Photo QR code
Your photo becomes the QR code. Only the centre of each square carries the code; the rest is your picture. Your photo stays in your browser.
Tap the code on what matters most, like a face, to keep it sharpest.
Contrast and brightness
Print it at least 3 cm (1.2 in) wide, and scan it with your phone before printing many. Free downloads have a small QR Code Spot badge under the code; paid plans don't.
Print it or open it on another screen, scan it with your phone, then tell us. It helps the beta.
How it works
A phone reads a QR code by looking at the middle of each square. So each square's centre carries the code, and its edges show your photo. On top of that, the parts of the code your link doesn't use are chosen to match your picture, so far more of it shows than in a normal halftone code.
Before you can download, the code is read by two scanners in eight phone-like tests: small, blurry, with glare and with noise. If any test fails, it adds a little more "blur safety" and tries again, and download stays off until every test passes.
Photo QR is part of QR Labs, new tools in beta. For a code with your logo instead, try QR code with logo or QR Studio.
Questions
Will a photo QR code scan?
Every code is checked in eight phone-like tests before you can download it, including small, blurry and glare tests, and the download stays off until all eight pass. It's still a beta, so scan your printed code with your phone before you print many.
How small can I print it?
Print it at least 3 cm (1.2 inches) wide. Bigger is safer, especially with lots of picture detail or a busy photo. If it struggles, choose less picture detail.
Is my photo uploaded?
No. The code is made in your browser and the photo never leaves your device.
Which photos work best?
Photos with clear light and dark areas: a face against a plain background, a building against the sky, a logo. Very pale or foggy photos are harder; raise the contrast or try black and white.
Why does a short link give a sharper picture?
A QR code has room for a fixed amount of data. Whatever your link doesn't use, we choose so it matches your photo. A short link, like the ones editable codes use, leaves the most room for the picture.
Is it free?
Yes, while it's in beta. Free downloads carry a small QR Code Spot badge under the code; paid plans download a larger file without it.