Used by 700,000+ people
Free DAFT barcode generator.
Each letter is one bar: D descender, A ascender, F full, T tracker. Paste a 4-state bar string from your encoder and download it.
How to create a DAFT barcode
-
01
Paste the encoder's letters
USPS's encoder turns the tracking code and ZIP Code into 65 letters; paste them as they are.
-
02
Set the bar width
Choose Module width Pixel 7 at 300 dpi: bars and gaps of 0.59 mm, 21.4 bars per inch.
-
03
Stretch only the height
The download is 2.7 mm tall. In your layout, stretch its height to 3.18–4.19 mm; keep 3.2 mm clear at each end.
What is DAFT code?
DAFT draws 4-state postal barcodes bar by bar; it is a method, not a symbology. Use it when an encoder has computed the bars, such as the 65 letters of a United States Postal Service (USPS) Intelligent Mail barcode (IMb).
Where an encoder's letters need drawing
USPS mailers print the IMb on letters and flats. The generator has no IMb type, but USPS's encoder returns F, A, D and T, which DAFT draws.
Australia Post lets customers encode the Customer Information Field of Customer Barcodes 2 and 3 their own way. For Royal Mail Mailmark, use its own type: Royal Mail specifies ascenders longer than the tracker.
The encoder's bars, nothing added
The 65-letter example in USPS's specification came back from the generator bar for bar. Without a check bar, a mistyped letter goes unnoticed, so paste the string rather than retyping it.
Trackers fill the middle third; ascenders and descenders add a third each. The drawing shows the sample with TEC-IT's 2 mm quiet zones; the download has none unless you set one.
Draw online; encode the IMb in TEC-IT software
PNG, GIF and JPG are free; SVG and higher print resolution come with a plan. Without an account you draw one barcode at a time; a data sheet draws many after a free sign-in.
TBarCode SDK and TFORMer Server encode the IMb from its digits, check included, so no separate encoder is needed.
DAFT at a glance
- Type
- 4-state; not a symbology
- Characters
- D, A, F, T in either case
- Length
- One bar per letter; IMb 65
- Check digit
- None
- Bar to gap
- 1:1
- Quiet zone
- 2 mm each side (TEC-IT)
How the letters map to bars
| Letter | Bar | Australia Post |
|---|---|---|
| F | Full height | H, value 0 |
| A | Tracker and ascender | A, value 1 |
| D | Tracker and descender | D, value 2 |
| T | Tracker only | T, value 3 |
DAFT compared with related postal barcodes
A GS1-128 barcode for parcels, not the 4-state IMb.
Full and half bars for the ZIP Code, replaced by the IMb.
Also 4-state, but the generator encodes the postcode itself.
Frequently asked questions
Learn more about DAFT.
What does DAFT stand for?
Can I create a USPS Intelligent Mail barcode here?
Does the DAFT generator add a check digit?
Why is there no text under a DAFT barcode?
More resources
Overview Linear Bar Code Symbologies (2/2)
Discover the world of linear barcode symbologies! Explore their unique characteristics and find the perfect fit for your needs. More information can be found…
ProductTBarCode SDK
The developer package for Windows: .NET, OCX and DLL components generate and print 100+ barcode symbologies from your applications.
ProductTFORMer Server
Your ERP sends the data – labels and forms print around the clock, unattended.
ProductTBarCode API
Request a barcode by URL and get an image back – no installation, no platform lock-in, the same engine behind every TEC-IT product.