QR codes, short for Quick Response Codes, are two-dimensional barcodes that can hold much more information than the one-dimensional barcodes that you see on products in your grocery store. They can be scanned with smartphones and other mobile devices to link to websites, videos, business contact info, customer order forms, reviews or even special offers. With Adobe Express, it’s free and easy to create and generate quality QR code images for your marketing campaigns, printed brochures, product listings and more.
You can create a QR code from any photo or other image you have on your computer. Just open the image in a free online image editor, then select the QR code options. Choose the type of content you want your QR code to link to, then enter the URL and select a size. You can also add a logo and change the color of your QR code to make it more visually appealing.
The most popular method for creating a QR code involves using a web browser’s built-in features. For example, Google Chrome on both iOS and Android includes a free QR code generator as part of its Share system. You can access the feature by tapping the icon that looks like a square with an arrow pointing upward (Figure A).
Other apps that provide a similar functionality include QR Scanner by Vevy Europe-S.P.A, available on Apple App Store and Google Play. In the desktop version of Adobe Illustrator and InDesign, you can also use a free, third-party QR code generator, such as QRbot (Figure B).
When generating a QR code, it’s important to choose a format that suits how you plan on using it. For example, high resolution settings work well for print and other physical uses. Some generators can save your QR code as a file for different platforms, including PDF and SVG (Figure C). You should also consider whether the mobile page you’re linking to will offer a good mobile experience for consumers.
Another thing to keep in mind is that a QR code won’t be effective if people can’t read it. If you’re using a QR code for marketing purposes, include clear, concise call-to-action text with it to motivate people to scan it. For instance, “Scan to Watch Trailer”, “Scan to Follow on Instagram” and other enticing calls to action can increase the likelihood that people will actually take the time to scan your code.
To maximize your marketing potential, be sure to place your QR code in places that will be visible to a large audience. Avoid placing it on moving vehicles, billboards that are too high off the ground or in locations where access to mobile internet is limited (e.g., in flight magazines and subway stations). You should also test your code to ensure it’s working correctly before going into mass printing runs or distributing it widely. create qr code