Guides
A practical guide to making a QR code that looks good and works in the real world. Learn how to choose colors, prepare artwork for print and understand exactly what your saved code contains.
Design a QR that scans reliably
A successful QR design starts with a clear difference between the dots and their background. Dark dots on a plain light surface are a dependable starting point.
Print size and image resolution
There is no single minimum print size that works for every QR. The amount of data, density of the pattern, printing surface and viewing distance all matter.
Static vs dynamic: what does “no expiry” mean?
A static QR contains the text, Wi-Fi settings or destination address itself. Reading it does not depend on a QR subscription or a redirect service operated by this site.
Create a QR with a photo
Image QR mode blends a locally selected photo with a readable QR pattern. It is different from putting a small logo at the centre of an otherwise plain design.
From your first draft to a finished QR
Start with the action you want someone to take. Open the destination on a phone before copying its complete address. A page that works in your own signed-in browser may still ask a visitor to log in or request access. For a public handout, test it in a private browsing window and give the code a short caption explaining what opens. Keep a readable address or another way to get help nearby for people who cannot scan.
Use the suggested design as a starting point, then replace the sample content with your own. Choose dark dots on a light, solid background and leave the clear space around the code intact. If you add a logo, keep it small and check the warnings. The preview checks are useful feedback, but they cannot reproduce every phone camera, printer, light source or paper surface your audience will encounter.
Check it where people will use it
Download the actual file and scan that file, rather than relying only on the editor preview. For print, place it at its intended size, print one copy and try it with more than one phone. Check both the camera response and the page or connection it opens. Test from the distance and angle a visitor will use, including reflections from a cover, window or glossy table sign.
Keep the original SVG for scalable design artwork, or choose a large PNG when your layout tool needs a bitmap. Avoid screenshots, repeated compression and stretching the code into a rectangle. Save a copy of the destination address alongside the artwork. Review the destination again before a large print run and periodically after publication: the static pattern stays the same even if the linked website changes or disappears.