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Colors & Image Customization in Barcode Generation
using C#


How to generate & set barcode image properties in C#.NET Barcode Generator Library

Using C# class code to encode, print and customize barcode images for .NET applicaitons


In this C# tutorial, you will learn how to generate linear and 2d barcodes in multiple image formats, including raster images and vector images in your C# ASP.NET web app and Windows application.

  • Barcode image with bar, space, text colors custumized
  • Barcode image with transparent background color
  • High resolution barcode image for printing
  • Multiple raster image formats and vector image formats supported

How to create high quality barcode images using C#

  1. Download .NET Barcode Generator Suite
  2. Install C# library to create barcode images in .NET apps
  3. Step by Step Tutorial








OnBarcode.com C# Barcode Library are easy-to-use automation barcoding components (dlls) that have been in use since 2004.
  • Quickly installed in Visual Studio C#.NET projects, like C#.NET Windows Forms, WPF, & ASP.NET web projects
  • Entirely integrate C# barcode generation features into .NET Framework applications
  • Directly generate & print 20+ linear & 2d barcode images in C#.NET class library
  • Free C# barcode download for creating Code 39, Code 128, Interleaved 2 of 5, EAN/UPC barcodes in Visual C#
  • Able to use C# sample code to save barcodes into multiple raster image file formats, like jpeg, png, gif, bmp, etc
  • Barcode generation for vector images (SVG & EPS) are also supported.
  • Enable users to set and customize generated barcode image color using Visual C#
  • Developer can dynamically adjust barcode image background style, like transparent background
  • Purchase barcode C# source code with developer license


How to print, customize barcode with colors using C#?

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Barcode bar & space colors options in C#?

Using OnBarcode C# Barcode library, you can easily generate and customize QR Code and barcode bar module and space colors in C# ASP.NET web and desktop applications.

  • Create a new QRCode object with a data message "OnBarcode.com"
  • Apply property ForeColor (barcode bar module color) with red color
  • Apply property BackColor (barcode space module color with white color
  • Use method drawBarcode() to print QR Code to a png image file

QRCode barcode = new QRCode();
barcode.Data = "OnBarcode.com";

barcode.ForeColor = Color.Red;
barcode.BackColor = Color.White;

barcode.OutputFileFormat = FileFormat.PNG;
barcode.drawBarcode("C://Output//barcode-bar-space-color-sample.png");





How to generate barcode with transparent background color using C#?

This C#.NET barcode generator suite enables users to create barcode images with transparent background. Currently, barcode image in png file format which supports transparent background setting.
To generate transparent background barcode image in C# class, you need apply the four barcode property settings.
  • BackColor: Its value shall be Color.Transparent.
  • ForeColor: Barcode bar module color.
  • TextColor: It usually is the same as ForeColor.
  • Format: The image format shall be FileFormat.PNG
Here is an EAN-13 barcode generation C# example.
Please copy the following Visual C# demo code to your project for a transparent barcode symbol implementation. You can store the scannable barcode images in database with further C# coding. 

Linear barcode = new Linear();
barcode.Data = "123456789012";
barcode.Type = BarcodeType.EAN13;

barcode.ForeColor = Color.White;
barcode.BackColor = Color.Transparent;
barcode.TextColor = Color.White;
barcode.OutputFileFormat = FileFormat.PNG;

barcode.drawBarcode("C://Output//barcode-transparency-sample.png");







How to print, customize 1d barcode text color using C#?

Colorful linear/1d barcode image setting in C# class is very simple. You can set the barcode color properties background color, foreground color, and human readable text color in your C# barcode program. Just follow the quick C# barcode manual below.
Firstly, please downlolad the C# barcode library and add .NET barcode generator dll into your C# project reference. In the following example, we will create a Code 128 with colors customized.

  • ForeColor: Barcode bar module color. It is in red color here.
  • BackColor: Barcode space module color. It is in white color here.
  • TextColor: Linear / 1D barcode Human Readable Interpretation text color. It usually is the same as ForeColor.
Linear barcode = new Linear();
barcode.Type = BarcodeType.CODE128;
barcode.Data = "Code-128";

barcode.ForeColor = Color.Red;
barcode.BackColor = Color.White;
barcode.TextColor = Color.Red;

barcode.OutputFileFormat = FileFormat.PNG;
barcode.drawBarcode("C://Output//barcode-text-color-sample.png");




How to generate, print barcode in EPS file with CMYK colors applied using C#?

When you are generating QR Code or barcode in EPS files, you can choose draw and print barcode colors in RGB or CMYK colors.

