Interleaved 2 of 5 – Generator Settings
Barcode Content
Interleaved 2 of 5 encodes exclusively numeric characters (0 to 9). Other characters such as letters or special characters are not supported. The length of the barcode content is technically unlimited, however, the available print area should be considered during planning.
Add a leading '0' when digit count is odd
Interleaved 2 of 5 encodes digits internally in pairs – every two digits are combined. This requires that the total number of digits be even. Enable this checkbox if you want the generator to automatically add a leading '0' when the digit count is odd. Example: 12345 becomes 012345. A more efficient solution for odd digit counts is using a checksum (see next section), which ensures an even digit count while simultaneously increasing data security.
Append Optional Checksum
The checksum is appended to the content of the barcode and serves for error detection during scanning: The scanner calculates the checksum independently and compares it with the value found in the barcode. If both match, the scan is considered correct. Example: 12345 becomes 123457 – the odd digit count is balanced by the check digit, a leading zero is not required.
Via the subordinate checkbox "show in human readable line" you control whether the checksum is also printed in the text line below the barcode. This is useful when manual input or verification of the complete number is required.
Wide/Narrow Bar Ratio
Interleaved 2 of 5 belongs to the so-called two-width barcodes and uses only two different bar widths: narrow and wide. (In contrast, Code 128 for example uses four different bar widths.) The ratio between the widths can be set between 2.0:1 and 3.0:1. A higher ratio means easier distinction between "narrow" and "wide" for the scanner. This can be useful when the barcode is printed on uneven surfaces or at low resolution. The bar width ratio also affects the overall width of the barcode. In practice, 2.5:1 is the most commonly used value.
Further technical details about Interleaved 2 of 5 (including structure, robustness, short scan problem) can be found in our comprehensive comparison Code 128, Interleaved 2 of 5, and Code 39.
Download Formats – Vector and Raster
Vector Formats: All vector formats (PDF, EPS, SVG) store geometric coordinates with six-digit decimal precision. The human readable text line is converted to curves, eliminating the need to supply fonts when sharing the file.
- PDF: Enables the use of CMYK and RGB color spaces. Supports transparent backgrounds.
- EPS: Functionally identical to PDF. Contains an embedded TIFF preview that can be used by DTP programs without native EPS support.
- SVG: Works exclusively with RGB colors. Particularly suitable for integration into web applications and browser-based systems.
Raster Formats: All raster formats (PNG, BMP, JPG) store the selected DPI resolution in the file header. This allows graphics applications to correctly interpret the physical size of the barcode. The bar widths are precisely adjusted to the target resolution to avoid aliasing artifacts. Even at low print resolution (such as 203 or 300 DPI), scannability remains intact. Since our online generator creates exclusively black and white graphics, storage is done in the space-saving grayscale format.
- PNG: Lossless compression. Supports transparent backgrounds as the only one of the raster formats.
- BMP: Uncompressed grayscale format without quality loss.
- JPG: Lossy compression. The quality factor of 100% used and the high contrast of barcode graphics prevent visible compression artifacts.
ITF Generator for Professionals – Batch Mode, InDesign + Illustrator ready
For higher demands, we recommend our software solution Barcode Vectorizer. It offers all functions of our free online generator and additionally:
Standard Edition:
- Direct transfer of the barcode as PDF, EPS, or SVG by dragging with the mouse or copy & paste to applications such as Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, or CorelDRAW
- Free color selection with precise values (0–100 for CMYK, 0–255 for RGB)
- Save function for later reuse of your own designs
- Support for over 20 linear barcode types (including Interleaved 2 of 5)
Pro Edition – additionally:
- Batch Mode: Create hundreds of barcodes from your own number lists at once – ideal for shipping labels, inventory management, or logistics processes
- Serial Number Generator: Automatic generation of sequential numbers with freely selectable start, end, and increment values as well as optional checksum calculation
- Barcode API: Integration of the barcode generator into your own application or workflow
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