If you are a professional prepress house, you need to send barcode data to verification hardware (like a LVS 9510). Softmatic exports the barcode structure as a PostScript or EPS file that retains the exact tonal values needed for laser verification.
Designers often find themselves stuck in a frustrating workflow: designing a label in Illustrator, exporting it to a third-party generator, saving a raster image (like PNG or JPEG), and then re-importing it. This process degrades quality, bloats file sizes, and kills productivity.
Navigate to the top menu bar, click on Window , hover over Extensions , and select Softmatic Barcode . The interface will appear as a dockable panel. 5. Step-by-Step Workflow: Creating a Barcode
The standard barcode system for retail products across Europe and internationally. Softmatic Barcode Extension For Illustrator
The extension is highly versatile, supporting a vast array of symbologies Softmatic Barcode Extension for Adobe Illustrator | Manual: Barcode Type Common Usage Retail products (supermarkets, apparel) ISBN Books and publications Code 128 / Code 39 Logistics, warehousing, asset tracking ITF-14 Shipping containers, bulk packaging QR Code Mobile marketing, product traceability How to Use the Softmatic Barcode Extension Using the extension is straightforward:
This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about the Softmatic extension, its core features, supported barcode types, and how it can transform your prepress workflow. What is Softmatic Barcode Extension for Illustrator?
Specifically formatted barcodes used for books, novels, magazines, and serial periodicals. Logistics and Supply Chain If you are a professional prepress house, you
A label printing company receives an artwork file from a client. The client placed a raster QR code from a free website onto their Illustrator label. The print resolution is 1200 DPI. The raster QR code is 300 DPI.
The $99 plugin just saved a $2,500 reprint.
When ink hits paper, it naturally spreads—a process called "ink bleed." If lines bleed too much, the barcode becomes unreadable. Softmatic allows you to apply Bar Width Reduction (BWR) to narrow the digital bars slightly, compensating for ink bleed on the printing press. 4. Human-Readable Text Customization This process degrades quality, bloats file sizes, and
Widely implemented for marketing campaigns, URLs, and mobile interaction.
The extension is highly versatile, supporting a massive library of over 30 linear and 2D barcode types used in retail, logistics, healthcare, and warehousing. Supported Formats EAN 8, EAN 13, UPC-A, UPC-E 2D Matrix Codes: QR Code, Micro QR, Data Matrix, Aztec Logistics & Warehousing: Code 128, Code 39, ITF-14, Code 93 Specialised Formats: FedEx Ground, PDF417, GS1 DataBar Core Functionalities