I SMART QRThe all-in-one user guide.
From your first code to animated Lottie exports — quick start, all 14 content types, every feature, downloading, testing and troubleshooting.
Complete user guide
Everything to create, style, animate, download and troubleshoot professional QR codes — free and watermark-free.
What is this guide?
The all-in-one reference for the I SMART QR ecosystem. Use the sidebar to jump to any topic. Each section is self-contained.
Quick start
From idea to a downloadable code in about a minute.
Tabs across the top, live preview on the side. No login.
Pick a tab — each shows only the fields it needs.
Fill the form; the preview updates live.
Colors, logo, pattern — watch the scan-health meter.
PNG, SVG, PDF, or a Lottie .json animation.
Content types — all 14
Pick the type matching what a scan should do.
| Type | On scan | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Link | Opens a web page. | Sites, campaigns, menus. |
| Text | Shows text on scan. | Notes, codes. |
| Opens mail pre-filled. | Support, enquiries. | |
| Phone | Dials a number. | Flyers, signage. |
| SMS | Opens a text. | Opt-ins, support. |
| Starts a chat. | Sales, support. | |
| Skype | Call or chat. | Remote consults. |
| Zoom | Opens a meeting. | Event signage. |
| Wi-Fi | Auto-joins network. | Cafes, hotels, offices. |
| vCard | Saves contact. | Cards, badges. |
| Event | Adds to calendar. | Events, appointments. |
| Location | Opens maps. | Venues, real estate. |
| PayPal | Opens checkout. | Invoices, stalls. |
| Bitcoin | Encodes wallet. | Merchants, tips. |
Colors & contrast
A generic black-and-white square does the job, but a code in your brand colors looks intentional and trustworthy. I SMART QR lets you control both the module color and the background, and watches the contrast so your code stays reliable.
Choose the color of the modules (the dark squares) and the background behind them. Use a color picker or paste exact hex values from your brand guidelines.
As you adjust colors, a live indicator checks the contrast ratio. If a combination drops too low to scan reliably, you get a warning before you ever download.
Dark modules on a light background scan fastest. Colored modules work well; colored backgrounds are riskier. The meter guides you to a safe choice.
Why contrast matters
Scanners read brightness difference. Dark-on-light is safest. The scan-health meter measures real contrast — trust it over your eyes.
Logo embedding
A logo in the middle of a QR code does two things at once: it tells people the code is genuinely yours, and it makes the code far more inviting to scan. Because QR codes carry error correction, a sensibly sized center logo doesn't stop them working.
Add a PNG, JPG or SVG. Transparent PNGs sit most cleanly over the code.
Keep the logo under about 20% of the code's area. The generator raises the error-correction level so the surrounding modules can absorb the covered data.
The live preview shows exactly how the finished code looks. Always test the result on a couple of phones before printing at scale.
Watermark
Where a logo sits in the center, a watermark spreads lightly across the whole code. Used subtly, it adds brand texture and a signal of authenticity without interfering with the scan.
Upload a mark or wordmark to overlay across the code area.
Keep it light — a faint watermark preserves the contrast the scanner needs. Adjust opacity, scale and position to taste.
As with any styling, confirm the finished code scans on real devices, especially at the size you'll print.
Patterns & shape
The dots that make up a QR code don't have to be plain squares. Pattern options let you soften or stylize the modules so the code matches your design language — without sacrificing readability.
Switch between classic squares, rounded squares or dots for the data modules.
The three corner squares can take their own treatment for a more designed feel.
Pattern changes are visual only — the underlying data and quiet zone stay intact so scanners still lock on instantly.
Animated QR — Lottie Studio
The Animated QR studio builds scannable codes that animate and exports them as Lottie .json — for web, mobile and motion design.
Paste the link or text.
Square, rounded, dot, diamond or fluid.
Add a mark and a "SCAN ME" frame.
Wave, scan, radial, scatter or fade.
Download or copy the .json.
Payments & maps
PayPal
A PayPal QR code collapses the distance between 'I'd like to pay' and a completed transaction. One scan opens your PayPal checkout on the customer's phone, already pointed at you.
Bitcoin
Wallet addresses are long and unforgiving — one mistyped character sends funds nowhere. A Bitcoin QR code removes that risk entirely: the payer scans, and their wallet fills in your exact address.
Map coordinates
A location QR code turns 'where are you?' into a single scan. Instead of typing an address, the user's phone opens your exact coordinates in their preferred maps app, ready for directions.
Tracking & analytics
The image doesn't track — the link does. Point a code at a tracked URL and your analytics records every scan.
- Total & unique scans
- Time, location, device
- Per-placement attribution
?utm_source=qr&utm_medium=poster&utm_campaign=spring
Download & print
| Format | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| PNG | Web, email | Pixel image; export large. |
| SVG | Vector; sharp at any size. | |
| Print shop | Exact dimensions. | |
| .json | Animated | Lottie vector animation. |
Testing & placement
Test before printing
Scan with several phones, in bright and dim light, before a big run.
Size for distance
At least one-tenth of the viewing distance.
Quiet zone
Leave a four-module clear margin.
Call to action
Tell people why to scan: "Scan for the menu."
Troubleshooting
Won't scan
Check contrast, size, quiet zone, logo size. Re-test.
Logo breaks it
Shrink under 20%, set ECC to Q/H.
Animated won't scan
Ensure the final frame has strong contrast.
Best-practice checklist
- Dark modules on light background.
- Quiet-zone margin clear.
- Sized for viewing distance.
- Logo under ~20%, high ECC.
- Clear call to action.
- SVG/PDF for print.
- UTM on the link to track.
- Tested on several phones.