If you are somewhat new to the world of barcode printing, you may be wondering about the differences among 600 dpi, 300 dpi and 200 dpi printers.

First, it worth noting that dpi stands for “dots per inch.” For example, a 600 dpi barcode printer is capable of producing 600 dots per inch. It will create a much higher resolution image than a 200 dpi printer.

The number of dots is related to the density of pinheads on the thermal transfer ribbon. An ink dot printed on the label material corresponds with a dot on the pinhead.

Advantages of 600 dpi Printers

When it comes down to it, barcodes consist of a series of narrow and wide bars. The white space between each bar is also set. Precision is a key factor in ensuring readability, and the quality of the barcode image is considerably better at 600 dpi.

Printers operating at 200 dpi are good for text, images and numbers. However, these images will not appear as clean and crisp as those on a 600 dpi printer. Lower-resolution images are acceptable for large barcodes, but do not work so well for smaller applications.

While high-resolution printers tend to be more expensive than their low-resolution counterparts, they also offer some key advantages:
• High-resolution barcodes are easier for scanners to read, thereby minimizing potential problems with faulty barcodes
• Large retailers often prefer their products to have high-resolution barcodes
• High-resolution barcodes occupy less space on the product, allowing for more text or images to shine through
• A 600 dpi printer creates barcodes that are .66 inches, compared to 1 inch on a 200 dpi printer
• Depending on your company’s needs, you may require a smaller barcode to meet industry requirements

For certain products and applications that need small barcodes, a 600 dpi printer is highly recommended. This is likely the case if you need to print barcodes for circuit boards, small asset tracking tags, labels inside of electronics and QR codes.

Printing a high-quality barcode label

Factors that impact the quality of the barcode label include a well-cared for print head, using the correct type of label and working with a label design that matches the printer’s dpi. If you have a high-resolution image, but a low-resolution printer, the resulting barcode may be pixelated and unreadable.

Godex offers high-quality barcode printers that come with easy-to-use, well-designed software.
The company is the industry leader when it comes to delivering high-performance, reliable
printers and customer service.