QR codes can be found everywhere these days. They don’t look like much, but they can be very useful. We look at what (also creative) purposes you can use QR codes for. Want to make a QR code yourself? We explain this to you too.
QR codes were developed by a Japanese company (Denso Wave) in 1994. They were originally intended to efficiently identify car parts. This can be done quickly thanks to the codes. It is not in vain that QR stands for Quick Response. QR codes can also contain more information than traditional linear barcodes. Soon other companies discovered how useful these codes were. They have appeared in magazines and business cards around the world, at bus stops and on restaurant tables.
QR codes are now used to encode web addresses, email addresses, contact information (on vCards), geographic coordinates, phone numbers, calendar appointments and any text up to a maximum of 7000 characters. Codes are also redundant to some extent, meaning they can still be read accurately even with limited damage. Companies make good use of this to use a piece of QR code for their logo.
We probably don’t need to tell you how to scan QR codes, especially since modern smartphones can do this directly from the camera app without an external app. If you prefer to use an app, there are plenty of options. A good example is Kaspersky QR Scanner, available in both the Play Store and the App Store. This app directly checks the scanned code for potential malicious links or content. It is true that some variants of the original QR code have been developed, such as the smaller Micro QR code and long iQR codes that not all QR readers can handle yet.
Inspiration
Later in this article, we’ll take a closer look at how to generate QR codes (also in bulk), but first, let’s give you some fun ideas. Do you have a wireless guest network? Then save the invitees from manually entering the network profile. Give them their login information in the form of a QR code. You can also easily use this type of code on social media, for example for your Twitter or LinkedIn profile, as the background for your YouTube channel, or as a signature for your email messages. Or, you can hang the code on the door of your store so that your customers can easily access your web store outside of working hours.
You can also print or paste such a code on your t-shirt or hoodie. We even saw people walking around with the code for their corona ticket. There are many (online) printing houses that can print QR codes on textiles. Or you stick a QR code directly on your skin as a temporary tattoo (for example via www.etsy.com). Feel free to take inspiration from a (commercially considered) website like www.barcodeart.com for QR codes on portraits, stickers, magnets, glasses, and whatever (not) you can think of.
desktop generator
If you want to make QR codes yourself, you can choose from a variety of apps and online generators. We’ll start with a desktop app for Windows like CodeTwo QR Code Desktop Reader and Generator and Zint Barcode Studio.
First, it is very user-friendly. you just need Create mod is on and tap the message you want. The size of the QR code is automatically adjusted unless you enter it yourself. Size settings† You can save the code in png or jpg format. Note that this app doubles as a QR code reader both via screen, webcam, files and clipboard.
Zint can handle many codes. Bee symbology so you must first QR Code (ISO 18004) and enter the requested information on the General tab. Bee Appearance you can define, among other things, colors and border thickness, and in the tab QR code specify the size and margin of the error correction. You save the code as a png, eps or svg file.
online generator
If you prefer not to install an app for your QR codes, you can go online, for example, at https://qrcode-monkey.com. By the way, you can also add this tool to Chrome as an application (later chrome://apps†
At the top, you can choose from different data types such as: URL† text† email† display card† Location† Activity and wifi† Depending on your selection, custom fields will appear. Bee wifi for example this wireless SSID† password and encryption† You can adjust all kinds of colors up to gradient color. The ‘eyes’ colors (three control surfaces) can be adjusted individually. It is also possible to upload your own logo and include it in the code. Bee custom design You can adjust any other look, including the shape of the eyes. At the bottom, you can choose from a variety of templates such as: Facebook† excitement and bitcoinPress the † key. Generate QR Code To see the result of your adjustments, test the result with your smartphone before downloading the code as png, svg, pdf or eps.
Excel
You may find it helpful to generate QR codes from MS Excel. You can, but you need a free plugin. Start Excel, open the Insert tab and Find more add-ins in My Add-ins / Office Store† Faucet QR hit the search bar and Add Bee QR4Officeconfirm with † To get on† The QR4Office window should now appear. You can always open this My Plugins†
The process is simple. Specify which data type you want (http://† https://† mail† SMS† to count† geographical: and tradition) and tap or paste the text into the field. Bee Options you can adjust the color and size as well as the error correction level. Move the cursor to the desired cell and confirm with . sting†
Batch Processing (online)
Maybe you are hosting an event for your school or club where you want to provide a special QR code to all attendees. Then it’s good to use a tool that lets you generate codes in bulk. You can find one at https://qrexplore.com/generate where you can generate up to 100 codes for free and without registration. You fill or paste the text into the window, starting it on a new line for each code. If it’s about increasing numbers, it’s best to work through it. Automatically Generate Numeric Codes†
Make sure you open the . Configurable Options, because here you will find all kinds of settings with which you can further specify QR codes. Also here you can enter the desired structure such as error correction level and number of block pixels and specify its output (png, jpg, svg and eps).
By default, the web application generates filenames based on what you enter on each line. put a checkmark treat as CSV, then you specify the generated filenames yourself. All you have to do is enter the filename, separated by a comma after each line of text, like this: Toon van Daele, nr3† Files can be downloaded as a zip archive.
Is programming your thing and JSON means something to you? Then you can use RapidAPI’s QR Code API for free, including various design options such as colors and logo. You can start at https://kwikr.nl/qrlogo. You can find useful feedback on https://kwikr.nl/qrapi.
Batch Processing (Offline)
The free SimpleCodeGenerator is a great opportunity if you prefer to keep the generation of codes in batches in your own hands. You can find it at www.nirsoft.net/utils/qr_code_generator.html. This site also contains a Dutch language file that you extract to the same folder.
The app has a graphical interface, but you’ll have to do it from the command prompt as we generate the codes in bulk. First of all, write the text of each code on a separate line, for example in a txt file. codetext.txt† You create the following batch file with the extension in the SimpleCodeGenerator program folder with your notebook. bat or cmd (ie no txt file):
@Echo off
setlocal enable extensions enableddelayedextension
/a set counter = 0
/f for “tokens=*” (codetext.txt) %%A do (
set /a counter += 1
simple code generator /save “%%A” “qr-!counter!.png”
†
local
When you run this batch file, a QR code in png format is automatically generated for each line of text. qr-1.png† qr-2.png and such.
If you only want to generate one or at most a few QR codes, you can also use SimpleCodeGenerator without the batch file. The command might then look like this:
simple code generator / demonstration”
and the corresponding QR code will appear.
If your message contains several lines of text, separate them with: \r\nas:
simple code generator / demonstration”
If you’ve really created a set of QR codes in bulk, you now have a solid stock of png or jpg files. Do you want to quickly and beautifully print these QR codes on paper? You can do this job from a photo editing tool or your favorite word processor. It can be done much faster than Explorer. By the way, you can also apply this trick to other images.
Navigate to the folder containing the QR codes with Explorer and select all the image files you want. Right click on your selection and select Print† application Print pictures is displayed, and all you have to do is select the printer, paper size, and one of the available print types, such as the following. Purse (nine images per page) or Print Summary (35 pictures). Confirm your selections with Print†
