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Create Bar Code

Quick Reference: Create Bar Code

  • Hero Image

    Generates a Bar Code which stores data that's visible when the code is scanned later.

  • Location

    Tools → Create Bar Code

Create Bar Code generates a Bar Code which stores data that's visible when the Code is scanned. This tool offers a wide range of common Bar Code formats, including QR Codes.

Creating Bar Codes

To activate Create Bar Code, go to Tools → Create Bar Code.

Click, hold, and drag in your Workspace to define the size of the Bar Code, then release to create it. You can resize the Bar Code later.

The Bar Code Properties window will automatically open, where you can select a Bar Code format, enter data, and adjust additional options.

The appearance of the Bar Code will live-update in your Workspace as you make changes.

Click OK to finish creating the Bar Code, or Cancel to delete it.

Create Bar Code demo

Editing Bar Codes

There are two ways to re-open the Bar Code Properties window after making a Bar Code:

  • Double-click the Bar Code.

  • First select it, then right-click in your Workspace, and select Edit Bar Code from the context menu.

    Note

    Edit Bar Code will only appear in the context menu if you have exactly one Bar Code — and nothing else — in your selection.

Bar Code Edit option in context menu

Bar Code Properties

Bar Code Type

Select a Bar Code Type from the dropdown menu at the top of the Bar Code Properties window.

The default Bar Code Type for all newly created Bar Codes is QR Code, or the last format you selected.

Full list of supported Bar Code Types
  • 2 of 5
  • 2 of 5 IATA
  • 2 of 5 Industrial
  • Aztec
  • Chinese Sensible
  • CodaBar
  • Code 128
  • Code 93
  • Data Matrix
  • EAN
  • Grid Matrix
  • ISBN
  • PDF417
  • PDF417 Compact
  • PDF417 Micro
  • Plessey
  • QR Code
  • QR Micro
  • QR Micro Rectangular
  • UPC A
  • UPC E
  • VIN

Data Entry Field

Enter data to store in the Bar Code in the Raw Content field.

For QR Codes, you can choose to enter data as Raw Content, WIFI credentials, or Contact information.

  • Any data entered in the WIFI or Contact tab will automatically populate the Raw Content tab.

  • The last tab you enter data into overwrites data previously entered into another tab.

Bar Code Type dropdown menu

The WIFI and Contact tabs for QR Codes

The WIFI tab in the Bar Code Properties window The Contact tab in the Bar Code Properties window

Character Limit

The character limit beneath the Raw Content field displays the amount of remaining characters supported by the Bar Code Type you have selected.

Character limit readout

Text Evaluation

Info

See Variable Text and Variable Text Formatting for full details on working with Variable Text in LightBurn.

The Text Evaluation dropdown menu allows you to select a Variable Text format that will substitute different output in place of specially formatted codes.

Normal is selected by default — the data stored in your Bar Code will match the Raw Content exactly, if you leave Normal selected.

You'll see the output that will result from your formatted codes in the Evaluated Text field.

Text Evaluation dropdown menu in Bar Code Properties window

Variable Offset

Variable Offset adds to the Current value in the Variable Text Window by the entered amount, allowing you to have multiple Bar Codes in your Workspace using the same Variable Text formatting, but displaying different Serial Numbers, or referring to different rows of a CSV.

Variable Offset in Bar Code Properties window

Process Control Characters

Enable this switch to convert specially formatted characters (<RS>, <ACK>, etc.) into non-printable characters used by GS1 compliant systems.

Control characters should be enclosed in <> brackets like this:

[)><RS>06<GS>17V8X691<GS>1P02551706-01<GS>S062<RS><EOT>

When Process Control Characters is enabled and valid characters are entered, you'll see converted characters in red in the Evaluated Text field.

Process Control Characters example

Error Correction Level

Error Correction helps to keep Bar Code data readable even if the Bar Code is partially damaged or obscured — use the Error Correction slider to adjust the amount of Error Correction in a Bar Code.

Different Bar Code Types provide different ranges of possible Error Correction — the highest Error Corrections produce Bar Codes that are more resilient to damage, but are visually denser and more complex.

Not all Bar Code Types support Error Correction.

Bar Code Types supporting Error Correction
  • Aztec
  • Chinese Sensible
  • Grid Matrix
  • PDF417
  • PDF417 Compact
  • PDF417 Micro
  • QR Code
  • QR Micro
  • QR Micro Rectangular

Error Correction slider Bar Code Properties window

Show Bar Code Text

For supported Bar Code Types, tells LightBurn to output the text from the Raw Content field along with the Bar Code. This switch is enabled by default.

Bar Code Types supporting Barcode Text
  • 2 of 5
  • 2 of 5 IATA
  • 2 of 5 Industrial
  • CodaBar
  • Code 128
  • Code 93
  • EAN
  • ISBN
  • Plessey
  • UPC A
  • VIN

Show Bar Code Text option enabled

Extra Data Spacing

Some Bar Code Types support adding a secondary Bar Code based on extra data input after a "+" symbol. The Extra Data Spacing slider controls the distance between the primary and secondary Bar Codes.

Bar Code Types supporting Extra Spacing
  • EAN
  • ISBN
  • UPC A
  • UPC E

Extra Data Spacing demo

Force Square

When Data Matrix is the selected format, some data inputs can result in a rectangular Bar Code. Enable Force Square to have the Data Matrix always remain square. This switch is enabled by default.

Force Square Data Matrix

Error Messages

If the data you've entered is invalid for the type of Bar Code you've selected, you'll see an X in the Workspace and an error message in the Bar Code Properties window.

The error message will indicate which characters are invalid.

Invalid Bar Code error message and X

For more help using LightBurn, please visit our forum to talk with LightBurn staff and users, or email support.