Bar code problem - need image file, not PDF

[ulillillia]

Having just now assigned the ISBN to my book, I saw that Lulu gave me a bar code. There's one problem - it's a PDF file instead of an image file which means I can't import it into "The GIMP" which is where my one-piece cover is designed. In order for me to use the bar code, I need an image file (GIF, PNG, JPG, BMP, whatever). This way, I can import it into GIMP, place it where it needs to go, then save the file first as a BMP image then convert that BMP image into a PDF for the one-piece cover. The only thing I can think of is to use a screenshot then scale it down to the correct size (this will cause the bar code to have slight gray edges from antialiasing and as far as I'm aware, it must be strictly black and white, without any gray shades). Any ideas? Or, does the exact size of it not matter, as long as it's within the white area on the back cover where it's supposed to be? I can't tell what pixel size the bar code is either.

[ValerieJLong]

Two ideas:

One - Adobe Reader has a snapshot tool, too, that allows to copy a region of the PDF.
Two - the snapshot will be copied as displayed, if you have the right zoom scale, you get a perfect bmp

Cheers Val

[ulillillia]

For 300 dpi, what pixel size (e.g. 700x300 pixels) does it need to be? Without knowing this, I won't know what zoom setting to use. At 2400% zoom, it seems like the bars are based on a 30-pixel spacing (I measured them).

[ValerieJLong]

"ulillillia" wrote:

For 300 dpi, what pixel size (e.g. 700x300 pixels) does it need to be?

--
Well, my math says
300 pixels / 300 dpi (dots per inch) = 1 inch
700 pixels / 300 dpi (dots per inch) = 2,33... inch
Cheers
Val

[ulillillia]

The 700x300 case was an example. The FAQs are stating to generate one that is 1.833x1 inches meaning 550x300 pixels. The trouble is, does this apply to the bars themselves, does it include all the surrounding text, or does it also include white borders. If white borders are included, then how much of a margin does there need to be? Your FAQ does not explain this. The cover templates don't show it as far as I've seen (I've checked 4 of them, the 6x9 one included since that's the size I need).

http://www.lulu.com/en/help/book_covers_faq

[Ken Anderson]

Generate your barcode here http://www.tux.org/~milgram/bookland/
Then download it as .eps and insert your file sizing it to approx 2.5" x 1"

[ulillillia]

That generator doesn't work as I get a screen with "Error..." upon generation. It doesn't state what the error is. I copied the ISBN exactly as it stated how I should, but it didn't work. I otherwise left everything else at their defaults. Could it be that I don't have that font (I have, perhaps, the fewest fonts of all here - a puny 99 (I've heard that 200 to 300 seems to be the norm)).

Edit: I think I have a solution. Would it work to find the zoom setting that causes the entire white area that makes up the bar code to be exactly 300 pixels (for 1 inch)? I found this to be 312.5%. I just took a screenshot, then measured the white part. The black border around the image helps with the measuring. The result should be 717x300 pixels, given this.

[Keith Dixon]

Have you taken out any dashes or spaces in the ISBN that you were given?

[ulillillia]

Well, I measured an existing bar code and found it to be 1.91x0.92 inches with the white space surrounding it included. Lulu's generated one is a bit bigger at 2.39x1 inches. I guess size exactness doesn't really matter significantly. Too small though you're bound to have scanner reading problems. Too big and it gets quite intrusive on the back of the book.

[Keith Dixon]

Bear in mind that most Lulu books don't pass through a scanner but are bought online. :wink: