QR Code PNG: How to Create a QR Code in PNG Format

Apoorva Hedge
Last Updated: October 22, 2020

Popular marketing campaigns are adorned with QR Codes to elevate user experience, redirect footfall from offline to online stores, and vice versa, and distribute added information about the campaign.

Think of Taco Bell’s QR Code campaign or the popular Sephora campaign outside their flagship stores in Milan.

With that said, the QR Code formats used for these popular campaigns were different from one another.

Was it QR Code PNG, QR Code Vector, or QR Code EPS? Do you know each campaign requires a different QR Code format to be downloaded for a marketing campaign to run smoothly?

In this blog post, let’s talk all about QR Code PNG and how to use it.

What is QR Code PNG?

QR Code PNG is nothing but a type of image format when downloading an image on a smartphone or a computer.

PNG, or Portable Network Graphic, contains a bitmap compressed with lossless compression similar to a .GIF file. QR Code PNGs are usually used for digital art, flat images, and graphic images.

QR Code PNGs are resolution-dependent, which means that the image loses quality when the size is increased.

QR Code PNGs cannot be used for large surfaces. They are ideal for vCards, digital images, and small-sized print media.

How to create a QR Code PNG?

To create a QR Code PNG,

1. Choose an online QR Code generator

To begin with, choose a free online QR Code generator such as the Free QR Code Generator.

2. Pick a QR Code type

Choose from the myriad of QR Code types available in the dashboard – URL, PDF, vCard, or SMS.

3. Customize the QR Code

Fill in the details and customize the QR Code

Fill in the required information in the box and customize the QR Code. Change its eyes, pattern, the color of the template, add a logo, or even a background image to align with your brand.

4. Test the QR Code

Before downloading the QR Code, generate and test the QR Code to see if it works correctly or not. If not, try going back to the previous steps and modify the QR Code.

5. Download QR Code PNG

Now, download the QR Code in PNG format and export it to your marketing campaigns.

Learn about the best QR Code scanners for iPhone and iPad in this blog post.

When can QR Code PNG be exported?

As aforesaid, QR Code PNGs are resolution-dependent, which means that they cannot be sized up more than their minimal size (2 cm x 2 cm); else, they lose their resolution, making it unscannable.

QR Code PNGs can be used for –

1. vCard QR Code

vCard QR Code is a type of QR Code that can be embedded on a physical business card that helps users save contact information instantly. A physical business card does not have the real estate to include your business’s detailed information, such as website, portfolio, display picture, and supporting links.

A vCard QR Code, when scanned, can redirect the user to a webpage or a landing page containing detailed information about your business in one single scan.

Since vCards are small in size, the QR Code embedded in them is of the QR Code PNG.

To create a vCard QR Code,

Go to Free QR Code generator
Select vCard QR Code
Fill in the details – name, contact number, URL, social media handle, and location
Customize the QR Code
Generate and test the QR Code
Download the QR Code in QR Code PNG format

2. QR Code image or digital images

If you want to include a QR Code image on your digital marketing campaigns, QR Code PNG is the preferred format.

A QR Code PNG for a digital image can be used to integrate with social media campaigns, have a transparent background for an image to be exported into another image editing software, or store web graphics.

QR Code PNG is widely used for digital images, especially on the web, for saving photos and illustrations.

A QR Code PNG is preferred for digital images since this format has built-in transparency and is capable of displaying higher color depths, which translates to millions of colors.

3. Consumer Packaging Goods (CPG)

CPG or Consumer Packaging Goods typically have tiny QR Codes printed on their packaging to redirect the user to a website, impart loyalty coupons, or even bridge the gap between the consumer and the brand.

The QR Code printed on the packaging does not exceed the minimum size of the QR Code, and thus, QR Code PNG is deemed the ideal format.

QR Code PNG formats can shrink incredibly tiny sizes – especially images that are simple colors, text, or shapes, making it the perfect QR Code format for CPGs.

Tip – Do not use QR Code PNG when working with photos or artwork. Although a QR Code PNG can handle color depth, they cannot be sized up since it is a lossless web format and loses its resolution.

Use QR Code PNG only for small print media campaigns. QR Code PNGs can be optimized for the screen.

Some of the most popular QR Code PNG formats are –

WhatsApp QR Code
Instagram QR Code
Snapchat QR Code
Burger King’s QR Code Whopper campaign
Spotify QR Code
Amazon Go QR Code

Kickstart your marketing campaign by downloading the right QR Code format

QR Codes have catapulted in the wake of the pandemic and are ubiquitous. Since most smartphones are equipped with a native QR Code scanner, QR Codes have been a colossal hit amongst most industry verticals and age groups of all kinds.

A QR Code campaign can be used to track campaigns, divulge information, improve ROI, and increase brand awareness.

Make use of QR Code PNG in your marketing mix – including tickets, wristbands, and digital campaigns, to help you achieve the desired results and enhance your brand KPIs.

Stay ahead of the competition by downloading the right QR Code format for your marketing campaign to garner higher sales and amplify brand awareness.