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QR Code & Marketing Utilities
A QR code is quick to make and easy to get slightly wrong: too small, too little contrast, or too much content, and phones struggle to scan it. This guide shows how to create a static QR code with the DevMeldex QR Generator and how to choose settings that scan reliably.
Make a code as you read:
Open the QR Generator →The preview updates as you type. The downloaded PNG includes a 12-pixel quiet zone on each side, so at the largest size it is 536 × 536 pixels.
A static QR code stores your content directly in the pattern. It never expires and works without any server, but you can't change it after printing. The DevMeldex QR Generator makes static codes.
A dynamic QR code stores a short link to a service that redirects to your destination. You can change the destination and count scans, but the code depends on that service: if it closes or a subscription ends, the redirect may stop working.
Error correction adds redundancy so a code still scans when part of it is dirty, damaged or covered. Higher levels are more robust but hold less content and make the pattern denser:
| Level | Can recover | Max plain-text characters |
|---|---|---|
| Low (L) | up to 7% | 2,953 |
| Medium (M) | up to 15% | 2,331 |
| Quartile (Q) | up to 25% | 1,663 |
| High (H) | up to 30% | 1,273 |
The character limits are what this generator accepts for plain text such as URLs. Short content gives a simpler pattern that is easier to scan, so keep URLs short where you can. Medium is a sensible default; choose Quartile or High for codes that may get worn or partly covered.
For print, test the code at its final size before a large run. A 536-pixel PNG is enough for screens, flyers and small signs, but it may look soft if you enlarge it a lot for a poster.
Dark modules on a light background scan most reliably. Light-on-dark (inverted) codes and low-contrast colour pairs fail on some scanners, which is why the generator defaults to dark on white. If you use brand colours, keep the foreground much darker than the background and test with several phones.
The generator encodes exactly the text you enter. Phones recognise some formats and offer an action, such as opening a link or joining a network:
Website: https://example.com/menu Email: mailto:[email protected] Phone: tel:+441234567890 Wi-Fi: WIFI:T:WPA;S:mynetwork;P:mypass;;
In the Wi-Fi format, T is the security type (WEP, WPA or nopass), S the network name and P the password. Anyone who scans a Wi-Fi code can read the password, so only share it where that is acceptable.
A static code can't count scans, but your analytics can count visits if the URL carries UTM parameters, for example ?utm_source=poster&utm_medium=qr&utm_campaign=spring_menu. Build the URL with the UTM Builder, then turn it into a QR code. The UTM parameters guide explains how GA4 reports a medium such as qr.
The code is generated in your browser, so the content you enter is not sent to a server. That matters for internal links, private documents and Wi-Fi details you would rather not share with a third-party service.
Keep the content short, use Medium error correction or higher for printed codes, stick to dark on light, and scan a test print before you publish. Static codes keep working for as long as the content they point to does.
Use the free QR Generator to make a static code in your browser, with no sign-up.
Try QR Generator →Explore more privacy-first browser tools for developers, marketers, and creators. All tools work instantly with no sign-up or server uploads required.