How to Change QR Code Colors, Their Relationship with the Background, and Reading Performance

Benefits of Changing QR Code Colors

When people think of QR codes, most imagine a simple appearance of black dots lined up. According to the QR code specifications, the basic format is a black code on a white background, which is the easiest state to read.

Basically, black and white provides the best reading performance for QR codes.

Source: QR code.com

However, recently, highly-designed QR codes are also being used in real life. As part of this, changing the color of a QR code has the following benefits in particular:

• Improved Visibility: Even in situations where a solid black QR code might get lost, a colorful one is more likely to attract attention. It can be expected to stand out even in designs with many other elements, such as event posters and advertisements.

• Alignment with Brand Image: By incorporating a company's brand colors into the QR code, you can create a sense of unity. For example, for a brand associated with a specific color, reflecting that color in the QR code can make it more memorable for users.

• Appealing Originality: While black QR codes can give an impersonal impression, customizing the color can transform it into a unique and friendly design.

However, caution is required when changing colors, as design modifications can potentially affect the QR code's readability. The specific points of caution will be described later.

Can a QR Code Be Any Color?

So, can a QR code be any color?

To get straight to the conclusion, if you are scanning with a smartphone, it is readable within a considerable range. The QR code standard specifies a white background and a black code section, but in our experiment described later, it was able to handle a wide range of colors.

Also, since major social networks and other services change the color of their QR codes, it can be inferred that for many smartphone devices, changing the color does not pose a problem for reading QR codes.

On the other hand, depending on the performance of the camera or scanner being used, it may not be able to read well if there isn't enough contrast between the QR code's background and the code itself.

When changing the color of a QR code, we recommend testing it with the expected reading devices.

Do Major Services Also Change QR Code Colors?

In fact, major companies and services also adopt colorful QR codes. Here are a few examples:

• Instagram

• TikTok

• LINE Official Account

It is common for major services to change the colors of their QR codes. While there are precautions to changing the color, you can see from these examples that it is perfectly feasible.

How Much Can You Change a QR Code's Color? An Original Experiment

As mentioned before, changing the color of QR codes is common, but to what extent is it okay to change the color?

Here, we will conduct our own reading tests using the standard camera of an iPhone XR, Google Lens, Android Quick Settings, and the Google Pixel 7a standard camera.

Experiment Method

What is Color Contrast Ratio? In conducting this test, we need some standard for the background and the code portion. What we referenced was the contrast ratio.

Not limited to QR codes, the "color contrast ratio" in design is important for ensuring visibility. Even in web accessibility standards, a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 (3:1 for large text) between text and background is recommended.

Contrast Checker Here are some useful tools for checking that contrast.

• Recommended Tool: Adobe Color: Useful for creating and adjusting color palettes in addition to contrast.

• WebAIM's Contrast Checker: Calculates the color contrast ratio and confirms if it meets the standards.

This time, we will use WebAIM's Contrast Checker.

Experiment Results

(Image of the QR codes used in the experiment)

On the iPhone, the image with a 1.5:1 ratio was recognizable, and when using the detection function from an image in QR STOCK, it was recognizable from 2.0:1. As was the case in error correction experiment, the QR code reading on Android/Google was generally excellent. Among them, the "QR Code Scanner" function within Android's Quick Settings was the most superior.

Based on web accessibility standards, machine recognition is easy, and we found that if you push the limits, it's around 2.0:1.

Can You Invert the Colors of a QR Code?

In conjunction with the above experiment, we also tested what happens when the QR code's colors are inverted. First, we tried a black (#000000) background with a white (#FFFFFF) code section. This QR code can also be created with QR TOOL.

(Image of a QR code with a black background)

Result: There was no problem reading the color-inverted QR code.

Now for the contrast experiment. As mentioned before, we set the background to black and the code section color to have a contrast ratio of 2.0:1.

(Image of the generated QR code)

Result: There was also no problem reading this QR code.

From this result, you can see that the color of the dot section does not necessarily have to be dark; rather, the contrast with the background is what's important for reading a QR code.

Is It Okay to Add Color to or Make the QR Code Background Transparent?

Next, is it okay to add color to the background instead of the dots, or even make the background transparent?

What if you add color to the QR code's background?

As mentioned before, what's important is the contrast between the background and the foreground dots.

Therefore, adding color to the background itself is highly likely to be readable without issue.

The most extreme example of adding color to the background is the previously mentioned pattern of inverting the color scheme with white dots on a black background.

As you can see by trying it, there is no problem with reading, but our site recommends ensuring a contrast ratio of 2.0:1 or higher.

What if you make the QR code's background transparent?

Making the QR code's background transparent means that something else will become the background.

As long as you ensure contrast between the color seen through the transparency and the QR code itself, making the background transparent is not a problem.

(Image of an example with color added to the QR code background (Contrast Ratio 2.61:1))

Recommended Methods for Coloring and Creating QR Codes

So, what should you do if you actually want to create a colored QR code? Here, we will introduce a few methods, including free tools.

Method 1: Create a Colored QR Code [Recommended]

Many services exist that allow you to create QR codes online, but among them, QR STOCK is especially recommended. It has the following features:

• Free, no registration required, and available for commercial use

• You can change the color of the eyes, the eye frames, and the dots separately

• Provided by a Japanese company

• Rich in other customization options

STEP 1: Access the QR code creation page Copy the URL you want to turn into a QR code and access one of the pages below.

Color QR Code Generator | QR STOCK

STEP 2: Paste the copied text or URL Paste the string into the input field. You can set the colors for the eyes, eye frames, and dots in the options. You can choose a solid color or a gradient. The QR code will be generated as you select, so download it from the "Download" button. For smartphones, long-press the QR code to save.

Method 2: Color a Black and White QR Code

The second method is to change the color of a QR code that has already been created in black and white. As a preliminary step, download the QR code by selecting "SVG" in QR STOCK > [QR Code Options] > [Download Image Type].

Here, we will use Figma, which can be used for free to edit SVG files. Please complete user registration and login. Then, on the home screen > click [New design file].

1. Drag and drop the QR code (in SVG format).

2. Scroll the menu on the right side of the screen.

3. Under "Selection colors," change black (#000000) to your desired color.

4. Select the image type from "Export" and download.

[Select svg for image type]

[Open design file and Drag & Drop]

[Change color]

[Select download type]

If you are unsure about the type of QR code image file extention, please refer to following article.

Should You Create QR Codes in SVG? Recommended File Extensions for Different Uses

With the steps above, you can change the color of a black and white QR code.

Precautions When Changing QR Code Colors

When changing colors, keep the following points in mind:

• Avoid extreme differences in brightness: Colors that are too bright or too light can easily cause reading errors.

• No overly complex backgrounds: If you use an image or pattern for the background, ensure the visibility of the QR code portion.

• Consideration for color blindness: Choose a color scheme that can be correctly recognized even by users with color vision deficiency.

For other precautions regarding the QR code itself, please refer to the following articles:

• Minimum and Recommended Sizes for QR Codes by Use Case

• Is a Margin Necessary for QR Codes? What Happens if There's No Margin?

Summary: Boost Your QR Code's Presence by Changing Its Color!

QR codes are not just for conveying information; they are tools that can be utilized as part of a design. By adding creativity to the color and background, you can make them more eye-catching and strengthen your brand image.

The results of our smartphone experiment this time showed that even when changing the color and weakening the contrast with the background, there was almost no effect. However, depending on the device, reading accuracy may be impaired, so we recommend testing when you change the colors.

Use this article as a reference to try creating your own original colored QR code!