Quick Response codes, or QR codes, are everywhere. You sit down at a restaurant and to read the menu, you have to scan a QR code. You walk through a trade show, stop by a booth with stellar equipment, and to get that show discount, you gotta scan a QR code. You’re picking up a new couch you found on Facebook Marketplace. To Venmo the seller, they bring up the QR code for their account so you can scan it and easily reimburse them.
The usage of QR codes has grown and will continue to grow. According to Statistica, about 88 million US citizens scanned a QR code in 2022 (a 26% increase from 2020). It’s projected that by 2025, more than 100 million people will be scanning a QR code. It’s not surprising. From marketing promotional offers to sharing more information, QR codes have evolved as a popular and efficient way for businesses to interact with customers. Now imagine if you printed a QR code on a t-shirt! But how do you create QR codes for screen printing? Let’s dive in.
CREATING A QR CODE
Generating a QR code is simple and can be accomplished in the following easy steps:
- Do a simple Google search for “QR code generator” and select one of the many sites available for creating QR codes. Most sites have a short, step-by-step process that you can follow.
- You will be prompted to enter the URL that you want to be associated with your QR code.
- Download the image, resize it if needed, and print it out on film.
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PRINTING A QR CODE
Printing QR codes have a couple of nuances. First of all, let’s talk about mesh count. Since the image needs to be super crisp in order for a smartphone to recognize it, use a screen with a higher mesh count (at least 200). This will limit the amount of ink flowing through the screen and will help keep edges crisp.
Once the screens have been burned, it’s time to print. When printing QR codes, it’s best to use ink with a matte finish, like water-based ink. QR codes do not read well when printed with reflective inks. The ink should be printed on the flattest surface possible. On a garment, this would be somewhere on the back or lower part of the shirt, so the wearer of the shirt can smooth out the garment for the code to be read.
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Get creative and have fun with this easy-to-print, yet highly useful code. Once you create one QR code, it’s easy to replicate and you can print QR codes to your heart’s content. Use QR codes to promote your business, give extra garment or print details, link to a customer’s business, and so much more.
