Getting started

Test your code before you print

A few minutes of checking saves a reprint. Before you send artwork to print:

1. Scan it from the screen with two different phones, an iPhone and an Android if you can. Each phone's camera app should show the link and open your page.
2. Print a test copy at the real size, then scan it from the distance people will be standing.
3. Check the scan arrived. Your test scans appear under the code's stats within a few seconds. If nothing appears, the code isn't reaching us.

Size

As a rule of thumb, make the code at least one tenth of the scanning distance across:

Bigger is always easier to scan. Use the SVG download for print, because it stays sharp at any size.

Contrast and colours

• Dark dots on a light background scan best.
• The builder warns you when the contrast is too low, or when the colours are the wrong way round (light dots on a dark background). Some phones can't read those.
• A transparent background takes on the colour of whatever it's printed on. Check that colour is light enough.

The quiet zone

The plain margin around the code is called the quiet zone, and scanners need it. Keep it at the standard 4. If your design puts the code inside a box or a frame, leave clear space around it.

Logos and words in the middle

A logo or word covers part of the pattern. The builder adds extra error correction to make up for it. Keep the logo at the default size or smaller, and test-scan it.