How to Choose QR Code SVG, PNG or JPEG

Choose the format for your destination

Use SVG when your print or design software accepts vector artwork. The modules remain vector shapes when scaled; an uploaded logo is an embedded raster image, so enlarging it can still reveal pixels.

Use PNG for email signatures, websites, presentations, or systems that need a raster image. PNG preserves sharp image detail without JPEG compression and can keep a transparent background.

Use JPEG when the receiving system specifically requires it. It has a solid background and uses lossy compression. Avoid repeatedly saving or recompressing the file, and check the code after the publishing system processes it.

Set the image width before downloading

Open “2. Customise your design” and choose an Image width of 300, 500, 800, 1,200, or 2,048 px. The setting applies to the full exported width, including the quiet zone and any border. A labelled frame makes the image taller than it is wide.

A wider pixel image is useful for larger raster placements, but the pixel count alone does not establish a safe physical print size. Payload length, module count, viewing distance, paper, and printing quality also matter. Follow QR Code Print Size and Scanning Distance Guide for print planning.

Decide whether transparency is appropriate

Check “Transparent background (PNG / SVG)” only when you control the surface behind the final artwork. PNG and SVG will preserve that transparency; JPEG will still use the selected Background colour.

The generator checks your selected colour pair, but it cannot evaluate a photograph or page design you place behind a transparent code later. Keep a light, plain surface behind both the modules and quiet zone. Do not crop the blank margin to make the image appear tighter.

Check the file after placing it

Click Download SVG, Download PNG, or Download JPEG after the preview is ready. The download links are unavailable when the content or design is invalid. If the previous file remains in your downloads folder, replace it with the newly generated version.

Use QR Code Scanner to inspect a supported raster export or a screenshot of the placed artwork. Then scan the final page, email, slide, or print proof with a phone. A successful scan in the generator does not prove that another application preserved the image correctly.

Stop when

The final placed artwork opens the expected destination and retains its quiet zone, proportions, and readable frame label. Keep the original SVG or highest-quality raster export so future placements do not depend on a compressed screenshot.

References

Use the linked specifications and product documentation to check behavior in your own environment.