How to Add a Logo to a QR Code Without Breaking It
A logo in the centre of a QR code looks great, until it stops scanning. Here is how to add branding while keeping the code readable.
Why a logo can break a code
A QR code is a precise grid of data modules. Placing a logo over the centre covers some of those modules. The code can still be read only because of its built-in error correction, but cover too much and you exceed what correction can recover.
Raise the error correction first
Before adding any logo, set the error-correction level to H. That gives the code roughly thirty percent redundancy, which is what lets a scanner reconstruct the modules hidden behind your logo.
Skipping this step is the single most common reason a branded code fails.
Keep the logo small and central
- •Cover no more than about a fifth of the code’s area.
- •Keep the logo in the centre, away from the three corner finder patterns.
- •Never cover a corner square; scanners use those to locate the code.
- •Leave a small clear margin around the logo so it does not bleed into data.
Contrast still matters
A logo with its own busy background can confuse the camera. A simple mark on a solid, light field works best. If your logo is light, sit it on a small white pad rather than dropping it straight onto the modules.
Test, then mass-produce
Branded codes are exactly the case where a quick scan test pays off. Confirm the final artwork reads reliably before it goes to print on thousands of units.