# QR — Tips & Tricks

> Strategy and pitfalls for QR codes: choosing error correction, the quiet zone, contrast, logo forces High, SVG vs raster, and always test on a real device.

Source: https://www.jpkc.com/db/en/tools/qr/tips/

Back to overview: [QR](https://www.jpkc.com/db/en/tools/qr/) · Open the live tool: [www.jpkc.com/tools/qr/](https://www.jpkc.com/tools/qr/)

Generating a QR code is quick — making sure it scans under real conditions is the actual craft. This page collects what matters. The technical background is in the [manual](https://www.jpkc.com/db/en/tools/qr/manual/).

## Choosing the right error correction

The **Error Correction** level (L/M/Q/H) is the biggest lever for robustness — and a trade-off:

- **Higher level = more redundancy, but a denser code.** H (~30%) survives dirt, creases and a logo; L (~7%) packs more content into a smaller code but is fragile.
- **Rule of thumb:** display and clean print → **M**. Print on paper, small codes, rough environments → **Q** or **H**.
- **With a logo the choice is made for you:** the moment you set a center image, the tool forces **H** and locks the field. That's deliberate, because the logo covers modules.

## Don't forget the margin: the quiet zone

The default **Margin** is 0 — fine for screen only, often too little for scanning. By spec, a QR code needs a **calm, light area of at least four modules** all around so the scanner can separate it from its surroundings. A missing or skimpy quiet zone is one of the most common reasons codes fail to scan in the field. So set **Margin** to a noticeable value, or place the code in your layout with plenty of whitespace.

## Contrast decides whether it scans

QR scanners need clear light-dark contrast:

- **Dark dots on a light background** is the safe standard. The inverse (light dots on a dark background) works on many but not all devices — risky for print.
- With **gradients** and colored dots, make sure even the *lightest* point of the gradient still stands out clearly against the background.
- A **transparent background** looks good in a layout but shifts responsibility for contrast onto the surface — check the code on the actual material.

## Logo: less is more

A logo turns the code into a brand, but every covered module costs robustness:

- Keep **Image Size** around 30–40% rather than pushing the maximum (60%).
- Leave **Hide dots behind image** on — it clears the modules under the logo cleanly.
- With a logo the tool forces **H**; don't rely on that blindly — **test the code on several devices**.

## SVG vs PNG/JPEG/WebP

Pick the export format by use:

- **SVG** — lossless vector, scales freely, first choice for print and layout. Via **Copy SVG** it even goes straight into HTML or a design file.
- **PNG / WebP** — raster formats with transparency; good for the web. **Size** sets the pixel resolution.
- **JPEG** — raster format **without** transparency. A transparent background gets filled — rarely the best choice for QR codes.

## Keep the content short

The more data, the higher the required QR version and the denser (and harder to scan) the code. Practical consequences:

- **Shorten URLs** instead of dragging along long tracking parameters.
- For a **vCard**, fill only the fields you really need.
- If a long text still won't fit comfortably, lower the error correction as a test — or split the content differently.

## Use the circle shape deliberately

The **QR Shape: Circle** option crops the code into a circle. It looks good but trims the usable area — the actual code sits in the inscribed square. So pair the circular shape with higher error correction and test especially thoroughly.

## Always test on a real device

The live preview shows what the code looks like — not whether *your* audience can scan it. Before any release or print:

- test with **several phones** (iOS and Android) using each native camera,
- for **printed** codes, scan a proof at **real size**,
- mind the **scan distance** and lighting under which the code will actually be read.

## Combine with other JPKCom tools

- **[Cryptor (AES-256)](https://www.jpkc.com/db/en/tools/cryptor/)** — produce a short ciphertext and pass it on as a QR code; transmit the password separately.
- **[Password & key generator](https://www.jpkc.com/db/en/tools/generator/)** — produce a strong string to distribute as QR content.
- **[Graphics tools](https://www.jpkc.com/db/en/tools/graphic/)** — get a logo to the right size and format before using it as a center image.

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The full reference is in the [manual](https://www.jpkc.com/db/en/tools/qr/manual/), concrete walk-throughs in the [examples](https://www.jpkc.com/db/en/tools/qr/examples/). You can try it all in the [tool](https://www.jpkc.com/tools/qr/).