1. A method of conveying information, said method comprising the following steps: performing a first evaluation step, wherein said first evaluation step comprises analyzing the contents of a first document or the context in which a first barcode will be used so as to determine preferable information density or deviation tolerance for said first barcode; performing a first selection step, wherein said first selection step comprises choosing one of two optical encoding approaches, said two approaches being selected from the group consisting of (i) a monochromatic approach and (ii) a polychromatic approach, and wherein said first selection step further comprises the step of choosing said polychromatic approach; and performing a second selection step, wherein said second selection step comprises choosing one of two polychromatic systems, said two systems being selected from the group consisting of (i) a full polychromatic system and (ii) a limited polychromatic system.