All barcode verifiers must use a standardised lighting configuration, with light of a specified wavelength, to take an image of the barcode.  This image is then analysed using a known sampling area (defined as the aperture reference) to measure seven different aspects, or parameters, of the symbol.

Unlike linear barcode verifiers, only one image is used.  The seven parameters are each measured, and the measurements converted into grades 4,3,2,1 or 0, with 4 being best, and 0 being a failure.  The parameter with the lowest grade becomes the overall grade for the 2D symbol.

The grade is then reported with the details of the aperture, the light, and the angle of illumination as follows:

N.0/aa/www/30/45/90

Where N.0 is the grade, aa is the aperture refence number, which refers to the diameter of the aperture measured in 1/1000s of an inch, www is the wavelength of light measured in nm, and 30 or 45 or 90 is the angle of the incident light used to illuminate the barcode.

The seven parameters are all briefly explained below:

The ISO/IEC verification parameters

Decode

This is the first step in the verification and applies the reference decode algorithm - the set of rules defined by ISO/IEC for decoding the symbol - to the image. If there is a valid decode, the grade is 4.0.  If the barcode cannot be decoded, the grade is 0.0.

Symbol contrast

The symbol contrast is the difference between the darkest and lightest areas of the barcode.  The quiet zones will normally be the lightest areas.  This is measured in percentage terms, and the percentages are converted into five different bands – 4,3,2,1, or 0.

Axial non-uniformity

All matrix 2D symbols should comprise perfectly square, and evenly spaced, elements.  Axial non-uniformity is a measure of how out of square the barcode is when checked against its horizontal and vertical axes.  This is measured and then graded from 4 to 0.

Modulation

A barcode should be evenly black and white across its whole area.  Modulation compares the least black-to-white area of the symbol to the greatest difference between the black and white elements.  This is measured and then graded from 4 to 0.

Grid non-uniformity

Grid non-uniformity measures how the symbol is distorted in terms of how much the implied x and y axes are not at an angle of 90°.  It is in effect measuring how twisted the image is.

Unused error correction

All matrix 2D symbols include error- correction characters that may be used to reconstruct damaged parts of the symbol.  A perfect symbol will not require any use of the error-correction characters, and will receive a top grade of 4.0.  The parameter is measured and then graded from 4 to 0.

Fix pattern damage

The fixed patterns of a matrix 2D symbol are used by the scanner to find the barcode.  If any of these are damaged the barcode will be more difficult to read, so any damage is measured and graded from 4 to 0.

For a Data Matrix or GS1 DataMatrix symbol, the verifier will look at the quiet zones, the L-shaped finder pattern, the clock track (the dotted line on the opposite two sides of the symbol), and calculate an average grade from seven different fixed pattern damage possibilities.

Other 2D matrix symbols have different fixed patterns, and the verifier will again assess these in accordance with the symbol specification.