Start with the viewing position
A size that works on a business card can fail on a poster across a lobby. Begin by standing where a person will actually scan. Think about whether they can stop, hold the camera steadily and see the whole code without reflections. As a rough starting point, scanning distance is about ten times the code width: a code ten centimetres wide might suit a distance around one metre. This is a design heuristic, not a camera specification or guarantee. Test the real arrangement.
Close-range codes need breathing room
Around two by two centimetres is a practical minimum starting point for a simple close-range code. A dense vCard, long URL, logo or textured stock may need substantially more space. The important unit is the module, the smallest square in the pattern. Adding more information or error correction can increase the number of modules. At a fixed physical width that shrinks each module and asks more of the printer, camera and lighting. Avoid assuming all codes of equal width are equally easy to read.
Keep four clear modules on every side
The quiet zone separates the code from surrounding graphics. Preserve at least four modules of clear space on all four sides. QRForever includes this margin in its exports. Do not crop it away to fit a tight layout, and do not let a border, caption or nearby text intrude into it. When comparing physical sizes, distinguish the actual patterned square from the total image including the quiet zone and any caption. A wide white border is useful even when it feels less visually compact.
Choose artwork the printer can preserve
SVG is a good format for print because the modules remain vector shapes when scaled in a compatible workflow. A PNG has a fixed pixel grid. Export at a large enough resolution for the final print size, and avoid repeated resizing or compression through messaging apps. Keep module edges sharp, especially for small labels. Do not stretch the artwork to a different aspect ratio. If your layout software rasterises SVG during export, review the final PDF or printer proof rather than relying on the original vector file alone.
Surfaces and lighting matter
A flat matte area is the safest starting point. Glossy laminate can reflect a ceiling light into the camera, while foil and metallic ink can change contrast as the viewing angle moves. Curved bottles, seams, folds and crumpled packaging distort the grid. Transparent labels need an appropriate plain underprint so the product behind them does not become part of the pattern. Outdoor signs need material that stays legible after rain, dust and sunlight. Leave enough room to replace a damaged label without covering the quiet zone of its replacement.
Approve a physical scan test
Print one sample at the exact final size and on the intended surface. Test several phones at the normal distance and angle, including a slightly older device if your audience is broad. Try the lighting conditions expected at the site, and verify the page or payload that opens. Make the code larger if recognition is slow or requires repeated repositioning. A successful scan on a bright monitor is not a substitute for a print proof. Put a short readable address or contact route beside important codes so visitors still have a useful fallback.
Before your next print
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