Start with the intended material
Choose a format for your use
- PNG
- Starting pointOffice document, presentation or image to share.What to checkPixel dimensions and absence of blur after insertion.
- SVG
- Starting pointLayout in software that supports vector images.What to checkCorrect import, intact quiet zone and physical size when placed.
- Qurl PDF
- Starting pointFirst test on an A4 sheet at the stated size.What to checkPrint at 100%, without automatic scaling.
For work sent to a print professional, ask which delivery format they require. Qurl's individual PDF is a test sheet; it does not replace your complete poster or business card file.
PNG: preserve the pixel grid
A PNG describes an image as pixels. Qurl uses a whole number of pixels per module to keep the generated file's edges sharp. Offered resolutions are therefore approximate: the final number depends on the QR grid.
Presentation software may smooth the image when resizing it. Enlarging a small PNG does not create new detail. For a larger size, return to the generator with a suitable resolution or use SVG if your software supports it. Avoid stretching the square, cropping its border or replacing the original file with a compressed screenshot.
SVG: preserve the grid's shapes
Qurl's SVG describes the modules as vector shapes. It suits designs where placement size may change. Import behaviour depends on your software: always check the result after importing and after exporting the finished document.
Vector does not mean readable at any size. A QR code printed too small, distorted or without a quiet zone may be hard to scan. A logo added to the QR code may also be a raster image: enlarging the SVG does not improve that logo's detail. The personalisation guide explains the other limits.
PDF: a stated physical size
Qurl's PDF contains a vector QR code on an A4 page. The stated size includes a four-module quiet zone on each side. It depends on the encoded content and module size selected in the tool.
Print at 100% or “actual size”, then measure the square and test scanning. “Fit to page” can change the size. You can add an optional PDF caption in the tool; it is not added to PNG or SVG exports. The full method and material tests are explained in the printing guide.
Compare three files of the same QR code
In the website link resources, the PNG, SVG and PDF all encode https://example.org/menu. This address is fictional: it is for comparing decoded content, not viewing a real menu.
- Download all three formats. The example lists the exact PNG dimensions and QR dimensions in the PDF.
- Open the PNG in the local reader and compare its text with the example.
- Open the SVG in your layout software and the PDF in your document reader. Qurl's image reader does not import these two formats.
- After placing the code in your materials, test the final result again.
The example files were decoded during testing, with the PDF rasterised first. This software evidence certifies neither your printer nor every phone. No format extends a destination website's lifespan or makes the QR link editable.