Barcode research

After I created my own barcode on Photoshop, I wasn't sure on what to add to the barcode to make it look like a real one. So I decided to do some further research into what is put onto barcodes.

Here are some screen shots of barcodes from music magazines

Mojo's barcode

This barcode has the month the magazine was issued, the year, the price of the magazine (In sterling and dollars) and underneath the striped lines, there are 13 random digits underneath.

NME barcode

On this barcode from NME, the price has been added above the barcode (including 3 other prices from different country's), the date, month and year of issue, the website for the magazine and then the barcode, in which also has 13 digits under the barcode.

Q barcode

This barcode, from the music magazine "Q" is position in a vertical potions on the page instead of a horizontal position, therefor the extra information on the barcode is position differently compared to barcodes that sit vertically on the front cover. This barcode contains the same information as NME, as it shows the month the magazine was issued, along with the year, it also has the music magazines website and has 13 random numbers along the bottom of the barcode.


Conclusion
From this research, I have concluded that my barcode will include 13 random digits the bottom of the lies, will have the month and year the magazine was issued and will contain a website address & price.
By having a website on the barcode, in enables readers to look further into articles and allows them to see online copy's of the magazine.