Overview
Turns text, a URL, or any short string into a QR code you can download as a PNG raster or an SVG vector, with control over size and the foreground and background colours.
How It Works
Type into the QR Code Data field and the code renders immediately. Size sets the pixel dimensions of the raster output, and the colour controls set foreground and background. Download PNG gives you an image for slides or a web page, while Download SVG gives you a vector that stays sharp at any print size, which is the one to use for anything going to a printer.
Step-by-Step Usage Guide
- Enter the URL or text to encode.
- Set the size, and adjust foreground and background colours if needed.
- Download as PNG for screens, or SVG for print.
- Scan the result with a real phone camera before publishing it.
Technical Specifications & Standards
QR codes carry error correction, so part of the symbol can be damaged or obscured and still decode, which is why logos can sit in the centre of some codes. The practical constraints are contrast and quiet zone. Scanners locate the symbol by finding high-contrast modules, so a dark foreground on a light background decodes far more reliably than an inverted or low-contrast pairing, and the blank margin around the code is part of the specification rather than decoration. Longer data also means denser modules, so a long URL full of tracking parameters produces a finer grid that needs more physical size or a closer camera.
Targeted Use Cases
- Putting a link to a page on a slide, poster, or business card.
- Sharing a Wi-Fi join string or app download link at an event.
- Generating a code for a printed label that needs exact dimensions as SVG.
- Adding a scannable link to documentation or packaging.
Notes & Gotchas
- Always test-scan the downloaded file with an actual phone, not just the on-screen preview.
- Keep the foreground dark and the background light. Inverted and low-contrast codes fail on many scanners.
- Preserve the quiet zone. Cropping tight to the modules breaks detection.
- Shorten long URLs before encoding, because less data means larger modules and a more forgiving scan.
- Use SVG for print. A PNG scaled up for a poster scans unreliably at the edges.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the PNG and SVG download?
PNG is a fixed-resolution raster suited to screens. SVG is a vector that scales to any size without losing edge definition, which matters for print.
Do the codes expire or get tracked?
No. The data is encoded directly into the image, so there is no redirect service involved and nothing to expire or count scans.
Can I put a logo in the middle?
Not in this tool. Error correction often tolerates a small central overlay, but you would add it in an image editor and re-test the scan.
Is the encoded data sent anywhere?
No. The code is generated in your browser, so private URLs are never exposed.