Customizing Design

Create beautiful, branded Qlink - QR Codesthat not only represent your business professionally but also scan reliably across all devices. This guide covers everything from basic color choices to advanced customization techniques.

Design Fundamentals

The Science of Scannable Design

QR codes work through contrast detection. The scanner differentiates between light and dark areas to decode the information. This means:

High contrast = Better scanning
Consistent patterns = More reliable
Clear boundaries = Faster recognition
Adequate size = Universal compatibility

Essential Design Principles

Contrast First: Always prioritize scannability over aesthetics
Brand Integration: Incorporate your brand without compromising function
Test Extensively: Beautiful designs mean nothing if they don’t scan
Mobile Optimization: 70%+ of scans happen on mobile devices
Print Consideration: What looks good on screen must work in print

Color Guidelines

High-Contrast Combinations

Best Performing Color Combinations:

Foreground	Background	Reliability	Use Case
Black	White	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Universal, highest reliability
Dark Blue (#141f46)	White	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Rytinco brand colors
Dark Green	Light Green	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Environmental/organic brands
Purple	Light Gray	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Luxury/premium brands
Navy	Cream	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Professional/corporate

Colors to Avoid

Poor Scanning Combinations:

❌ Yellow on White: Insufficient contrast
❌ Light Blue on White: Poor mobile scanning
❌ Orange on Red: Color blindness issues
❌ Gray on Gray: Contrast too low
❌ Neon Colors: Often distort on print

Brand Color Integration

How to Use Your Brand Colors Effectively:

Primary Brand Color as Foreground: Use your main brand color for the QR pattern
Complementary Background: Choose a light contrasting background
Logo in Brand Colors: Keep your logo in original brand colors
Test Print Colors: CMYK printing may shift colors

Logo Integration

Logo Best Practices

Optimal Logo Specifications:

Format: PNG with transparent background
Resolution: Minimum 300 DPI for print
Placement: Center (automatically optimized)
Colors: Maintain original brand colors

Logo Preparation Tips

Prepare Your Logo for QR Codes:

Simplify Complex Logos: Remove fine details that won’t show at small sizes
High Contrast: Ensure logo contrasts with QR code background
Square Format: Square or circular logos work best
Vector Preferred: SVG format scales perfectly at any size
Transparent Background: Allows QR pattern to show through

Shape and Style Options

QR Code Patterns

Different Visual Styles:

Classic Square Pattern

Traditional black squares
Highest compatibility
Best for professional use

Rounded Corners

Softer, more modern appearance
Good scanning reliability
Popular for consumer brands

Circular Dots

Unique, artistic appearance
Slightly lower scanning speed
Great for creative industries

Frame and Border Options

Enhance Your Qlink - QR Code with Frames:

Clean Border: Simple white border (recommended 4-6 pixel minimum)
Branded Frame: Include your company name or message
Call-to-Action Frame: “Scan for Menu” or “Scan for Discount”

Size and Resolution Guidelines

Minimum Size Requirements

Platform-Specific Minimums:

Use Case	Minimum Size	Recommended Size	Notes
Business Cards	15mm x 15mm	20mm x 20mm	Test extensively
Flyers/Posters	20mm x 20mm	30mm x 30mm	Account for viewing distance
Banners/Billboards	50mm x 50mm	100mm+ x 100mm+	Scale with viewing distance
Digital Screens	150px x 150px	300px x 300px	Consider screen resolution
Mobile Displays	200px x 200px	400px x 400px	Ensure touch accessibility

Resolution Standards

Print vs Digital Requirements:

For Print Materials:

Standard: 300 DPI minimum
Professional: 600 DPI for best results
Large Format: 150 DPI acceptable for billboards
Format: Vector (SVG) preferred, high-res PNG acceptable

For Digital Use:

Web: 72-96 DPI sufficient
Retina Displays: 2x resolution for crisp appearance
Format: PNG or SVG recommended
Optimization: Balance file size with quality

