Common Mistakes When Printing QR Codes (And How to Avoid Them)

One of the most common reasons a QR code fails to scan is that it's simply too small. • Small codes are harder for cameras to capture accurately. • For posters viewed from a distance, the code must be significantly larger. Practical tip: • Avoid using less than about 2×2 cm for business cards or small prints. • For posters and banners, increase the size according to the viewing distance: the farther the user, the larger the code should be.

QR codes depend on strong contrast between: • The dark modules (squares), • And the light background. Common mistakes include: • Using a light color on a light background. • Placing the code over a busy image. Practical tip: • Best practice: dark code (black or dark color) on a light background (white or light color). • If you use brand colors, make sure there is strong contrast between the code and the background. • Avoid placing the QR directly on top of an image; if needed, place a white box behind the code.

QR codes need a clear margin around them, called the quiet zone, so the camera can detect the code properly. Common mistakes: • Cropping the edges of the code in the design. • Placing the code too close to borders, lines, or text. Practical tip: • Leave a clear margin around the code—at least one or two modules wide. • Don't crop or squeeze the code tightly into a frame.

Sometimes the code is fine, but its location is the problem: • Placed too low on a poster, near the floor. • Placed where people can't easily get close to it. • Placed on reflective surfaces with strong light glare. Practical tip: • Place the code at a comfortable height and in an accessible position. • Avoid glossy surfaces under harsh lighting. • Make sure the code is not bent, folded, or on a crease (e.g., in booklets or magazines).

The more data you encode in a QR code, the more complex it becomes: • More tiny squares. • Harder for some cameras to read. Practical tip: • Whenever possible, use a short URL instead of long text or bulky data. • Link to a landing page that contains all the details, instead of stuffing everything into the code itself. • With SmartQR, think of the code as a link, not a data container.

Low print quality can cause: • Blurry edges. • Broken or merged squares. • Ink bleeding, which ruins the code's structure. Practical tip: • Use high-resolution files from SmartQR (such as PNG, SVG if available). • Ask your print shop for good quality printing, especially for large formats. • Always print a single test copy and scan it before running a large print batch.

Designers sometimes try to "beautify" QR codes by: • Changing the shape too much. • Covering essential parts of the code with a large logo. Yes, you can customize QR code designs—but within limits. Practical tip: • You can place a logo in the center, but: o Keep it reasonably small. o Don't cover too many important modules. • Avoid changing the basic square patterns or the three large position markers at the corners.

The biggest mistake: designing the code and printing thousands of copies without testing. Practical tip: • Before sending the final file to the printer, test: o Scan the code on screen with different phones. o Print one sample at the actual size and test it from different distances. • Use multiple devices and apps to be sure (built-in camera + QR apps).