How to use it
- Choose the symbology — the minimum X-dimension differs between them.
- Pick the printer resolution.
- Adjust magnification until the snapped X-dimension clears the GS1 minimum.
When you need this
- A barcode scans on screen but fails on the printed label.
- Shrinking a symbol to fit a small label and needing to know how far you can go.
- Checking that the white space either side of the symbol is wide enough.
Frequently asked questions
What is the X-dimension?
The width of the narrowest bar or space. Every other width in a linear symbol is a multiple of it, so it sets the whole symbol's size.
Why does it snap to whole dots?
A thermal printhead can only place whole dots, so the printer rounds the X-dimension. At 203 dpi one dot is about 0.125 mm, which is a large step at small sizes.
What happens if the quiet zone is too narrow?
Scanners need clear space before the first bar and after the last one to find the symbol. Too little and reads become unreliable even when the bars themselves are perfect.
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