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How do I print tags?

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Lately I had someone ask how they can print tags and/or get byte tags.... so I figured I would write a short note on the topic.

Firs of all, byte tags can be easily printed by printing full sets of them. We have published them in different formats (PDF, HTML, VISIO & PNG) at: https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=72BABCDA-465B-4808-86EE-6E23F7967D3E&displaylang=en

If you want to print identity tags, there is no way to print all possible identity tags as that would be a really large number of them (2^128), so the Surface v1 SP1 SDK comes with an Identity Tag Printing Tool. More information on the printing tool can be found at:

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee804803(Surface.10).aspx

Notice that once you are actually producing these for a real world deployment, most likely you will have the tags printed as part of some larger process. If that is the case, what is most useful to you is the specification of each of the tag formats, so you can use that in your custom printing process.

Here is the specification for byte tags and here is the specification for identity tags.
Notice that for identity tags, we provide you an API to generate the image to be printed.

Best of luck, and for those that celebrate it: Happy Thanksgiving!

Luis Cabrera
Platform PM - Microsoft Surface

Comments

  • Anonymous
    November 22, 2010
    Any tips for printing the transparent (IR-based) tags?  I saw the entire article devoted to the process and suppliers.  I wasn't sure if you can use a regular printer with the special ink, etc.  If we could buy some pre-printed that would be great!  (wishful thinking)

  • Anonymous
    November 26, 2010
    I've been working with the identity tagging a bit, and noticed that the size of the tags need to be specific width and height to work correctly.  If off by more than 1/8" the unit fails to recognizes them.  Can someone confirm the exact sizes required it would help developers like me avoid testing headaches.. :)

  • Anonymous
    December 08, 2010
    Anthony: Regarding printing transparent tags: I don't know of anyone printing transparent tags on a regular printing. Robert: Regarding identity tag size: Let me see if I can find anything besides the published material we already have on msdn.

  • Anonymous
    December 08, 2010
    Robert: I found the following note at  msdn.microsoft.com/.../ee804803(v=Surface.10).aspx Note When you print identity tags by using the image that GenTag generates, the printed tag should be exactly 1.125 inches square. I guess that answers your question.

  • Anonymous
    December 13, 2010
    Thanks for the confirmation... got to admit the 1.125 size is a pain.. until you realized the restriction :)

  • Anonymous
    January 25, 2012
    What about Surface 2.0 printing tool?