Amazon KDP and IngramSpark covers
Barcodes on dark covers: how to make them scan
Short answer
On a dark cover, put the barcode on a white (or very light) box: dark bars on a light background. Do not print light bars on the dark cover color. Scanners read the contrast of dark bars against light spaces, and a reversed barcode does not scan. KDP and IngramSpark both ask for the barcode on white, so the white box is not optional on their covers.
Why white bars on black fail
A barcode scanner measures how much light comes back from each bar and space. The standard assumes bars absorb light and spaces reflect it. Turn that around and the scanner sees the wrong pattern, with the quiet zones dark as well. The US book industry guidelines say it plainly: the bars must always be the darker color, and bar and space colors cannot be reversed. GS1 UK says the same for all retail barcodes.
Which colors scan
Most retail scanners use red light. That decides which colors look "dark" to them:
| Use for bars | Avoid for bars |
|---|---|
| Black (best) | Red, orange, pink |
| Dark blue (reflex blue, process blue) | Yellow, gold, light colors |
| Dark green | Brown and other reddish shades |
| Use for the background | Avoid for the background |
|---|---|
| White (best) | Black, dark blue, dark green |
| Yellow, light cream | Any color with blue or black in it |
| Red (scanners see red as light) | Patterns, photos, gradients |
The BISG guidelines list white, yellow or red as background colors and say there should be no blue or black in the background color. For KDP and IngramSpark the answer is simpler: black bars on white.
Designing the white box so it looks intended
A white box does not have to look like a sticker. A few ways designers handle it:
- Use it as a design element. Align the box with the text block above it, or with a column of the back cover layout, so it belongs to the grid.
- Repeat the shape. Rounded corners, a white author photo frame, or a white publisher logo panel nearby make the box look deliberate. (Keep the barcode's own quiet zones clear inside the box.)
- Give it margin. A box that is slightly larger than the minimum, with even space around the barcode, looks calmer than one that hugs the digits.
- Use a light panel. On a very dark cover, a light band along the bottom of the back cover can hold the barcode and publisher details together.
What not to do: lower the opacity of the white box, put a texture or gradient inside it, or print the box in a light tint of a color that contains black or cyan.
How the barcode types handle it
- The KDP layout is a complete 2.0 x 1.2 in white box with the barcode inside, so it can go straight onto a dark back cover.
- For the other types, draw a white box in your layout program, place the barcode PDF on top at 100%, and leave the quiet zones white.
- Make sure the white box is real white (no ink), not 1% of something. In print, white means no ink at all.
Frequently asked questions
Can I print a white barcode on a black cover?
No. A reversed barcode does not scan. The bars must be darker than the background.
Can the barcode be dark blue on a navy cover?
Not directly on the navy. Put a white or light box under it. Dark blue bars on white do scan, but KDP and IngramSpark ask for black only.
Does the white box need a border?
No. The US guidelines say not to print a border around the barcode. If you want the box to stand out on a light-gray cover, use a box that is clearly larger than the barcode's quiet zones.
Is a red background really OK?
For scanners, red reads as light, so the BISG guidelines allow it. For KDP and IngramSpark, use white, as they ask.
Sources
- Book Industry Study Group, Barcoding Guidelines for the US Book Industry (bars darker, no reversal, bar and background colors): bisg.org
- GS1 UK, What colour should a barcode be?: gs1uk.org
- GS1, Ten steps to barcode implementation (colors and red light): gs1.org
- Amazon KDP Help, Barcodes (solid white background): kdp.amazon.com
- IngramSpark, Understanding IngramSpark Title Processing (white box or background): ingramspark.com