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What resolution a printed QR code needs to scan
A QR code that will not scan is often not drawn wrong but printed at a size and resolution that do not match. This piece covers size, quiet zone and material to avoid the common scannability traps.
· By Zhou Tong
Article
When a QR code will not scan, the pattern itself is often fine — the print size and the resolution simply do not match. Looking at the three together sharply reduces rework and reprints.
Decide the size first, then the resolution
The smaller the modules, the more print precision they need; enlarge the code enough and even a low resolution scans.
Material scanned from a distance needs a larger code — raising the resolution alone will not carry it.
The quiet zone and contrast matter just as much
The quiet zone around a QR code has to be wide enough, or nearby graphics interfere with the position patterns.
Once a dark code on a light background loses contrast, a phone camera struggles to lock on and scanning slows noticeably.
What different materials teach you
Paper flyers, roll-up banners and packaging bags tolerate ink spread very differently.
Printing a small proof before the full run is more reliable than zooming in on a screen.
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