How to Create Print-Ready QR Codes for Marketing Materials
Learn the best practices for creating high-quality QR codes that work perfectly on printed materials like business cards, flyers, and posters.
How to Create Print-Ready QR Codes for Marketing Materials
QR codes have become an essential tool for bridging the gap between physical and digital marketing. Whether you're designing business cards, flyers, posters, or product packaging, creating print-ready QR codes requires careful attention to detail to ensure they scan reliably.
Understanding QR Code Resolution Requirements
When creating QR codes for print, resolution is critical. Unlike digital displays, printed materials require higher resolution to maintain scannability.
Minimum Size Guidelines
The general rule of thumb is that your QR code should be at least 2 x 2 cm (0.8 x 0.8 inches) for optimal scanning.
Resolution and DPI
For professional printing, aim for:
- 300 DPI minimum for most print materials
- 600 DPI for high-quality business cards
- Vector formats (SVG) when possible for infinite scalability
Choosing the Right Error Correction Level
QR codes support four error correction levels:
- L (Low): 7% - suitable for digital use only
- M (Medium): 15% - good for clean print environments
- Q (Quartile): 25% - recommended for most print applications
- H (High): 30% - essential when adding logos
At HarmanQR, we default to High (H) error correction to ensure your QR codes remain scannable.
Color Contrast and Printing Considerations
Proper contrast is essential for QR code scannability. Maintain a contrast ratio of at least 3:1 between foreground and background.
Create Your Print-Ready QR Codes with HarmanQR
Ready to create professional QR codes? Try HarmanQR's free generator with built-in print optimization features.
Ready to Create Your QR Code?
Put these tips into practice with our free QR code generator.
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