Barcode Label Maker

Every once in a while you realize you need a tool to do something unusual and then you have a field day searching for it. Such was the case when I was recently engaged to design a book cover for a print-on-demand offering. This cover needed an ISBN bar code on the back cover. The publisher provided the ISBN number, but the bar code had to be generated.

One of the things I learned in searching for the right tool was that there is a quite business out there for both ISBN barcode generation software and generation services. Some software packages fetch upwards of over $200.00 and some services charge a pretty penny just to generate a single bar code. Why is this so expensive and why is it so difficult?

I also found an open source solution that while it was free was overly complicated to use. All I needed was a solution that would allow me to type in an iSBN number and generate a barcode I could then save as JPG file and add to my book cover design. Is that so freaking difficult?

Finally, I found this little company called Infoalp Technologies that has a tool called Barcode Label Maker. It's not exactly a snappy title, but so long as their little tool solves my problems cheaply and easily, I am a happy camper.

Well, lo and behold, Barcode Label Maker does exactly what it advertises and exactly what i needed. You type in your ISBN number provided by the publisher and choose the type of barcode you want to generate. Then with a click it generates the barcode image. You can then change the alignment of the ISBN number in relationship to the barcode if you want to.

You can also change the height and width to make the barcode taller or wider. One of the cool things Barcode Lable Maker also does is generate sheets of barcodes. One assumes this is useful for business people who needs lots of barcodes. Me? All i needed was a barcode image for my cover design.

I saved the barcode as a graphics file, imported it into the design and, presto, everybody is happy -- the author, the publisher and me. So if you ever find yourself having to create barcodes -- for labels or for book cover designs -- use Barcode Label Maker. To learn more, please click here.