What a custom QR code does
A custom QR code is a static QR code with a different look. Colors and shapes change how the code appears, but the link, text or contact details are stored in the pattern itself. When someone scans it, their phone opens that content directly, with nothing in between.
How to make a custom QR code here
- Enter your content, such as a website link. The code is generated in your browser.
- Open the Design panel.
- Set the foreground and background colors, or add a gradient.
- Choose a dot shape and a corner shape.
- Check the scan result. The page test-scans your design. If it will not scan, the page says so and suggests a fix, usually more contrast or a smaller logo.
- Download your file. Choose SVG for print or PNG for screens.
Colors and contrast
Use a dark code on a light background. Dark modules on a light background scan most reliably. A near-black or dark navy code on white, or on a pale tint of your brand color, is a safe starting point.
Avoid light-on-dark codes. A pale code on a dark background, often called an inverted code, does not scan on some older scanner apps. If your brand uses a dark background, put the code on a light panel instead.
Check contrast when you pick colors. A mid-tone orange on a yellow background can look bold but may be too close in brightness to scan. If a color pair will not scan, the page tells you and usually suggests more contrast.
Gradients
A gradient can add brand character, but keep both ends dark enough. If one end fades toward white, those modules lose contrast and may not scan.
Dot and corner shapes
Dot shapes change how each module looks. The options are square, rounded, dots, soft and diamond. Square looks closest to a standard code. Rounded and soft shapes look friendlier, and diamond gives a more graphic look.
Corner "eye" shapes change the three large squares that mark the corners of the code. Scanners use them to find the code, so keep them clear and high in contrast.
Shapes change how the code looks, not the data it holds. A heavily styled code can still be harder to read, so test every change with a phone.
Margin and quiet zone
The quiet zone is the blank margin around the code. The standard calls for a margin 4 modules wide. Many codes still scan with a smaller margin, but do not go below 2 modules.
Error correction and logos
Error correction lets a code still scan when part of it is damaged or covered. Level L recovers about 7% of damaged data, M about 15%, Q about 25% and H about 30%. Higher levels make the code denser, with more modules, so it needs to print larger.
Raise the level when the code will go on a surface that may get scuffed, dirty or partly covered. If you add a logo in the center, the level goes up to H automatically. For logo options, see QR code generator with a logo.
SVG for print, PNG for screens
Download SVG for print, since it is a vector file. Download PNG for screens, such as a website, slide or social post. PNG comes in 512, 1024, 2048 and 4096 pixels.
Size and testing before you print
For print, make the code at least 2 cm (about 0.8 inch) wide. A common rule of thumb is that the scanning distance can be about 10 times the code's width. The QR code size guide covers placement and distance.
Static codes cannot be edited after printing, so test before you print a large run. Scan the downloaded file with your phone's built-in camera at the size and distance people will use.
This tool cannot change where a printed code points, and it cannot count scans. Static codes do not expire and keep working even if 77-3.com disappears.