How to put a QR code on a vehicle or shop window so it still scans

Decide who scans it, and from where

A code on a vehicle is realistically scanned by someone walking up to it while it is parked. A passenger or driver behind in traffic should not be scanning anything, so do not design for them. A window is scanned from the pavement, from a doorway or from across a counter, and each of those is a different distance.

1. 1

   Measure the real distance

   Stand where a customer will stand and measure to the spot where the code will sit. Write the number down, because every size decision follows from it.

2. 2

   Divide by ten for the minimum width

   A common working rule is that the code should be about a tenth of the scanning distance. From two metres that is around 20 cm, from four metres around 40 cm. It is a floor, not a target. Bigger scans more easily, and codes with long web addresses need to be larger still.

3. 3

   Do not aim it at traffic

   If the only place a code can be read from is the road, it is not worth putting up. Place it on a flat panel at about chest or eye height, near where people stop.

Design it for glass and vinyl

1. 4

   Use a short link so the code stays coarse

   The fewer characters in the code, the larger its individual squares, and large squares are what a phone can resolve from a distance. A short address makes a far more forgiving code than a long one at the same size. This is the biggest single lever, as covered in the guide on small prints.

2. 5

   Keep dark on light, with a full margin

   Use black or a very dark colour on a plain white or pale background, with a clear border around it. Do not crop the margin to fit a layout. A white panel behind the code works even when the vehicle is a bold colour.

3. 6

   On glass, think about what is behind it

   A code applied to a window sits in front of the shop interior, and a busy background shows through vinyl that is not opaque. Give the code a solid white backing, or place it where nothing busy is directly behind it.

4. 7

   Avoid curves, seams and panel gaps

   A code that wraps over a curved panel or across a door seam is distorted when viewed. Put it on a flat area of one panel.

5. 8

   Cut glare, not just size

   A gloss finish on a vehicle or window reflects the sky and the street. A matte or satin laminate reduces it. Tell your sign maker the code must be readable in sunlight.

Get the file to the sign maker

Sign makers work from vector artwork and print in large format. From a saved card, download the code as an SVG, which is a vector file that scales to any size without going soft. PNG, JPEG and WebP are also available, and are fine for small prints, but a PNG enlarged to 40 cm will have blurred edges. The print file PDF in the dashboard is sized for a business card and is not the file for a van. VCardForever supplies the code image. It does not make signs, order vinyl or check your artwork for you, so ask the sign maker to send a proof.

Test before it is fixed in place

1. 9

   Print it at full size and tape it up

   Print on several sheets of paper joined together if you must, and fix it where the vinyl will go. Scan it from the real distance with two or three different phones, including an older one.

2. 10

   Test at the worst time of day

   Early morning and late afternoon sun are low and strong, and reflections are at their worst. Test then, and again at dusk if the shop is lit at night.

3. 11

   Plan for the dirty-vehicle case

   A van gets mud and dust on the lower panels. Mount the code above wheel height, and put a short line of text with your name or address beside it so someone can reach you even if the code is unreadable.