Can QR Codes Be Customized?
Savvy users create QR (Quick Response) codes for the short links and other information they want to share online and offline. Typically, QR codes can include web URLs, plain text, SMS messages, WiFi credentials, business cards, event details, emails, phone numbers, files to download, WhatsApp messages, cryptocurrency wallet details, etc. The possibilities are endless.
These images are usually bland black and white matrices, familiar to all. Like this one.
This QR code contains 10 significant text characters, plus all the alignment, redundancy and error correction detail needed to allow scanning in difficult circumstances or if the code is damaged.
Note: Scan any of these QR codes to see what they contain.
But can they be made prettier with different colors or containing more brand-related imagery?
Of course they can!
As soon as people realize the power of QR codes they always want to know more. Among the most common questions we get are:
- Are QR codes only black and white?
- Can I include my company logo as part of the QR code?
- How much data is stored in a QR code?
Are QR codes only black and white?
QR codes used to be only black and white, with the data encoded in a two-dimensional grid of black and white cells. However, it is possible to create QR codes with different colors or design elements, including logos and graphics. These QR codes are known as "designer” or "custom” QR codes.
In this example the data is stored in little heart-shaped dots that use a two-color gradient radiating from the center. And the corners are customized as well.
These customized QR codes can be created using online tools such as now-click.me. Users can customize the appearance of the generated QR codes by changing the color or adding a gradient from one color to another. The type of matrix can also be changed, as well as the designs of the corner markings. These custom QR codes have additional visual appeal and are more closely aligned with a brand's visual identity.
Designer QR codes are not as common as traditional black and white QR codes (yet!), but marketers find they are more visually appealing and complementary to other brand assets for use in marketing and advertising campaigns.
Can I include my company logo as part of the QR code?
Yes, it is possible to include a company logo inside a QR code. Tools and sites like now-click.me allow users to add logos or other images to the center of the QR code they create.
To make the logo stand out more it's recommended to surround it with some extra white space.
To include a company logo inside a QR code, the logo needs to be provided as an image and the QR code generator will incorporate it into the design of the QR code itself. This is done by replacing some of the data cells at the center of the QR code with the provided image. The size of the logo can be changed to be more prominent – as long as it does not stop the code from being scanned!
Overall, including a company logo inside a QR code is a real bonus to create more visually appealing or branded QR codes for use in marketing and advertising campaigns. However, keep in mind the trade-offs between visual appeal and scanning ability when creating custom QR codes.
How much detail is held in a QR code?
QR codes are designed to hold small or large amounts of data in a small, easily scanned format. The amount of data depends on the size of the code’s matrix and the error correction level used.
The capacity of a QR code is typically measured in bits. A typical QR code is approximately 3-5 cm in size and can hold up to 4,296 alphanumeric characters or 2,953 numeric characters.
This QR code contains 150 significant text characters. It's therefore more detailed and complex than the 10-character QR code at the top of the page.
This QR code contains 500 significant text characters. More characters make the code more detailed, which makes them less easy to scan.
QR codes also use error correction to ensure that the data will be accurately read even if the code is damaged or partially obscured. Generators have available four levels of error correction QR codes, with each level increasing the amount of data that can be recovered if the code is damaged.
Overall, QR codes can hold a lot of data for such a small, easily scanned format. They are really useful for storing and transmitting information quickly and efficiently.
Where to create QR codes?
Now-click.me includes the ability to create simple QR codes for everyday and casual use.
It also has all the advanced features to create fully customized designer QR codes in logo colors and including brand assets.
Check it out, give it a try.
