How codes are made
Describe the picture you want, choose a style if you like, and enter the link or Wi-Fi details the code should carry. QRX turns that into an artwork with a working QR code built into it, and checks that it scans before showing it to you. It usually takes under a minute.
Link codes go through our website so you can change where they point later (more on that). See tips for descriptions for what works best.
Why link codes redirect through QRX
The link a QR code opens is built into the code itself, so it can’t change unless the code changes. That’s why each code points to an address on our website, which then sends people on to the link you entered.
Because of that redirect, you can change where a code goes at any time on the Starter plan, even after it is printed.
The 5-second countdown
On the Free plan, or without an account, people who scan your code see a 5-second countdown before they reach your link. On the Starter plan they go straight there.
This is decided when the code is scanned, not when it was made. If you make a code on Starter and later move to Free, people will see the countdown.
Wi-Fi codes
For a Wi-Fi code, the network name and password are built into the QR code itself, so they can’t be changed without making a new code.
Tips for descriptions
- Name a clear subject and a setting: “a lighthouse on a rocky point at dusk”, “a koi pond in the rain”.
- Add a mood or a look: stormy, cosy, neon, watercolour.
- Pick a style, or leave it on “None” and describe the look yourself.
- Put the most important words first.
- If a result isn’t quite right, generate again. Each batch comes out differently.
Scanning and printing
Every code is checked before you see it, but always scan it with your own phone before you use it. Artistic codes generally don’t scan as easily as plain black-and-white ones.
Codes download as square PNG images, which suit screens, menus, flyers and small posters. For anything larger, and before any print run, do a test print and scan it. Matte finishes scan more reliably than gloss.
Plans
There are two plans, Free and Starter. Compare them.
Moving from Starter to Free
- All your codes keep working, but people who scan them see the 5-second countdown.
- You can’t share new codes to the gallery. Codes already there stay there.
Questions
Why don’t I see my link when I scan my code?
The code points to our website, which sends people on to your link. That’s what lets you change the link later.
Why doesn’t my code scan?
We check every code before you see it, but a phone camera, a print or the lighting can still make some codes harder to read.
Try another code from the same batch, or generate again.
How do I remove the countdown page?
Upgrade to Starter to send people straight to your link.
What happens to my codes if I cancel?
They keep scanning, but people see the 5-second countdown first, and you can no longer change where they point.
Can I put my logo in a code?
Not yet. You can try describing your logo in the description.
Can I make a code from an image I already have?
Not at the moment. Codes are made from a text description.
Do you have an API?
Yes. See QRX for business, or email us about how you’d like to use it.