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Caliana ISBN & Serial Barcode Tool

Generate print-ready ISBN, ISSN, and ISMN barcodes with EAN-13 encoding, price supplements, and validation. Download as SVG or high-resolution PNG.

Generate print-ready serial barcodes that meet industry standards across every publishing platform. Supports ISBN-13, ISSN, and ISMN with validation, anatomy visualization, and platform specs. Free forever — no account required. Built by BalomeTECH for the independent publishing community.

Barcode Settings

Code Type

ISBN-13 Enter with or without hyphens

No price (outputs 90000)

Price

Currency

Appearance

Magnification: 100% 80%–200% (GS1 standard: 80%–200%)

Show human-readable text

Bar Color

Background

Barcode Preview

Select a code type and enter a number to generate your barcode

Platform Barcode Requirements

Platform	Auto-Generates?	Supply Your Own?	Barcode Area	Notes
KDP Paperback	Yes	Optional	2.0" × 1.2"	They add Transparency code
KDP Hardcover	Yes	Optional	2.0" × 1.2"	0.635" from cover edges
IngramSpark	Yes	Optional	1.75" × 1.0" clear	White background required
Lulu (Custom Cover)	No	REQUIRED	2.0" × 1.2"	Black on white, 300 DPI
Lulu Direct	No	REQUIRED	2.0" × 1.2"	Same as Lulu distribution
B&N Press	Yes	DO NOT supply	Auto-sized	Remove existing barcodes!
BookBaby	Yes	Optional	Standard	They generate from ISBN
Bowker	Download	Yes ($25 each)	Standard	This tool replaces Bowker

Most platforms auto-generate barcodes. You primarily need this tool for: Lulu custom covers, specialty printers, cover proofing, and avoiding Bowker's $25/barcode fee.

Platform Tips

Barnes & Noble Press

Remove any existing barcodes from your cover files before submitting to B&N Press. They auto-generate and place their own barcode. Submitting a cover with an existing barcode may cause rejection or double barcodes.

Lulu (Custom Covers)

If uploading a one-piece (wrap) cover to Lulu, YOU must supply the barcode. Lulu will not add one to custom covers. Required specs: 2.0" × 1.2", pure black on white background, minimum 300 DPI (vector preferred), positioned at least 0.25" from all cover edges.

IngramSpark

Leave a clear white rectangle of at least 1.75" × 1.00" on your back cover for the barcode area. IngramSpark can auto-generate your barcode, but if you supply your own, it must sit on clean white space with no overlapping text or graphics.

General Best Practice

The Bookland EAN-13 + EAN-5 barcode is a universal standard — the same barcode works on every platform. What changes is placement requirements and whether the platform generates it for you. When in doubt, leave a 2.0" × 1.2" white rectangle in the lower-right corner of your back cover.

Save Money

Bowker charges $25 per barcode. This tool generates the exact same industry-standard Bookland EAN barcode for free. Download as SVG for your designer or PNG for direct placement in Canva.

ISMN for Sheet Music

If you publish sheet music, you need an ISMN (International Standard Music Number). ISMNs use the 979-0 prefix and encode as standard EAN-13 barcodes. This tool validates and generates ISMN barcodes.

ISSN for Periodicals

Magazines and journals use ISSN (International Standard Serial Number). ISSNs convert to EAN-13 with a 977 prefix. Add a 2-digit EAN-2 supplement for issue numbering.

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Caliana ISBN & Serial Barcode Tool

Barcode Settings

Appearance

ISSN → EAN-13 Conversion

Barcode Preview

ISBN Anatomy

Validate ISBN, ISSN, or ISMN

Platform Barcode Requirements

Barnes & Noble Press

Lulu (Custom Covers)

IngramSpark

General Best Practice

Save Money

ISMN for Sheet Music

ISSN for Periodicals

Barcode Settings

Appearance

ISSN → EAN-13 Conversion

Barcode Preview

ISBN Anatomy

Validate ISBN, ISSN, or ISMN

Platform Barcode Requirements

Barnes & Noble Press

Lulu (Custom Covers)

IngramSpark

General Best Practice

Save Money

ISMN for Sheet Music

ISSN for Periodicals

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