Why QR Code Blur Happens and How To Fix It?

A blurry QR code is a low-resolution or poorly printed matrix code that scanners can’t resolve.

A study found that 30% of QR code failures can be attributed to problems such as blurriness or low resolution. With the technology of QR codes being applied more frequently to other activities such as contactless payments and information exchange, it is important that the quality of the code is good.It has demonstrated that scanning failures can be reduced by as much as 40% through the enhancement of image resolution, optimize printing, by ensuring good contrast and by maintaining proportions.

“A paper in Mobile Networks and Applications points out that it is easy to induce motion blur to degrade the quality of QR code images, making them hard to read on moving objects.”

“Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine paper explains that low-resolution QR codes can cause misinterpretation during scanning and even fail to be decoded at all.”

The good news is, fixing it is easy. You just need to export the code into high resolution format. Use the correct size, and avoid visual traps.

In this blog, we will walk you through the causes of blur QR code, how it affects functionality of a code, steps to solve the problem, how AI QR code enhancer can be a great help and will also explain to you about the best practices to make sure that upon scanning you never get QR code failure.

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What Is A QR Code Blur?

Blurry QR code is an image of a code that when scanned appears pixelated, fuzzy or unclear. Making code unreadable by the device thus killing its purpose.

How Does A QR Code Work

QR codes are a grid of squares made up of black and white which contain data in a matrix style. The pattern of such squares is read by the scanner or the smartphone camera, and then it is converted into a digital action, like opening a site, making a payment, or showing product information.

The effectiveness of such a process depends so much on the clarity and sharpness of the QR code. Any form of slight distortion, low resolution QR code and blurriness can cause cameras not scanning QR code thus unable to read the code, eventually frustrating the user.

An article on ResearchGate demonstrated that QR codes with low resolutions or blurry images have a much higher failure rate to scan using a mobile device.

Common Causes of Blurry QR Code

Low resolution, poor quality print, improper scaling or compression, low contrast, damage by the environment, and dirty lenses on the camera are common causes of QR code blur. To be scannable, design the code at high-resolution settings, print with the good printers and on the proper material, store the right size and contrast and ensure that the message is not cut or spoiled.

Low Quality Picture

Low-resolution images are one of the well-known reasons behind blurred QR code. QR codes produced in low resolution are pixelated, thus making it difficult to decode the data by the scanning devices. The low-resolution QR codes can look fuzzy or jagged and fail to scan. To make QR codes sharp and clear when printed or shown, high-resolution settings must be used to create them.

If you use low resolution images like small PNG. It will get blurry or pixelated when scaled.

Solution: When designing a QR code, it is always best to create a minimum of 300 DPI (dots per inch). It is not advisable to magnify small pictures because it will only increase the blurriness.

Compression Websites

Uploading QR codes to platforms or websites that can compress images. For example; social media, messaging apps and others. All these causes quality loss and eventually poor scanning.

Since QR codes are stored in formats that compress the image (i.e. JPEG) they may lose quality and make QR Code blurred. Compression algorithms make the file size smaller, but also eliminate some information that is important in the proper scanning of the file. Such loss of detail may cause the scanner of a QR code to not read the code correctly.

Solution: The aspect ratio should be preserved when scaling QR codes and they should not be scaled excessively. Scale vectors such as SVG without quality reduction.

Weak Design or Poor Printing

If design inappropriately like adding unnecessary graphics, colors or logos. This design error can reduce readability.

Diffusion can also be a result of printing issues. Poor-quality printers and low-quality materials used to print QR codes can result in a smudged, faded, or pixelated print. QR codes can lose their sharpness due to inconsistent ink distribution, or due to poor paper quality. Moreover, QR codes that are very small can end up being difficult to scan.

Solution: Get a good printer and make sure that the QR code is printed in a size that can be easily scanned. Do not print them too small or on poor paper or they will be hard to read.

Wrong File Format

To avoid blurry codes, having appropriate knowledge about file format is a must. You should know that JPEG can blur edges. On the other hand Vector formats like SVG or EPS maintain defined lines.

Improper Scaling

Scaling a code image properly is a must. If you scale code image beyond its intended size it leads to blur or distortion.

Solution: When resizing QR codes, it is always important to preserve the aspect ratio, and not to scale it too big. vector formats such as SVG can be scaled without degradation.

Environmental Factors

The scanning process can be disrupted by environmental factors such as glare, lighting and dirt leading to blurred QR codes. Considering that, say, there is excessive reflection or bad lighting in the area where the code is shown, the scanner may not be able to capture the picture. The quality of a printed QR code can also be impacted by dust, scratches or smudges on the surface.

Solution: Make sure that QRs are posted in places with proper lighting conditions, without a glare. Clean them and do not have any objects in the scan line.

Dirty Camera Lenses

Scanners may not be able to capture a clear image of the QR code due to dirty or obstructed camera lens, blurry QR code scanner and failure to scan. As a precaution, the camera lens should be cleaned on a regular basis.

Solution: Always clean the camera lens so that it scans clearly.

Why Should You Be Concerned About A Blurry QR Code?

