Size, file type and viewing distance before a QR goes to print

A tight matrix or a cramped margin fails in the camera even when the layout looks finished. Run these checks first.

How large the square should be

Plan the side of the code at roughly one tenth of the distance people will scan from. A counter display needs a bigger square than a card held in the hand.

Which file to export

Send PNG when the code goes into a chat or a social post. Choose SVG when the same mark will sit on a banner or a press sheet. qr-free.online offers both downloads.

Clear margin

Text and ornaments that touch the edge hide the finder patterns, and the phone misses the code. Leave an empty band around the matrix.

Checks before the press run

Side length fits the scan distance
Empty margin stays untouched
Modules stand out from the background
A real phone already scanned it
PNG or SVG matches the carrier