Barcode - User Guide

Yanobox Barcode is a simple generator that simulates the European Article Number aka EAN-13 barcode used on everyday products across the world. Our version provides some unusual features like custom color modes and random digits, transforming the classical barcode to an eye-catching Motion Graphic element.

For a complete explanation of the EAN-13 barcode standard, look at this article on wikipedia.

Quick Start

Apple Final Cut Pro X

Creating a Barcode instance on the timeline

  1. Show the Generator Browser and select the Yanobox Barcode category.
  2. Drag and drop the Barcode templates on your timeline.

    Apple Motion

    Creating a Barcode instance on the timeline

    1. Show the Library and select Generators/Yanobox/Barcode.
    2. Drag the Barcode generator onto your timeline.

      Adobe After Effects

      Applying Barcode to a layer

      1. Select or create a new solid in the timeline.
      2. Open the Effects menu and choose Barcode from the Yanobox Folder.

        Adobe Premiere Pro

        Creating a Barcode instance on the timeline

        1. Create a new Transparent Video asset in your project, and drag it to your timeline.
        2. In the Effect Pane, look for the Barcode plugin in the Yanobox category.
        3. Drag the plugin over the transparent video clip.

          Global Settings

          Presets - Presets contain a snapshot of the plugin parameters. The Presets control lets you choose among one of the presets built into the plugin, save current parameter values to a preset file, or load an existing preset file from disk.

          A preset file saved to disk via the "Save As" button can be loaded from another instance of the same plugin by clicking the "Open" button. Presets generated in one host can also be loaded from the same plugin when used in a different host.

          Master Completion - Draws the Barcode progressively. If you need a more sophisticated progression, animate the Digit, Fill, and Bars Completion separately.

          Size - Controls the global size of the barcode, adjusting the bars and the font size.

          Position - Sets the coordinates of the barcode.

          Digit Style

          The Digit Style Group manages the font, the font color, and the character background.

          Digits Completion - Draws the digits progressively.

          Font Name - Sets the font and style through the Font Family and the Style pop-up menu.

          Due to the fixed metrics of the bars, the barcode plugin only supports fonts with monospaced numerical characters. Italic or oblique fonts are not supported and may produce truncated characters.

          Font Color - This parameter defines the color of the digits.

          Fill Digits - This option lets you add multi-colored backgrounds for each digit.

          When toggling this button, a new menu appears and lets you choose from several Color Modes.

          Fill Completion - Draws the background of the Digits progressively.

          Color Mode Menu -This pop-up menu provides different coloring methods.

          • Single Color - This mode lets you choose a single color for the digit background.
          • Complementary - This mode returns an alternation of the base color and its 180 degrees opposite on the color wheel, producing high color contrast.
          • Triad - This mode takes the base color and returns 3 colors spaced equally on the color wheel. These colors are then repeated around the digits background indexes.
          • 360 - This mode provides a complete loop around the color wheel, producing a rainbow effect. Interesting color cycling effects can be achieved by varying the initial color.
          • Fixed To Digit - Assigns a fixed color to each digit. The fill color will determine the amplitude of the hue.
          • Random Hue - Creates a random hue for each digit background, taking the initial color as a base for the calculation.
            • Color Random - The amount of randomness.
            • Color Random Seed - Sets new seed values for the random calculation.
          • Shade - Creates an ensemble of random lighting values, producing nice light and dark contrasts of the same hue.

          Digit Input

          This group provides different methods to input the digits (numbers) forming the barcode.The EAN 13 barcode consists of an encoder, called First Digit and 2 sets of six numbers : the First and the Last Group.

          Barcode Encoder

          Input Mode Menu - This menu lets you choose a method for the input of the digits.

          • Random - In this mode the digits change randomly for each frame while causing the respective bars to change accordingly for visual conformity. This is the easy mode to create a quick auto-animation.
            • Random Speed - Adjusts the frequency of the randomness.
          • String - A mode to quickly enter the numbers of each group, animating the First Digit with a slider only.
            • First Digit - A mode to quickly enter the numbers of each group, animating the First Digit with a slider only.
            • First Group - This text editor lets you enter a series of 6 numbers. Missing numbers will be replaced by zero.
            • Last Group - A text editor to set a series of 6 number for the Last Group.
          • Separated - This mode gives you the possibility to set each digit individually by separated sliders for the purpose of detailed keyframe animations.
            • Hide First Digit - Hides or reveals the first Digit.

          Bars

          The Bar Group manages the size and the color of the bars. The EAN 13 is split up by 3 guard bars (right, center, left) and 2 sets of encoded bars corresponding to the numbers of the first and last group. 

          Barcode Gards

          Bars Completion - Draws the bars progressively.

          Bar Height - Sets the height of the Bars at an anchor point located above the digits.

          Color Mode Menu - This pop-up menu provides different coloring methods.

          • Single Color - This simple mode lets you set a single color for the bars.
          • Complementary - This mode takes the base color and returns 3 colors spaced equally on the color wheel. These colors are then repeated around the bar indexes.
          • Triad - This mode takes the base color and returns 3 colors spaced equally on the color wheel. These colors are then repeated around the bar indexes.
          • 360 - This mode provides a complete loop around the color wheel, producing a rainbow effect. Interesting color cycling effects can be achieved by varying the initial color.
          • Fixed To Digit - Assigns a fixed color to each digit. The fill color will determine the amplitude of the hue.
          • Random Hue - This mode creates a random hue for each digit, taking the initial color as a base for the calculation.
            • Color Random - Adjusts the frequency of the randomness.
            • Color Random Seed - Sets new seed values for the random calculation.
          • Shade - Creates an ensemble of random lighting values, producing nice light and dark contrasts of the same hue.