You already know how big your QR code needs to be - that is the 10:1 sizing rule covered in our QR Code Print Size Guide. What this guide covers is everything after that decision: how to hand a file to a professional printer and get a scannable result back.
PNG vs SVG: Which File to Send the Printer
PNG is a raster format - it stores your QR code as a fixed grid of pixels. If your printer scales a 500×500 PNG up to 12 inches wide, each pixel spreads into a visible block. The QR code looks blurry and the module edges lose definition. Cameras need sharp edges to decode the pattern. A blurry print is an unscannable print.
SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) stores the QR code as mathematical line equations. The printer renders those equations at the target physical size - 1 inch, 12 inches, 48 inches - and every edge stays perfectly sharp. There is no loss of quality at any scale.
Rule: always send the printer an SVG file. Download it from our Free QR Code Generator by clicking the SVG button. If your printer says they cannot use SVG, ask them to import it into Adobe Illustrator or Inkscape and export as EPS - that preserves sharpness.
DPI: What It Actually Means and What to Tell Your Print Shop
DPI (dots per inch) is a property of raster images (PNG, JPG), not vectors. When you hand a printer an SVG, DPI is irrelevant - the print shop rasterizes it to their press output resolution automatically.
If for any reason you must use a PNG (laser-engraved items, some embroidery workflows), generate it at the correct size from the start:
- Business cards and flyers: 300 DPI minimum. A 1-inch code on a business card needs at least 300×300 pixels.
- Posters and signs: 150-200 DPI at the final physical size is sufficient - the code is large enough that module edges remain sharp.
- Digital-only (screens, PDFs): 96-150 DPI at the display size.
Never scale a PNG up after generating it. If you need a larger output, regenerate at the larger pixel size.
Glossy Paper, Laminate, and Reflective Surfaces
Glossy paper creates specular reflection - a bright glare spot that moves as the user tilts the page. If that glare spot lands on one of the three corner finder squares of your QR code, the camera cannot locate the code boundary and scanning fails.
Practical steps to prevent glare failure:
- Prefer matte lamination over gloss lamination on any printed material that will be scanned.
- If gloss is required for brand reasons, place the QR code on a panel angled slightly away from the dominant light source - for restaurant menus, this means the back panel, not the front cover.
- On outdoor signage under direct sun, use a matte anti-glare laminate certified for UV exposure.
The 4-Step Print Shop Handoff Checklist
Run through this before submitting any file for production:
- File format: SVG preferred. PNG only if unavoidable, at 300 DPI for small formats.
- Color mode: Confirm the print shop will render in CMYK, not RGB. Black modules printed in pure K (100% black in CMYK) give the highest contrast. Avoid composite black (mixes of all 4 inks) - bleed between ink channels slightly softens edges.
- Quiet zone: Confirm the white border around the code (the quiet zone) is at least 4 modules wide. Some design layouts crop this out. Without the quiet zone, cameras cannot locate where the code begins.
- Test print first: Ask for a single proof at the actual physical size before approving the full run. Scan that proof outdoors in natural overcast light and under indoor fluorescent light. If it scans clean in both, approve the run.
Paper Stock Recommendations
For business cards and flyers: 100lb (270 gsm) matte coated stock. The matte coating prevents glare and the weight prevents curl that distorts the code geometry.
For restaurant menus: PVC or laminated card - waterproof and resists grease smudging that degrades module edges over time.
For outdoor signage: UV-resistant matte vinyl with an anti-graffiti overlaminate. Expect 3-5 year outdoor durability before module color fading reduces contrast below the 4:1 minimum.