbology. The Composite Components (CC) will be used by EAN International as an add-on to their linear symbologies in new applications.
The result is a big step towards identification and supply chain management capabilities for those limited by todays solutions. When the linear bar code is an RSS, the link between the linear and the 2D component is established in the symbol itself. Consequently, a scanner cannot decode the 2D component without decoding simultaneously the linear component. Potentially, a 2D component could be used in conjunction with an UCC/EAN 128 bar code representing for example the Application Identifier of the Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC). A 2D component could also be linked to any EAN.UCC bar code symbol (in which case there would not be any link between the linear and the 2D components).
