QR code guides
Practical knowledge for QR codes designed to work in the real world — size, printing, quiet zones, testing, design, and safety. These guides reinforce Create → Test → Print, not keyword farming.
Start here
- PrintingHow big should a QR code be?Physical size depends on scanning distance, module density, and print context — not a single universal minimum. Practical starting points for cards, stickers, posters, and more.
- PrintingHow to print a QR code that scansVector vs raster, DPI, quiet zone, contrast, materials, and why you should scan the final printed piece — not only the screen preview.
- ReliabilityHow to test a QR codeA practical testing stack: inspect design, decode a baseline, run simulated degradation tests, check devices, then scan the final physical print. How QRburst Lab (heuristics) differs from stress tests.
- ReliabilityWhy your QR code won’t scanDiagnose quiet zone, contrast, density, size, logos, blur, compression, glare, and destination confusion — then fix the likely cause instead of regenerating blindly.
Reliability
- QR code error correction levelsWhat L, M, Q, and H mean, the density tradeoff, and why QRburst defaults to H for logos and real-world wear — without treating percentages as guarantees.
- How to test a QR codeA practical testing stack: inspect design, decode a baseline, run simulated degradation tests, check devices, then scan the final physical print. How QRburst Lab (heuristics) differs from stress tests.
- Why your QR code won’t scanDiagnose quiet zone, contrast, density, size, logos, blur, compression, glare, and destination confusion — then fix the likely cause instead of regenerating blindly.
- QR code quiet zoneThe quiet zone is empty margin measured in modules, not fixed pixels. Learn why ~4 modules is a safer conventional target, and how QRburst maps Compact (1), Standard (2), and Generous (4).
Printing
- How big should a QR code be?Physical size depends on scanning distance, module density, and print context — not a single universal minimum. Practical starting points for cards, stickers, posters, and more.
- How to print a QR code that scansVector vs raster, DPI, quiet zone, contrast, materials, and why you should scan the final printed piece — not only the screen preview.
- QR code resolution explainedSeparate data density, physical size, raster pixels, and DPI. A large PNG is not automatically more reliable than a correctly sized SVG — and pixels = inches × DPI for print rasters.
Design
- QR code contrast that scanners can readDark-on-light conventions, gradients, inverted codes, and why QRburst uses WCAG-style luminance as a heuristic — not a QR decoding standard.
- Best practices for QR codes with logosCenter logos obstruct modules. Learn how error correction, logo size (QRburst allows about 10–35% width), clear logo backgrounds, and testing interact — without treating 35% as “safe.”
- QR code design best practicesPrioritize contrast, quiet zone, finder clarity, and testing after customization. Gradients, module styles, and logos can brand a code — but they also raise scanning risk.