  • Apply property UseCMYKInEPS to true. The barcode library will automatically convert ForeColor and BackColor from RGB colors to CMYK colors. 

QRCode barcode = new QRCode();
barcode.Data = "QR Code";

barcode.ForeColor = Color.Blue;
barcode.BackColor = Color.White;
barcode.UseCMYKInEPS = true;

barcode.OutputFileFormat = FileFormat.EPS;
barcode.drawBarcode("C://Output//barcode-eps-cmyk-color-sample.eps");





Good and bad colors for barcode

Color selection is a critical step in designing qualified barcode labels. All selected colors must maintain high compatibility with barcode scanners.

Insufficient color contrast (the luminance and hue difference between two adjacent colors) is the primary cause of unreadable barcodes. A low contrast effect between barcode bar patterns and the label background will hinder the normal decoding process of scanners.

This guide systematically introduces applicable and inapplicable color schemes for barcodes to prevent scanning failure in practical use.


Guiding Principles for Barcode Color Selection

Color contrast serves as the core judgment indicator for barcode color matching. The classic combination of a white background and black barcode bars is the most industry-recommended scheme.

Standard barcode scanners operate based on the light reflection principle. Scanners can effectively identify barcode information when the label background reflects light fully and the barcode bars absorb light without reflection.

Most conventional scanners have weak recognition capabilities for yellow and red hues, resulting in poor decoding accuracy. Black and blue-based dark colors can be stably captured and identified by most barcode scanning equipment.

Note: Adopt light-colored backgrounds and dark-colored barcode bars for standard barcode label production.


Good color combinations

Dark colors including black, blue, and green are applicable for barcode bar colors.

Black & White Black & Red Black & Yellow
Green & White Green & Red Green & Yellow


Bad color combinations

If the barcode colors are both light background and light barcode bars, or both dark background and dark barcode bars, the matching modes will cause insufficient color difference, resulting in unrecognizable barcode information by the scanner.

Red & White Lavender & White Yellow & White
Black & Green Black & Brown Black & Blue


Note: We strongly recommend you to test printed barcodes with multiple types of barcode scanners and barcode reader applications to ensure readability.




How to Use C# to Encode Raster Image Formats (JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP, TIFF)

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Users can use C# code to generate a barcode image and encode it into several image file format:

  • JPEG/JPG: a commonly used method of lossy compression for digital images.
  • PNG: Portable Network Graphics is a raster-graphics file format that supports lossless data compression.
  • BMP/Bitmap: The BMP file format or bitmap, is a raster graphics image file format used to store bitmap digital images.
  • GIF: The Graphics Interchange Format is a bitmap image format.
  • TIFF: Tagged Image File Format, a file format for storing images.
Please see as below. (UPC-A is the sample barcode type encoding 12 number digit with check character automatically added).
Developers can adjust other barcode settings, in order to enlarge barcode picture to fixed size in C# by setting width/height, manage barcode label rotation, set unit of measure to centimeter/pixel, or define encrypted barcode color. 

Linear upc_a = new Linear();
upc_a.Type = BarcodeType.UPCA;
upc_a.Data = "12345678901";

// Encode UPC-A barcode into jpeg file format and save it to C:\
upc_a.OutputFileFormat = FileFormat.JPG;
upc_a.drawBarcode("c://csharp_upca.jpeg");

//Encode UPC-A barcode into png, gif, bmp or tiff file format:
upc_a.OutputFileFormat = FileFormat.PNG;
upc_a.drawBarcode("c://csharp_upca.png");

upc_a.OutputFileFormat = FileFormat.GIF;
upc_a.drawBarcode("c://csharp_upca.gif");

upc_a.OutputFileFormat = FileFormat.BMP;
upc_a.drawBarcode("c://csharp_upca.bmp");

upc_a.OutputFileFormat = FileFormat.TIF;
upc_a.drawBarcode("c://csharp_upca.tiff");




High resolution (dpi) barcode image in C#

To create a barcode image for printing, your barcode image resolution should be higher than the printer's resolution. To create a high resolution barcode image, you need apply the following two barcode properties:

  • OutputFileFormat: You need choose raster image format as PNG, JPG, or BMP. Please do not choose GIF. The GIF image format does not support image resolution setting.
  • Resolution: The value of the resolution should be larger than your printer's resolution.




How to Use C# to generate barcodes in Vector images (SVG & EPS)

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Using C# Barcode Generator library, you can easily generate barcodes with vector image formats:

  • SVG: Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) is a web-friendly vector file format. It is the only vector image supported by web browsers.
  • EPS: Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) is a Document Structuring Convention (DSC) conforming PostScript document format usable as a graphics file format.




