How vector barcodes work and why EPS is good

Barcode Producer’s output to EPS, a vector file format, is the best you can get for barcode printing. If you want to know which formats are the best for output, read this article.

How EPS works

EPS stands for Encapsulated PostScript. It is a graphic file format that describes an image (raster/bitmap) or a vector drawing or both.

EPS files are based on paths between two points on an XY axis. When Barcode Producer draws a bar, it is instructing the printer in the PostScript language to output a bar starting at point A and ending at point B. In other words, all the information defining the bar is in the instruction file and the output itself is resolution independent.

So, do scale to any size you like and output to any device — from a 5-tonnes heavy large format printer that handles billboard sized media rolls to a mobile inkjet printer. It’s the output device that will handle all of the resolution calculations and ensure the results are as sharp as possible.

As you can see from the screenshot of an EAN-13 barcode, the EPS file Barcode Producer describes position, width and height of bars and spaces in great detail. It’s also important to notice the app does not add any redundant information to the EPS file, which means it exports the smallest possible file, ensuring it prints fast on every printer. And that approach makes Barcode Producer’s output always as crisp and detailed as possible, with good scanner readability as a result.