Turn a link, an email address or any text into a QR code. Choose the colours, download a PNG for a document or an SVG that stays sharp at poster size.
What should the code do?
A dark code on a light background scans most reliably. If you plan to put a logo in the middle, choose High error correction.
Preview
SVG stays sharp at any size, so use it for print or for a sign. PNG is easier to drop into a document or a slide.
Making a QR code that actually works when it is scanned
A QR code is just a way of writing text so a camera can read it. What makes one useful rather than annoying is mostly the payload: a code that opens a link is obvious, but a code that joins a phone to your guest network, or drops your details straight into someone’s address book, saves considerably more effort than one that makes them type a web address.
The two things that most often stop a code scanning are size and contrast. Printed codes should be at least two centimetres square for a phone held at normal distance, and larger for anything scanned from further away — a poster read from two metres wants something closer to twenty centimetres. Dark code on a light background reads far more reliably than the reverse.
Common questions
How do I make a QR code for my Wi-Fi?
Choose the Wi-Fi option and enter the network name exactly as it appears, along with the password and security type. Scanning the result offers to join the network directly, which means guests can get online without anyone reading a password aloud. The password is encoded in your browser and is never sent to us.
What is error correction, and which level should I choose?
It adds redundancy so the code still reads when part of it is dirty, creased or covered. Medium suits most uses. Choose High if you plan to place a logo in the middle or the code will live somewhere it might get scuffed — it makes the code denser, so print it slightly larger.
Why will my code not scan?
Usually it is too small, printed with too little contrast, or has no quiet border. Keep a clear margin around the code, use a dark colour on a light background rather than the other way round, and avoid placing it across a fold or a curved surface.
Do these codes expire or need an account?
No. The code is a direct encoding of whatever you typed, with no redirect service in the middle. That means it works forever and cannot be switched off, but it also means you cannot change where it points after printing it.
PNG or SVG?
SVG for anything that will be printed, because it stays perfectly sharp at any size and the crisp edges are what a scanner reads. PNG is easier to drop into a document or a slide.
These utilities are the small end of what we do. TechnoSyn builds custom applications, business systems and internal tools for people who depend on them daily. If you have something larger that needs building, tell us what you are trying to do.