2 Designing your items for CBC
Do not use a red or dark coloured background, as the machines cannot see a barcode printed upon them. Background reflectance must be =>35%.This is the white space of the clear zone around the address block. It restricts the use of dark colours and ensures that that when the address block is applied to a mail item it will be clearly visible. Reflective difference must be => 30%.This is the minimum value such that when the address block is applied to a mail item it is clearly visible. It is the difference between the background reflectance and the printed area. Printing The barcode must be darker than the paper. For example don’t print the barcode in white ink on dark paper. Background Printing or embossing of security backgrounds, if essential, should be faint, of uniform consistency and be on the inside of the envelope.The contrast factor must not be greater than 10%. Barcode orientation The barcode can be printed in any of the following orientations with reference to the bottom edge of the mail item:
Before proceeding Appendix A:Addressing Mailing items must be read.When addressing items Customers must note the following. CBC items – Including a Delivery Point Suffix A Postcode is not always sufficient to uniquely identify each delivery point in the UK – for example in shared buildings. Some Postcodes relate to only one delivery point, while others may cover up to a hundred. The average is 18. For that reason, a Delivery Point Suffix (DPS) has been developed.The DPS is a two-character code (a number then a letter), which enables each delivery point to be identified. The steps in finding the correct DPS for an address are explained below. The percentage of mailing items that contain a full and accurate DPS must match the full and accurate address and postcode percentage requirement for the service used. i.e. 100% Premier 70 CBC. The remainder can use a default: 9U, 9W, 9X, 9Y or 9Z (but no other).The DPS should be included in the data converted into and printed as a barcode on all your CBC mail. Default DPS’ are explained below. The DPS should never be printed or written on the items except as part of the encoded barcode. Using colour and logos As well as gaining a lower rate, one of the benefits of adding a barcode is greater creative flexibility in the mail piece design. Paper colour The most suitable colours for the envelopes are white, cream or buff. Other colours are possible, as long as they are light or pastel shades which contrast by at least 40% in tone with the address or barcode.
• Normal horizontal. • Inverted horizontal. • Normal vertical. • Inverted vertical.
Printing the barcode The CBC template overleaf illustrates the minimum/ maximum mail piece sizes and the positioning of barcodes which are described in detail within this guide.
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