Making bCodes

Making bCodes involves creating bCode images with the bcode_maker.jar program, printing them, and then cutting the printed bCodes out.

The size of the printed bCodes depends on the bcode_maker.jar parameter settings and the resolution of your printer. The formula for calculating the bCode side length in mm is (square.side.length * 12 + padding * 2) / printer.resolution * 25.4. square.side.length and padding are bcode_maker.jar parameters that you can set to suit your needs. The value of printer.resolution depends on your printer.

For example, if your printer has a resolution of 800 dpi and you use a square.side.length of 5 pixels and a padding of 2 pixels, your bCodes will have a side length of 2.032 mm. To make such bCodes, run

java -jar bcode_maker.jar square.side.length=5 padding=2 bcode.file=bcodes.png

This will create an image named bcodes.png. Printing this image on the aforementioned printer will result in a sheet of bCodes of the expected size, which can be cut out and attached to bees, ants, or other small insects.