Hosted Content
When QArtCode hosts your content, your code is smaller, and you'll be able to update it after it's printed.
A QR code is a square grid of data pixels: the more information it holds, the larger the grid. The smallest QR code is 21×21; a QArtCode that size needs around 100 photos to avoid duplication. Larger codes need even more (around 150 for 25×25, 200 for 29×29, and so on). When hosted, content length is irrelevant.
When hosted, your QArtCode embeds a short link to this site (e.g., qartcode.com/K7Q2). For a URL, that link redirects to your website. For contact information, it serves a contact card your phone can save.
- It renders as the smallest QR code (21×21): fewer photos at a larger size. If you want to use an internal pattern overlay to indicate its functionality, it will be one size up (25×25).
- You'll be able to update the content after printing: change the website link or update your contact information.
- You'll be able to see how many times your QArtCode has been scanned.
- Contact information needs an internet connection to load.
- The scan shows a link to qartcode.com instead of your website's address.
- Your link is one of hundreds of thousands. It is difficult to guess, but not impossible. No nuclear codes.
Optimize Your URL Instead
A scan that links directly to your website can be more informative than a link to this site, though both end up at the same website. A few small changes to how you write the URL can shrink the code.
| Length | – |
|---|---|
| Encoding | – |
| QR code size | – |
Use Capital Letters. One of the most effective ways to shrink a code is to stick to Alphanumeric characters: capital letters, numbers, and a handful of symbols ($, %, *, +, -, ., /, and :). Anything else, even a single lowercase letter, switches the whole URL to Byte encoding. For example, https://qartcode.com is 20 characters of Byte encoding and needs a 25×25 code, while HTTPS://QARTCODE.COM is 20 characters of Alphanumeric encoding and fits in 21×21. Both scan and open the same website, because capitalization is irrelevant in the https:// and the domain name.
One quirk to be aware of: the path after the domain (such as /menu/fall-specials) is up to the website, and some treat capitals differently. Type your capitalized URL into a browser to make sure it still opens the right page.
Leave Out What You Do Not Need. Every character costs data pixels, and several common ones can usually go. Most websites that start with www. also work without it. The slash at the end is often unnecessary. The query string (anything after the ?, such as ?utm_source=qr) may not matter; furthermore, the ? requires Byte encoding, so using capital letters no longer provides any benefit.