Learn to create custom QR codes with colour and images

A step by step guide to understanding and creating your own custom QR codes for use in business or privately.

Created byJacob Kamile

Last updated 1/2021

English

What you'll learn

Understand QR codes and how they work
Create your own QR codes including images and custom colours
Learn about the difference between Static and Dynamic QR codes

Course content

6 sections • 20 lectures • 1h 9m total length

Intro Video0:36
What is a QR code?3:42
What is a QR Code? - Text1:00
A basic introduction to QR codes
Tools of the trade: How does a QR code work and how are they read?3:37
Tools of the trade: How does a QR code work and how are they read? - Text1:37
Learning how a QR code works and how to read them
Requested: iPhone QR reader demonstration7:52
This lecture explains how to use the iPhone QR code reading application mentioned in the previous lecture as well as how to create QR codes straight from the phone itself.

Making a standard QR Code4:53
Now that we know how to read a QR code, let's learn how to create our own. The applications recommended in the previous lecture both allow you to create QR codes straight from your mobile phone, but for the purpose of this lecture, let's start out by learning how to create a standard QR code using the computer. We will learn how to create more advanced QR codes in the following lecture.

For now, open up the GoQR.me website in your browser and you should see something like this:

[img src="https://udemy-images.s3.amazonaws.com/redactor/legacy/images/article/2014-04-18_02-40-55__Screen_Shot_2014-04-18_at_6.39.38_pm.png">

Type' you'll find 9 different options for what your QR code will contain such as URL, text and vCard. Try clicking on the different types to see what's available and when you're ready, select the globe shaped icon in the top left. This will allow us to create a QR code that will take the user to a website of our choosing.

In the URL box that appears type in http://www.udemy.com or if you have your own website address that you would like to try, you can go ahead and use that one. As you are typing, you should notice the QR code in the far right hand side of the screen update to reflect the changes. The more information you add to the QR code, the more squares will appear inside it.

Once you have finished typing your website address, click the orange download button just below the QR code itself and you should see another screen pop up.

[img src="https://udemy-images.s3.amazonaws.com/redactor/legacy/images/article/2014-04-18_02-50-15__Screen_Shot_2014-04-18_at_6.48.52_pm.png">

Once you are satisfied with your QR code, select either the PNG or the JPEG option in the Download QR Code As section. This will allow you to save your code to your computer as an image file after which you can print it, upload it to your website or do whatever you would like with it.

Congratulations, it's as easy as that! You have now created your first QR code!

Have a go at making some other types of QR codes as well and scan them with the apps that you downloaded in the previous lecture to try them out.

When you are ready, proceed to the next lecture to learn how to create a custom QR code.
Making a standard QR code - Text2:27
Learn how to make a standard QR code from scratch
Making a Custom QR code12:27
Making a Custom QR code - Text5:04
Learn how to create a QR code using custom colours and images

Downloading a Photo Editing Program0:53
Stylising with Colour7:22
Learn how to add more advanced colours to your QR codes, instead of just a single, solid colour.
Altering the Shape of your QR code5:42
Learn how to begin playing around with the shape of your QR codes to create more unique and visually appealing end results
Playing around with effects1:13
A comparison of interesting filters to use on your QR codes while still keeping them readable.

Dynamic QR codes5:20
Learn about Dynamic QR codes, how they work and how to create one.
What are Dynamic QR codes? - Text Version of Lecture 19 - Part 1/21:35
Creating a dynamic QR code - Text Version of Lecture 19 - Part 2/21:14
Creating a simple automatic redirect page - Text1:01
For those of you who are interested in hosting your own redirect page, I have included a very simple HTML page in the description of this lesson that you can download and use for free.
Alternatively, you can also use the below code:
------
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>QR code Redirect</title>
<meta http-equiv = "refresh" content = "1; url = https://www.udemy.com/course/learnqrcodes/" />
</head>
<body>
<p>Redirecting to another URL. If you are not automatically redirected, please <a href="https://www.udemy.com/course/learnqrcodes/">click here</a></p>
</body>
</html>
-----
Make sure to edit the code so that it redirects to where you want people to go to before you upload the page to your own website.
The places you need to edit are highlighted in bold.
The "1" specifies how many seconds the redirect page will show before you are automatically sent to the next page. If you would like people to be redirected instantly, please change this to a "0"
The other two places highlighted in bold is the website URL (address) that you want to send your visitors to. Make sure to change this to the location that you want people to see when they scan your QR code.
Some browsers block automatic redirect, so for those situations a link will show that will take them to the page when clicked.

Once you are finished customizing the above code, save it as an HTML file and upload it to your website, then create a QR code to that page and if you ever need to change where the WR code goes to in the future, simply edit the URL on this page.
Dynamic QR code Quiz

Example QR Code video1:15
That's it! Congratulations! You should now be able to not only understand what a QR code is and how it works, but to make your own as well and make the most out of this technology both for fun and for business.

Lastly, have a look at the links below for some interesting ways in which QR code technology has been used such as baking QR codes onto pizzas, spray-painting them onto cows or Guiness's attempt at QR codes on a glass that would only appear when filled with Guinness beer. As always, I'd love to hear from you, so please feel free to share your creations or discoveries in the comments section of this lecture!

26 Interesting ways to us QR Codes

Weird, Fun, Crazy, Interesting QR codes

40 Gorgeous QR Artworks that Rock
Requested: More inspiration!0:44

Requirements

A mobile phone to test your QR codes
A photo editing program (Trial version is ok) for those who want to go the extra mile

Description

QR codes are a fantastic concept and can be used for a huge range of both business and personal purposes.

This course will help you understand the use of QR codes and how to create them as well. At the end of this course you will know:

What a QR code is
What QR codes can be used for
How to read QR codes with your phone
How to create a standard black and white QR code
How to make more advanced and stylised custom QR codes with colour and images!
What the difference between a Static and a Dynamic QR code is (Free bonus material added on Jan 10 2021)

This course contains both video and text versions of each lecture to suit every type of students individual learning style.

Who this course is for:

Anyone who would like to learn how to create QR codes for fun or for business
People who want to understand QR codes and their potential better
People who want to learn how to customise QR codes to stand out in the market

Learn to create custom QR codes with colour and images

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Basics6 lectures • 18min

Creating a QR Code4 lectures • 25min

BONUS Material - Getting Advanced: How to Stylise Your QR codes4 lectures • 15min

Quiz0

NEW: Dynamic QR Codes (Updated Jan 10 2021)4 lectures • 9min

Inspiration2 lectures • 2min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: