QR code

[Ruanna]

What types of items are best for a QR code, and why/how would I use it?  I'm from the older generation, and I've never used a QR code before, I've seen them but don't understand why I would want to place one on an item in my store.

[Cat]

Ha! I just spent an hour researching the things myself because I didn't get it. QR codes are apparently like very advanced bar codes that can hold all sorts of information - there are different kinds for storing different types of information, but Zazzle's new QR code generator is specifically for storing a URL - in other words, it's used to store a web address (something like http://www.whatever-the-web-address-is.com). Smartphones can read the code and it will send the person to the web page without them having to type in the address (which is a cumbersome process on a phone.) So, in a nutshell, any product where the customer might want to display their web page URL is a good candidate for a QR code. Things like business cards, wedding website cards, posters or fliers advertising events, etc. 

[WHS_Designs]

I've never employed image QR codes before, but I find it cool that you can include a thumbnail of a logo, image, picture or photo within them!

Image QR Code Generator with logos, photo QR Code Creator & QR Maker - img2QR

W.H.

[Cat]

Wait... so do you mean that the code points to a picture, or do you mean that there's a picture inside the square of little black and white boxes?

[Shar-Ken]

That's a good description of a QR code, Cat.  That is about all I know though.  I am trying to figure out how to add one to some of my designs but I type in my zazzle url in the box that comes up when i am in the design area.   Then a QR code appears but when I drag it down to the lower right corner of my postcard there is already a QR code there and it will not disappear.  So then I have mine on top of Zazzle's and at that point, I don't know what to do.  Any direction would be appreciated!   I assumed that it was there just to show us where to place the QR code that we want.

[Cat]

I think the QR code in the lower right hand corner of the postcards is a separate thing put there by Zazzle. I believe it already points to your store, so there's no need to add an additional one. This is for adding it to products where it isn't automatically included, or for letting the customer add their own QR code.

[Shar-Ken]

Thank you Cat!

[Windy]

Here's a good example of when a customer might want to use a QR code: Housewarming Party invitation could have a QR Code printed on it. The friends can use that code to get to a website which would have directions to the new house where the party is. I think that function you are seeing in the design tool, @Shar-Ken  is really meant more for the consumer of the card--the person having the wedding or the party, or the sale, or whatever. I have not tried to add one, but if you have a product where a customer might want to add their own QR code, you would want to account for that in your design.

[Shar-Ken]

Thank you Windy!

[Windy]

I've been adding QR codes to my instagram posts. Each QR code links to the product pictured. Instagram does not allow clickable links in posts but I want people to be able to reach my product through the instagram post. Therefore I add a QR code. This way, in a case where a person is sitting at a desktop or with a laptop, browsing instagram, they can then point their smartphone camera  to the computer screeen, and then the Zazzle link automatically appears on the phone and they can then click and buy my product.   Here is how the QR codes look on my insta posts.

 https://www.instagram.com/internationalbirthdaycards/

[WBartworks]

I was considering adding the QR code to some of the products I was designing, but then changed my mind because it ruins the look of my carefully designed product.

[Shar-Ken]

Ruanna, I think we are probably from the same generation--I, too, have never used a QR code and only recently even figured out how to read one with my new phone! It amazes me how much info can be contained within one of those boxes!   I have tried to add one to some of my greeting cards but I am definitely doing something wrong.  I finally gave up for now.  I have not seen that there is a "how to" video for those of us less tech inclined people.   I read the announcement and viewed the info from zazzle but it did not really contain the info needed for those of us not familiar with the process.  

[igiftcenter]

Speaking of QR codes does anyone know how I can go about creating my own working QR code without having to register on a site for a paid subscription to their site? I tried a few that were so called free but turned out not to be free at all.  TIA

[Cat]

Maybe I don't understand what you're asking, but why can't you just use Zazzle's QR code generator and type in your url? You could use the download artwork feature to download a png of it.

[nyclosangeles]

Well, the golden answer I was looking for, ! @Cat 
Could you so kindly assist me in "which url", that's where I'm stuck.  
So, just to clarity, I'm choosing the "QR code" option and then it tells me to add my "url", what url - lol

[nyclosangeles]

Just tried for the first time, clicked done, went down to personalize option and code did not come up as template. Do I have to make this code a template object. Oh, I wish Z could begin to create short tutorials for things of this nature, plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzeeeee🤗 Z

[Lais]

You have to make it a template.

[Lais]

I could do a video about it, I'm just a little bored because I never see anyone excited with this QR code thing. LOL. Actually, I saw a meme on Facebook the other day in which a person receives the menu of the restaurant as a card with a QR code and then immediately leaves the restaurant. 😂😂

[Windy]

I was a little more excited about it, until I learned that scammers are using QR Codes to send unsuspecting users to malware downloads.

[ColsCreations]

because I never see anyone excited with this QR code thing.

Look at this Reddit thread I saved from a few weeks ago.

I hope everyone is as obsessed with their invitations as I am with mine! 

The invite suite is from Zazzle. Note the QR codes on the insert cards, and this in the comments:

"So beautiful! Love the square insert card with the QR codes. Brilliant honestly!"
  --->  "When I saw them on the website I couldn’t help myself!"

They don't say what they linked the QR codes to but it sounds like that's the only reason they decided to get them. 😉

@Lais 

[Marcia]

As an aside, interesting to see her compete order with so many different fonts used across the pieces. Including a piece with Blooming Elegant & a different one with Morganna. Guess the whole typeface thing doesn't matter that much to some customers, after all? 😏

[Lais]

Their phrase is ambiguous, they could be just referring to the overall design of the square cards, not exactly the QR codes. 😅 But nice to see that people actually buy it. 🤗

[Windy]

@igiftcenter  I use the one provided by Chrome. If you have that, go to the red circled dots and you get the green arrow drop down. This creates the QR Code for any page you are on and then you just copy and paste.

[PacifierCity]

@igiftcenter  - All of the below are either partially free or totally free.  There is a lot you can do with a QRCode in terms of its appearance and some of these sites want you to at least sign up to be able to use all their functions.  But if are doing something basic, one of them should work for you.

https://www.online-qrcode-generator.com/

https://www.qrcode-monkey.com/

https://qrgenerator.org/

https://qrcode-generator.io/

PC

.....................

[igiftcenter]

Thank you for the information. Appreciate your taking the time to do that.

[BKMuir]

If you use FireFox, they have a multitude of QR applications under the ADD-ONS dropdown

[kimberlyjtilley]

Flat surfaces, paper products, anything big enough for it to be seen by the camera phone. Not golf balls. lol I made an order for golf balls for my husband and added my QR code, that I created elsewhere years ago, the phone could not read the QR code.

QR codes are just helping people go to your website faster, scan the image with your phone and poof you're where you want to be, digitally.  It's easier navigation for users who don't want the hassle of typing in website address. You do not have to create one for each image, product. You will do fine with just one for your shop's url.

Do add your shop's name below the QR code or website address below/next to the QR code so people know who that QR belongs to.

[Lais]

Maybe it was not because of the small size, but the round surface? I mean, QR codes should be on flat surfaces. The roundness of the ball may cause a distortion that affects the reading.

[Deb]

Some helpful information while I was searching around. https://linlet.com/guide/article/165-Should-I-have-a-QR-code-on-my-business-card