A QR code on a screen can be fixed in a minute. A QR code on ten thousand boxes cannot. Most scanning failures come from a handful of design decisions, and all of them are settings in the Lnki QR designer.
Point the code at a short link
In Lnki a QR code always encodes a short link, never the long destination. That matters for two reasons. A short address needs fewer modules, so the squares are larger and easier to read at the same printed size. And the destination stays editable: if the page moves after printing, you change the link and the printed code keeps working.
It also means every scan is counted. The QR Codes page shows total and unique scans for each code.
Contrast comes first
Scanners look for dark modules on a light background. You can set the Foreground, Finder color and Background freely, but keep these two rules:
- The foreground must be clearly darker than the background. Brand colours in mid-tones often fail here.
- Do not invert it. Light modules on a dark background are not read by every scanner.
The preview has a Dark mode switch so you can check how the code sits on a dark surface before you commit.
Leave the quiet zone alone
The empty border around a code is part of the code. The Margin setting controls it. If the code will sit on a busy background or close to other artwork, do not reduce it to save space.
Error correction and logos
Error Correction decides how much of the code can be damaged or covered and still scan. The default is Medium, which tolerates about 15%. A logo in the centre covers modules, so it uses up part of that allowance.
- If you add a logo, raise the error correction level and keep the Logo size modest.
- Logos can be JPG, PNG or SVG, up to 2 MB. A simple mark on a plain background works best.
- Higher correction adds modules. If the code will be printed small, test it at that size.
Pattern, eyes and corners
The Pattern, Eyes and Corners menus change the shape of the modules and of the three corner markers. Rounded styles look friendlier and scan well. The corner markers are what a camera finds first, so keep them high-contrast even when the rest of the code is styled.
Export for the job
- SVG or PDF for anything a printer will handle. They are vector formats and stay sharp at any size.
- PNG for screens, slides and documents. Pick a size large enough that it is never scaled up.
Before you send it to print
- Print one copy at the real size on the real material.
- Scan it with at least two different phones, from the distance people will actually stand at.
- Scan it in poor light.
- Check that the link opens the page you expect.
The QR code tutorial walks through the designer screen by screen.