How to create barcodes in SVG file format using C#

Using C# barcode generator library, you can easily output barcodes to:

  • a SVG file
  • SVG stream object in C#
  • SVG data in byte array in C# program
To create and print barcode in SVG format, you need apply the following barcode customization in C# code.
  • Set the barcode property OutputFileFormat with the value FileFormat.SVG
The C# source code to output barcode to SVG file 
QRCode barcode = new QRCode();
barcode.Data = "https://www.onbarcode.com";
barcode.OutputFileFormat = FileFormat.SVG;
barcode.drawBarcode("C://Output//barcode-in-svg.svg");

View the barcode in SVG format in the web browser (Chrome)


Print QR Code to SVG file format, and output to a Stream object

Using the mothod drawBarcode(Stream fileStream), you can create and print barcode to Stream object in C# ASP.NET, WinForms application. 

public void drawBarcode(Stream fileStream)


Print QR Code to SVG file format, and output to a binary data

In the C# source code below, it will create and output barcode to byte array object using method drawBarcodeAsBytes(), and you can further process the barcode in C# application. 

byte[] dataBytes = barcode.drawBarcodeAsBytes();




How to create barcodes in EPS file format using C#

Same as SVG, using C# barcode generator library, you can easily output barcodes to:

  • a EPS file
  • EPS stream object in C#
  • EPS data in byte array in C# program


With property OutputFileFormat to FileFormat.EPS, the printed barcode will be in EPS vector image file format using C#. 
QRCode barcode = new QRCode();
barcode.Data = "https://www.onbarcode.com";
barcode.OutputFileFormat = FileFormat.EPS;
barcode.drawBarcode("C://Output//barcode-in-eps.eps");

View the barcode in EPS format using the Acrobat software.


With property OutputFileFormat to FileFormat.EPS, the printed barcode will be in EPS format in a Stream object.

Print barcode in EPS format to a Stream object

Using the mothod drawBarcode(Stream fileStream), you can create and print barcode to Stream object in C# ASP.NET, WinForms application. 

public void drawBarcode(Stream fileStream)


Print barcode in EPS format to a binary data

In the following C# source code, it will create and output QR Code in EPS file format, and output to byte array object using method drawBarcodeAsBytes(), and you can further process the barcode in C# application. 

byte[] dataBytes = barcode.drawBarcodeAsBytes();




Summary

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All the included components comply with VB.NET, Visual C# .NET. These .NET barcode generation controls support quick creation of linear & bidimensional bar code that can be customized to meet required specifications. The software supports C# barcode ASP.NET, C# barcode graphics design in Win Forms, and C# barcode reporting display.
OnBarcode also provide other examples regarding Visual C# barcode generation, please see below:




Common Asked Questions

Why is a barcode black and white in color?

2D and 1D Barcodes usually both are black bars and white space because this creates the highest contrast and is the easiest for barcode reader software and barcode scanners to decode. Using C# Barcode library, by default you will generate 2d and 1d barcodes in black and white in C# apps. You can customize the barcode module and space colors through property ForeColor, and BackColor in C# codes.

What colors should barcodes be avoided?

When you are selecting colors for barcodes, it is important that you have selected colors with high contrast. If the bar and space module colors are both too light or too dark, the barcode scanner may not be able to decode.

Can barcodes be grey?

Yes. You can choose gray color as barcode bar modules color or space color. However you need make sure the space color and bar color have high contrast. In C# asp.net, windows project, you can apply the printed barcode bar color using property ForeColor, and barcode space color using property BackColor.

Do QR Code colors matter?

QR codes don't have to be black and white in order to be scannable. You can choose right colors to increase brand recognition. However you need choose color combination with high contrast for QR Code bar and space colors. Using C# Barcode Generator library, you can customize and apply the generated QR Code bar color using property ForeColor, and barcode space color using property BackColor.

What is SVG?

SVG stands for Scalable Vector Graphics. It is a vector image format which is perfect for barcode image rendering and viewing in web browser. C# Barcode Generator library supports QR Code and other 2d, 1d barcode generation in SVG image format in C# class.

Is SVG better than PNG?

SVG is a vector image format, which is considered a more advanced image file type than PNG. Both image formats can be used in web browser. OnBarcode C# Barcode library supports QR Code, Code 128, and 20+ 2d, linear barcodes generations in PNG and SVG image formats in C# ASP.NET, MVC, web and Windows applications.












































































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