QR print preflight checklist
- Confirm the final destination, phone action, payment payload, or contact data before exporting.
- Use at least 2 cm / 0.8 in for close-range print, and scale up for posters, windows, and signage.
- Keep a four-module quiet zone clear on every side of the QR code.
- Use a dark foreground on a light background with strong contrast.
- Avoid filters, shadows, transparency, low-opacity overlays, and busy image backgrounds behind modules.
- Place the code away from folds, trim lines, curved edges, and reflective glare.
- Scan the exported artwork from the expected distance on iOS and Android.
- Print a proof at final size before ordering a large run.
- Archive the QR master file with the campaign artwork and destination notes.
QR print preflight decisions
| Check | Pass condition | Failure to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Final size | Large enough for the expected scan distance | Tiny codes on posters, menus, packaging, or glossy labels |
| Quiet zone | Clear margin around every side of the code | Artwork, borders, stickers, or cut lines touching the modules |
| Contrast | Dark foreground on a light, non-busy background | Low-contrast brand colors, transparency, shadows, or photo textures |
| Logo and styling | Simple center logo with high error correction | Large logos, filters, rounded modules, or edits that hide too much data |
| Export format | Vector master for print production | Screenshots, compressed assets, or scaled-up low-resolution PNG files |
Preflight before production
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Generate the final asset
Create the QR code with the exact payload, colors, logo, error correction level, and export format you plan to use.
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Place it in artwork
Keep the quiet zone clear, lock the size, and avoid effects that blur or distort the QR modules.
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Scan the proof
Test the exported file and one physical proof from realistic angles, lighting, and distances before production.