Keep breathing room
Leave a quiet zone of at least four modules around every side. Do not let a frame, text or logo invade it.
A QR that scans is better than one that merely looks good.
Use these practical checks before a design goes to print.
Protect contrast
Use a dark foreground on a light background. Test glossy, coloured and low-light print surfaces physically.
Choose a sensible size
About 2 cm can work for a short dynamic URL; use 3 cm or more for denser static content or distant scanning.
Test the final artifact
Scan the exact PNG or SVG on at least two phones, then scan a real print at its final size.
Know what can change
Static content is fixed inside the QR. Use a managed dynamic code if a destination may move after printing.
Shorten dense content
Long static text and contact cards create denser patterns. Keep the content concise or print the code larger.
Do not invert the colours
Many scanners expect a darker pattern on a lighter background. Decorative inversion makes failure more likely.
Keep a test copy
Archive the exact downloaded file and its intended destination so future edits and reprints can be checked.
Raise error correction for logos
A logo covers part of the QR pattern. Use high error correction, keep the logo modest and scan-test the exported file.
Print a proof before a large run
Test one copy on the final stock, finish and lighting conditions before ordering or producing a large quantity.
Keep logos and backgrounds simple
Fine logo details, photos, textures and busy backgrounds make the pattern harder to separate and scan.