Barcode - how to ensure barcodes output as only 100% K.

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
March 5, 2019
6 replies
4535 views

The title explains the entire question.

Is there a way to stop PNGs separating to 4-color black in InDesign?

Plainly it's preferred to have barcodes/UPCs printing in black only.

How do I ensure that happens when I export to PDF?

Huge thanks in advance!

indesign barcode separations

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer BobLevine

Stop using PNGs and use a format that supports CMYK. I would suggest using PDF which will keep the barcodes in vector format as well.

Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Community Expert

I would avoid PNG for that type of art. For Black-only art (aka black-and-white art), I prefer using a Bitmap mode*, high-resolution**, LZW-compressed TIFF file. Although vector images are usually preferred, sometimes I prefer the black-only art over vector files since the background comes in as transparent and the black art can be re-colored in InDesign or Illustrator without making multiple color pixel-files.

*Using Photoshop mode terminology

**1200-1800 ppi

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)

K

kkaptur

Participant

Hello,

When printing bar codes, on a gang run cmyk press, would you get a better bar code image with a 1800 dpi black .tif or a 2000 px rgb .jpg? I created the tif from the 72 dpi image. Need clean lines on the 1" bar codes as well as the 4" Grayscale to bitmap to tiff. getting ready to print rush job. Thx in advance!!!!!!!

hammer0909

Community Expert

I'm going to address the elephant in the room. What program is creating the barcodes? Do you have control of the output? Everyone is providing good solutions to address the problem at hand, but ideally I'd go back to the source and regenerate the barcodes in a vector-based format where you can more easily control the color.

L

Laubender

Community Expert

https://forums.adobe.com/people/Chad+Chelius wrote
I'm going to address the elephant in the room. What program is creating the barcodes? Do you have control of the output? Everyone is providing good solutions to address the problem at hand, but ideally I'd go back to the source and regenerate the barcodes in a vector-based format where you can more easily control the color.

Hi Chad,

there are services or tools that generate vector output for barcodes but the applied color space is still RGB.

One have to test color space as well before converting a large amount of code data.

Regards,
Uwe

BarbLovesInDesign

Inspiring

Convert the PNG to grayscale, and adjust if needed to 100% K. PNG supports grayscale, but not CMYK, not when I have ever tried it, not out of Photoshop. I use it a lot (although not for barcodes).

rob day

Community Expert

The PNG would likely be RGB, which would always convert to 4 color on export. Open the barcode in Photoshop, convert it to Grayscale, and save as .PSD.