Blog . How to Make a QR Code
10/16/13 | Posted by Leah Yochman | Posted in Digital Creativity
In case you didn’t know, a QR code is a machine-readable code made up of black and white squares (they can be made with colors as well, that’s just not as common). These can be used to link people to any URL, mp3 file, YouTube video, Twitter, or Facebook page and there are many more things they can be used for as well.
In this tutorial I am going to show you how to use the website Goqr.me to make different types of QR codes as well as being able to change the color of the QR code and the background. I am also going to tell you about an iPad app that will let you read QR codes and how to use it! To make a QR code to link someone to a website, select the second option “URL” and enter the link to the website you want to make a code for. After you paste or type the link in, the website will generate your new QR code.
At the bottom of the QR code generator is a button that says “options”. Click on that to be able to change the colors of the code, its background and the margins around it. There are two other options in the box but they aren’t necessary for this tutorial, feel free to experiment with them once you understand the basics and have some fun. I have decided to make the background color of the code a light green and the data pixels color a very muted red. I have also chosen to use a margin of 2 around the QR code square data dots and to not include a margin around the QR code pixels.
Now I am ready to download the QR code and use it! Click on the “download” button and make sure you select to save the file. Now go to your downloads folder and your QR code is ready for use.
An app that will let you scan QR codes on your iPad is called “QR Reader for iPad.”Once the app is open, click on the “Scan” icon to scan the QR code you made or one you see during your lifetime adventures. When you open the app there will be a screen with a red bar moving up and down. Position the QR code you want to scan in the square provided and let the red bar scan it a few times. Once it scans, it will take you to the website in the app. This app also lets you create QR codes but it doesn’t have any customize options like the website. A good thing with this app is that you have more options for what type of QR code you want to make. If you want to use the app to make a QR code click on the “Creator” icon and this app has 25 different options for all your QR code needs. Scan the QR code I made for the tutorial for a link to goqr.me.