The QR code blur are the ones you should be concerned about as they are difficult to scan and can mean ill intentions or low quality control resulting in loss of business opportunities and even a security risk. The unclear code may compromise the brand credibility, confuse the customers and even harm the hackers who redirect their users to phishing websites to install malware programs.

If your QR code blurred upon scanning there might be more technical issues, rather than only visual ones. QR code inverted or faulty QR codes can have bad user experience. They can cause frustration among users. At worst it can damage a brand's credibility. For example if your vCard QR code or LinkedIn QR code fail to scan, it means you lost a lead, business opportunities.

Negative Impacts of Blur QR Codes

• Unhappy User: Occurring to a research by Harvard, a customer may reject your brand if your code doesn't scan.
• Lost Leads: According to a study a non functional QR code can kill the moment. You won't be able to convert leads into loyal clients.
• Brand Identity Damage: Codes that are blurred shows the brand is unprofessional and has weak marketing strategies.
• Waste of Money: Printing code costs money. If you printed it wrong, reprinting will cost money. Thus wasting the marketing budget will badly affect the company.

Security Risks

• Malware and Phishing: Hackers may deliberately provide users with blurry QR codes that can redirect them to malicious web pages where they can steal their personal data or install malware, viruses, or spyware into their computers. Source
• Obfuscation and Manipulation: Blurriness may be an intentional tactic to distort and/or conceal the encoded information in a QR code, and thus make it challenging to trace how the information has been altered maliciously. Source: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Intentional Blurriness: Criminals may stick fake QR codes over real QR codes in areas such as parking lots and the user will keep losing money or have their credit card details stolen. Source

How To Fix Blurry QR Code?

The first step to fix QR code is to attempt to improve the scanning environment by turning on excellent lighting, cleaning the camera lens, using QR code enhancer or stabilizing the camera angle. When you are the one who is creating the QR code, then use a trusted generator like IMQRScan to produce a high-resolution and high-contrast image, and you may also want to use the vector formats to scale the image better and unblur QR code. In case you have a somewhat poor quality image of the QR code, you can use an online image sharpener, AI QR code enhancer or photo editing application to sharpen the image.

Don't panic if your QR code gets blurred. Here are few important methods to correct or recreate it:

1. Download In Higher Resolution

Generate and download QR code from a reliable generator like IMQRScan, at just $2.99 to enhance QR code image. Download a HD quality image to avoid pixelated prints. The minimum requirement is 300 dpi for print. Also avoid small sizes like 150×150 pixels.

2. Use Vector Formats

Make sure you download your QR code in:

• SVG
• PDF
• EPS

These Formats are scalable. They do not lose quality when resized. IMQRScan provide all these formats for its users at $0.00 for 7 days and then the user has to subscribe to get all the features.

3. Avoid Image Compression

Keeping an eye on image compression is necessary. Uploading QR code online usually compresses the images. To avoid such incidents:

• Link to a hosted version.
• Use a short URL.

IMQRScan is the best generator, as its dynamic QR codes have short URLs ensuring your QR code won't get blurred.

4. Run Test

Ensure to test code on various devices before you download it to distribute. You can use differ scanning apps to check the scanning quality. You should also use different softwares to check the code as QR Code blurr iphone is a common problem. Testing the code via Android and iOS will prevent scanning failures.

5. Use Professional QR Code Platforms

Do not generate codes from free platforms just to save money. In the future they will cost you more money. As QR code fails and faulty code can badly affect the brands reputation and turn down the customers.

So always choose a platform that ensures you get top notch code. IMQRScan is one of the best platforms. It creates HD quality codes in 23 languages and offers various format options for you to choose.

What Are The Tips To Avoid QR Code Blurry?

To avoid blurred code, follow these easy tips:

Choose Right Resolution

If you plan to distribute code online the criteria should be: 1024×1024. If you plan to print the code the criteria is 300 dpi at 2x2 inches. Source

Select Vector Formats

If you plan to incorporate the code into any design then use SVG or PDF.

Keep The Code Simple

Do not clutter the code with designs. Keep the color contrast simple and defined. A black and white design is most famous and reliable.

Choose Color Contrast Sensibly

The color contrast between QR code and background should be strong or QR code with no background. Do not select dark on dark or light on light. It becomes blended and difficult to scan.

Quiet Zones Are Important

Ensure to maintain clean margins or quiet zones around the QR codes. The blank spaces enable the scanning device to read perfectly.

Avoid Overcompress

Don't use JPEG when saving images. Use PNG for raster images. Ensure lossless compression.

Role of AI in Enhancing QR Code Clarity

AI is changing the nature and usability of QR codes when the codes are faded or broken. There are applications such as AI QR Code Enhancer that enhance the quality of clarity of the QR Code through machine learning and image processing that includes super-resolution, denoising, and edge detection. These techniques re-introduce lost information and create a sharper code that can be scanned.

Final Thoughts

QR code blur can destroy a brand's image and can reduce its sales within a few hours. So it's necessary to ensure none of your QR code is blurry. Follow the tips mentioned in the blog to get perfectly scannable code.

Use IMQRScan to generate and download the cheap QR code. As IMQRScan ensures your code is of HD quality and downloaded in any format you like.

Don't think twice. Subscribe to IMQRScan today! Generate clear scannable codes and boost your sales.