Can a QR code be designed with a logo and colors?

What is possible

Logo in the center. Up to about 20–25% of the area at correction level H. Larger sizes become unreliable.

Colored modules. Possible if the background contrast is high. Dark modules on a light background – not the reverse.

Rounded modules and custom corners. Usually unproblematic as long as the three position detection patterns in the corners remain visible.

What doesn't work

• Inverted codes – light on dark. Many scanners fail with this.
• Color gradients across the code. Look good but significantly reduce scan rates.
• Insufficient contrast, such as gray on light gray.
• Image as background behind the modules.
• Missing white border. The most common cause overall.

The order when designing

1. Select error correction level H
2. Generate the code
3. Insert the logo
4. Test with at least three different devices
5. If problems occur: reduce logo size, not the correction level

The test that really matters

Not on the screen, but printed in original size on the actual material under the lighting conditions of the usage location. A code that works on the monitor may fail on matte recycled paper.

The honest trade-off

A customized code looks better and is read slightly less frequently. For large print runs, consider whether the aesthetics are worth a few percentage points of scan rate.