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How to create a QR code
QR codes are small, pixellated black and white squares that work in a similar way to barcodes.
They can contain any information you like. Most QR codes are used to store website addresses and contact details.
QR codes can be 'scanned' by most smartphones with cameras – including iPhones, Android devices and BlackBerries. They've become widely used on adverts, packaging and more.
To learn more about QR codes, read our introduction to QR codes.
How to create QR codes
There are lots of different ways to create QR codes. We’ve chosen the QR Code Generator from the ZXing Project, because it’s nice and easy to use.
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Go to the QR Code Generator web page. |
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Use the Contents box to choose what sort of information you want your QR code to contain. For this example, choose Contact information. |
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Fill in the details you want your QR code to hold. Although you can enter as much or as little information as you like, including less information will result in a QR code which is easier to scan. |
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Choose the Barcode size you want. You can experiment with this to get the right size for your own application. If you’re not sure what size to use, choose large. You can always make the QR code smaller later on, if you need to. |
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Click Generate and after a few seconds your QR code will appear on the screen: |
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(You can snap it with your mobile phone at this point to check it works.)
To save your QR code as a file on your computer, move your mouse pointer over it and click the right mouse button. A menu will open – click the relevant option with the left mouse button, depending on your web browser:
- In Microsoft Internet Explorer, click Save picture as
- In Firefox or Google Chrome, click Save image as
A standard Save as... window will open, allowing you to choose a location for the file on your computer.
Once you’ve saved the QR code, you can use it wherever you like: business cards, posters, adverts, your website, signs – it’s up to you!
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Read about using QR codes for mobile marketing on the Marketing Donut.
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Comments
I think QR codes should be on business cards, as a means of linking that analog form with the digital form that it's destined to be used with. "Here's my card" Thanks! *scan* Now i've got all your details on my phone, you have your card back, we cut less trees down and I have less junk in my wallet. Plus you can obviously have much more info on a QR code than on a business card. How about a link to your entire portfolio? Audio, video, other medias?
Business cards are so 2d, analogue and just a bit old fashioned. I can't wait to see QR codes everywhere.
@youscan.me: Neat, thanks for sharing it. However, the code I generated just resolved to a bit.ly address - which I'd be a bit nervous about putting on my own business cards (for instance). Any plans to add extra features - like encoding my own URL into the QR code?
@edcliffe: Yes - but not just how to fill in a form. We've also covered where to go to create a QR code, how to fill in the form (I'll give you that!), and how to save the resulting code onto your computer. I think that's worth a short article.
Hello,
we believe that QR codes will make the connection between offline and online worlds easier. That's why we created our QR code generator with social features YouScan.me - http://www.youscan.me. You can add all your info like Facebook profile or fan page, twitter, youtube, etc. and connect with others.
Cheers
How To Fill In A Form, by the IT Donut
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