How to make a QR code for a poster, flyer, or product label

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A QR code on a screen is forgiving. A QR code on a poster, a flyer, or a product label is not. It has to scan the first time, from a distance, in bad lighting, and keep working for years. Here's how to get it right.

Point it at a short link, not the raw URL

This is the most important rule. A QR encoding a long URL becomes a dense, fragile grid. A QR encoding a short link stays sparse and easy to scan, and, crucially, you can change where it points later without reprinting, and track every scan.

Size and quiet zone

• Minimum size: around 2 × 2 cm (0.8") for something scanned up close; bigger for posters. A rough rule: scanning distance ÷ 10 = minimum width.
• Keep the quiet zone: the empty margin around the code. Don't let text or artwork crowd it.

Contrast and colour

Dark modules on a light background scan best. If you brand the colours, keep strong contrast, since pale codes on busy backgrounds fail. Never invert (light modules on dark) unless you've tested it on real phones.

Logos and error correction

A centre logo looks great, but it covers part of the code. That's fine if error-correction is high enough to compensate. Urlicer automatically raises it to level H whenever a logo is present, so a branded code still scans.

Always test before you print

Print a proof (or view it at final size) and scan it with a few different phones, since iPhone and Android cameras behave slightly differently. Test once; print thousands.

Make it permanent

Once it's printed, it's out of your hands. Urlicer links never expire by default, so a QR on last season's packaging still resolves today.

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