Preprinted barcode labels can be produced using any printing process. In fact, some preprinted labels are produced using the same printing systems found in on-site printing systems. However, most preprinted label vendors use one or more of the following preferred printing systems because of their speed and accuracy: Film Master/Printing Plate, Ion-Deposition, or Photocomposition.

The film master/printing plate approach to preprinted labels use a very accurate photographically produced film master of the bar code. This film master is used to produce a printing plate, and the plate is used in a variety of commercial printing presses to produce the preprinted label. Since the data coded in the film master bar code is fixed, This system cannot produce sequences of bar coded serial numbers, or bar coded variable, customer supplied data.

Ion deposition is an electrographic, non-impact imaging process capable of printing bar codes and other information on substrates such as paper, vinyl, polyester, and tag stock at very high speeds. The ion deposition printing station operates similar to a xerographic photocopier, except the image of the bar code is electrostatically placed on a dielectric drum rather than optically imaged on a photosensitive drum. Sequential labels and variable data labels can be printed by ion deposition.

Because of the cost and complexity of the technology, photographically produced barcode labels can only be produced by preprinted label companies specializing in this printing process.