Adding QR Codes to Your Snap2Finish Projects
Posted: November 24, 2017 | By: Stacy Croninger
We take and save LOTS of videos on our smart phones! Bring your Snap2Finish projects TO LIFE by adding QR codes to your digital projects. Imagine looking through your family album and enjoying the pictures of your new baby…then quickly scanning the QR code right on your album page to watch the video you took of the baby’s first coo’s and smile or watch your daughter’s first dance at her wedding, your son’s home run or your new puppy! It’s EXCITING, right!
How do we get our own QR Codes into your Snap2Finish account?
QR Codes can be uploaded into your account just like a photo. Once in your Photo Album, a QR code can be used in a project just as a photo would. Just drag and drop into the photo space in a project.
With QR codes, you can make any printed project more interactive. Put one on party invitations with directions or a gift registry. Have you thought about personalizing your holiday cards with your family newsletter or videos of the kids playing their favorite sport or a photographic slideshow set to music? QR codes simply bring a 2-dimensional product to life. What fun!
You may be asking some of the following questions:
What is a QR Code? QR code simply stands for “quick response” code. It’s like a traditional barcode but so much more. QR codes actually have information embedded into their pixels and can store amazing amounts of flexible data. QR codes have been around for a while and are usually used to market products. Have you noticed them on magazines, billboards, business cards, shop windows, t-shirts and more? When scanned, QR codes direct people to personal and business websites and blogs. They can contain text messages, music or your favorite YouTube videos.
Sound too difficult to figure out? Scared about the latest technology? Don’t know how or why to use them? Don’t be afraid! We are going to show you how easy they can be to use.
Who can scan a QR Code? Anyone who has a smart phone or tablet with a camera can download a QR Code Reader App and then scan a QR code. Once you have the App, you simply take out your mobile phone, point your camera at a QR code and you will instantly get more information—maybe it will take you to a website, a video or a text message.
Where do I get a QR Code Reader? If you have an iPhone or iPad, simply go to the App Store and search for QR Readers. Most of them should be free. For our Android users, we recommend going to the Google Play App Store and getting the QR Droid Reader. Once you have a QR reader app loaded, give it a try! It’s amazing how many QR codes you’ll find around you to read.
How does the QR Code App Work? Once you’ve installed the App, simply point your camera at the QR code; the App will then lock on and scan it. The QR code will load the data instantly and you will be brought to the web page, video or text message directly.
How do I create my own QR codes? You’ll need to jump on your computer and search for free QR Code Generators. You’ll find many options. I recommend www.qurify.com. Once you have a generator page pulled up, give it a try. Type in a message or copy and paste the URL from your favorite YouTube video and see what happens. You’ll be amazed!
Tips & Tricks for Successfully Using a QR Code on a Snap2Finish Project:
#1 — Never print a QR code which is smaller than ¾-inch square on a card and always print larger if used on a poster or canvas. The more data you put into the code, the smaller the dots become, so size adjustments may need to be made. For most smart phones, the relationship between scan distance and minimum QR code size is approx. 10:1. That means a 1-inch code will be most effectively scanned at 10-inches or less.
#2 — Always test your QR Code before publishing your project. Always, always! After you have created your own QR code and dropped it into your Studio project, give it a test to make sure that it is readable at 100% of the project size. Simply hold your smart phone up to your computer screen and scan. Did it take you to where you wanted to go? If not, try re-generating the code or making the QR Code larger in your project.
#3 — Until people become aware of QR Codes and how to use them, we suggest placing some simple instructions on your holiday cards this year. For instance: “To see what’s new in our lives, simply open up a QR Code reader app on your smart phone, point your phone’s camera at the code on the card and scan.”
#4 — We suggest that you always use the QR Code in its original black and white form, If you choose to add color, always remember that the code color should be dark and placed against a light-colored background. Make sure the contrast is sufficient or the code will be difficult to scan. A reversed-out code, where the background is dark and the pixels are light, is never recommended. And always, always test before publishing!
QR Code FAQ’s
Is there any way to access QR codes without a smart phone? Although not easy, if you use your computer’s search engine, you can find a few sites that offer a service of translating the QR code for you. But it requires taking a picture of the printed code, downloading the picture to your computer and then uploading the QR code to the translation site.
Will QR Codes be good for years to come? Or are they a passing fad? QR codes have been around for a while and are being used in magazines, on marketing campaigns, in museums and art galleries. As long as the URL or website address exists, QR codes will always work.
Post provided by Helen Watt – 5 Star Executive Director
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