QR codes have been part of our daily lives for over two decades. From menus in restaurants and bars to informative information at museums, QR codes are a handy tool many still know and love.
Simply put, QR codes act as a connector between the internet and the physical world. Using your smartphone camera, a QR code can be read, and you will receive a text, add a business card contact to your devices, open a Web hyperlink, or compose an email or text message. With no need to download any particular reader or a specific app, QR codes are an easy-to-use marketing tool. It’s a simple, quick, and valuable way to share important information.
But what most people don’t know is that you can create your own QR codes using Adobe InDesign. Using InDesign, you can generate and edit high-quality QR codes that behave exactly like native vector files.
From menus in restaurants and bars to informative information at museums, QR codes are a handy tool that can be used in so many ways.
How to Create a QR Code in InDesign: Step by Step
No matter your design experience, you can create QR codes using InDesign. InDesign makes it super simple to do so with this five-step process:
Access The Dialog Box
Click on Object in the top menu bar. From the dropdown menu, click Generate QR Code. A Generate QR Code dialog box will now be displayed on your screen. Notice the Content and Color tabs on the top of the dialog box.
Add Content Data
Click on the Content tab and select the data type you want to add. You’ll have the following options:
- Web hyperlink
- Plain text
- Business card
- Text message
Depending on what content type selection, one or more fields will be displayed to add additional information.
Add Some Color
QR codes can be more than just black and white squares. Click on the Color tab to access a swatch list that you can use to customize your QR code.
Generate Your QR Code
Click Ok in the dialog box to generate the QR code.
Accessing Your QR Code
There are two ways you can see your QR code:
- If you’ve selected a frame before generating your QR code, it will automatically appear within that frame.
- If you haven’t selected a frame, the QR code is loaded on the Place Gun and be accessed like an EPS object in the following way:
- Clicking inside the document places the object in its default size.
- Clicking into an existing frame places the code inside the frame.
- Click and dragging draws a new frame with a fixed aspect ratio, and releasing the mouse, places the code inside the frame.
- Clicking inside the document places the object in its default size.
Creative Ways To Use QR Codes
Now that you’ve successfully generated your QR codes, it’s time to use them in unexpected and creative ways. To help you find excellent ways to utilize this incredible asset, here are a few creative ideas:
Business Cards
Give potential customers something extra by adding a QR code to your business cards. QR codes on business cards should always showcase more of what you do as an individual or company. It would therefore make sense that QR codes take customers to additional information like a website, portfolio of work, or social media accounts. Carefully think about what you want that information to be to ensure it is something you’re proud of and is evergreen.
Promotional Stickers
Stickers are a great guerrilla marketing tool that, combined with a strategically placed QR code, creates brand awareness. Create trendy, beautiful designed stickers that the public wants to stick on their water bottles and laptops. Additional beautifully designed, high-quality stickers will intrigue the public to check out where the QR codes lead.
Product Labels
Product labels usually only have enough space for the essential information that a customer needs to use a product or cautionary statement. Adding a QR code to your labeling can convey even more information to help your customers have a better experience. From candles and olives to baby clothing and homeware, no matter what you’re selling, QR codes can be so many products.
Retail Storefront
Add a QR code to your retail storefront giving curious shoppers a sweet discount or access to your loyalty program. Using custom wrapping paper, you can easily dress your storefront window with various imagery, including your QR code. Alternatively, you could use custom stickers and place them around the store, like in fitting rooms and at pay points.
For some, QR codes are on the out, but we believe they are here to stay. As such a dynamic marketing tool, brands are not slowing down on using QR codes. Generate your own QR code today with InDesign and take advantage of this fantastic tool.
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