Advanced Customization

Gradient and Special Effects

Use with Caution:

Acceptable Effects:

✅ Subtle drop shadows
✅ Light gradient backgrounds
✅ Simple borders and frames
✅ Watermark-style background patterns

Avoid These Effects:

❌ Heavy gradients on QR pattern
❌ Complex background patterns
❌ Transparency effects
❌ 3D or beveled effects

Custom Background Patterns

Enhance Without Interfering:

Subtle Textures: Light, non-distracting patterns
Brand Elements: Faded logos or patterns in background
Geometric Patterns: Simple shapes that don’t interfere
Color Gradients: Subtle transitions in background only

Testing and Optimization

Comprehensive Testing Protocol

Test Every Design Change:

Multiple Devices: iPhone, Android, tablets
Different Apps: Native camera, QR apps, third-party scanners
Various Conditions: Bright light, dim light, different angles
Print Quality: Test actual printed versions
Distance Testing: Near and far scanning distances

A/B Testing Designs

Optimize Performance Through Testing:

Test Variables:

Color combinations
Logo size and placement
QR pattern styles
Frame designs
Size variations

Metrics to Monitor:

Scan success rate
Time to scan
User engagement post-scan
Conversion rates
User feedback

Industry-Specific Design Tips

Restaurant and Food Service

Design Considerations:

Clean, appetizing colors (avoid colors that suggest poor hygiene)
Easy-to-clean materials for table-tent printing
Readable in dim lighting (many restaurants have ambient lighting)
Moisture resistance for kitchen environments

Retail and E-commerce

Design Focus:

Brand consistency with existing marketing materials
High contrast for various retail lighting conditions
Professional appearance to build trust
Size flexibility for various product packaging

Events and Entertainment

Special Requirements:

High visibility in crowded environments
Fast scanning for quick queue movement
Durable materials for outdoor events
Creative designs that match event theming

Real Estate

Professional Standards:

Sophisticated design reflecting property quality
Weather resistance for outdoor signage
Premium materials matching market positioning
Clear branding for agent identification

Technical Implementation

File Format Recommendations

Choose the Right Format:

Format	Best For	Advantages	Limitations
SVG	Professional printing	Infinite scalability, small file size	Limited editing options
PNG	General use	Wide compatibility, transparency support	Fixed resolution
JPG	Web use only	Small file size	No transparency, quality loss

Color Space Considerations

Print vs Digital Color Management:

For Print (CMYK):

Colors may shift from screen to print
Test print samples before large runs
Use CMYK-safe colors when possible
Account for paper type affecting colors

For Digital (RGB):

Consistent across digital displays
Brighter, more vibrant colors possible
Standard for web and mobile use
Direct screen-to-scanner scanning

Pro Design Tips

Professional Design Secrets

Hierarchy of Importance: Scannability > Brand > Aesthetics
Consistent Spacing: Maintain equal white space around QR code
Test Early and Often: Don’t wait until final design to test
Keep Backups: Save working versions before experimenting
Documentation: Record what works for future projects

Common Design Mistakes

Avoid These Pitfalls:

❌ Over-designing: Prioritizing looks over functionality
❌ Insufficient Testing: Not testing across devices/conditions
❌ Poor Contrast: Sacrificing scannability for brand colors
❌ Ignoring Context: Not considering where Qlink - QR Code will be used

Budget-Friendly Design Tips

Professional Results Without High Costs:

Simple Color Schemes: Two-color designs often work best
Batch Processing: Create multiple designs with same template
Test Before Printing: Avoid costly reprints

Next Steps

Ready to Create Stunning Qlink - QR Code designs?

Start Designing: Apply these principles to your next Qlink Track Performance: Monitor which designs perform best A/B Testing: Experiment with different approaches Team Training: Share best practices with your team Expert Help: Contact our design team for assistance

Beautiful design and reliable scanning aren’t mutually exclusive. With the right approach, your Qlink - QR Codes can be both stunning and highly functional.