What You Will Learn
By the end of this guide, you will have created your first dynamic QR code, customized its appearance to match your brand, and tested it on a real device. No technical experience or credit card required.
Step 1: Choose Your QR Code Type
Navigate to the QRZone generator and select the type of content your QR code should link to. The most common options are:
- URL: Link to any website, landing page, or web app
- vCard: Share contact information that can be saved directly to a phone
- WiFi: Let people connect to a network by scanning -- no typing passwords
- PDF: Link to a document, menu, brochure, or spec sheet
- App Store: Deep-link to your iOS or Android app listing
Step 2: Enter Your Content
For a URL QR code, enter the full destination URL including https://. For dynamic codes, QRZone creates a short redirect URL that keeps your code simple and scannable. This also means you can change the destination later without reprinting the code.
Pro tip: Use UTM parameters on your destination URL to track QR traffic separately in Google Analytics. Example: https://yoursite.com/promo?utm_source=qr&utm_medium=print&utm_campaign=storefront
Step 3: Customize the Design
A branded QR code gets scanned 34% more often than a default black-and-white code. Customize these elements:
- Colors: Use your brand colors for the foreground. Ensure strong contrast with the background (minimum 40% difference)
- Logo: Add your logo to the center. QR codes have built-in error correction that allows up to 30% of the code to be obscured
- Eyes: Customize the three corner squares (eyes) with rounded corners or brand-matching shapes
- Frame: Add a call-to-action frame like "Scan to learn more" or "Scan for 20% off"
Step 4: Set Error Correction Level
Error correction determines how much of the code can be damaged or obscured while remaining scannable. For codes with logos or custom designs, use Level H (30% correction). For clean codes without logos, Level M (15%) is sufficient and produces a simpler pattern.
Step 5: Test Before Printing
Always test your QR code before mass printing. Test on at least 3 devices: an iPhone, an Android phone, and an older device. Test at the actual intended size and viewing distance. A code that scans perfectly at 5cm on your screen might fail when printed at 2cm on a product label.
Step 6: Download and Deploy
Download your code in the appropriate format:
- SVG: Best for print materials -- infinitely scalable without quality loss
- PNG: Best for digital use -- compatible with all platforms and email clients
- PDF: Best for sending to print vendors who need press-ready files
What Happens Next
Once your QR code is live, QRZone automatically tracks every scan. You can view scan counts, geographic distribution, device types, and time-of-day patterns in your dashboard. If you need to change the destination URL, you can do so instantly without reprinting -- that is the power of dynamic QR codes.