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In four parts, I will take on the trendy monochromes: first, I will explain basics and present tools for your own QR graphics. The next episodes will cover success factors and ideas for possible applications, as well as analyses and assessments of projects.
What are QR codes?
QR codes come from Japan and consist of a series of squares of different sizes that encode a text. The idea is to quickly scan the code with your smartphone while on the go and access the information hidden behind it – which, for example, can save you the work of typing in a URL. The name itself should make this clear: QR stands for “quick response”. Conveniently, special markings ensure that the information is displayed correctly, no matter in which rotation the code is scanned. There are also a number of security features: the information is stored multiple times so that even a slightly damaged code can still work – how much can be broken depends on the error correction used. A nice introduction to QR technology with lots of explanations is available from Denis Potschien on dr.web.
To scan QR codes, users need a smartphone or cell phone with a camera and special scanning software. This is available in various versions for different devices, not only for smartphones – I was even able to find a Java-based application for my old cell phone, Kaywa Reader. There are also many applications that can scan other codes in addition to QR codes, such as Red Laser App or Barcoo.
Create QR codes
Encoding information may sound complicated at first, but it is not. There is a variety of generators on the web that you can feed with the desired information and which then spit out a finished code. A successful example is the generator goQR.me: straightforward but functional.
- By clicking on the tab at the top left, you can set which type of data you want to convert into a QR code. This can then be typed in directly below. For most cases, text, URL and vCard (for addresses) should suffice.
- The code then appears on the right-hand side, ready for use. It is available as a download in png format using the “Download” button. If it is too small, the slider below the code can be used to enlarge it.
- The “Embed” option could also be interesting. This opens a window with a code that you can copy into your website – although you could actually just use the corresponding text directly.
- The “Options” that can be accessed via the button of the same name should not go unmentioned. Here you can adjust some visual details such as border thickness and colors – so nothing stands in the way of a mint green QR code. But be careful: QR codes rely on high contrast so that they can be easily scanned – if in doubt, extensive testing is the only way to determine whether the desired color combination is still rich in contrast. Error correction could also be interesting. Normally, the lowest level L should suffice – higher error correction levels allow a code to remain readable even if it is severely damaged, but they also increase its complexity.
For those who prefer a more professional approach, there are a number of service providers that create QR codes. The advantage of this is that QR codes can be modified within certain limits without becoming unreadable. This means that you can incorporate your own logo, graphics or small drawings. Of course, you should test, test and test again to make sure that everything works. If you prefer to use a tool to personalize your QR codes, you should take a look at the QRHacker.
Please mind the gap: QR codes as intermediaries between two worlds
QR codes are considered connections between the print and online worlds, and so they are often found on advertisements to direct you to a corresponding campaign page on the internet, or on business cards to provide an electronic version of the data. The fact that things can still go wrong with these seemingly simple applications will be the subject of the following article in the series. And the fact that there may well be more ambitious uses for the black-and-white boxes than just linking print and web is what I will write about in the third part.
Image credits: own screenshot and editing