Safe Logo Size

Why It Matters

For developers working with PixQR, Safe Logo Size directly impacts the reliability and performance of QR codes in real-world applications. If a logo exceeds safe dimensions, it can cause scanning failures, particularly on mobile devices or in low-light conditions.

From a brand safety perspective, maintaining a consistent and recognizable logo within the QR code helps users identify the source. However, if the logo is too large or pixelated, it can lead to confusion or mistrust. Safe Logo Size ensures that brand elements are present without sacrificing scan performance.

For operational workflows, Safe Logo Size is a critical configuration parameter that affects the consistency of QR code output across platforms. It helps avoid the need for manual adjustments or re-generations, streamlining the deployment process.

How It Works

Safe Logo Size is determined by the QR code’s error correction level, module size, and the target resolution of the final output. It is calculated to ensure that the embedded logo does not overlap with critical data modules or distort the code's structure.

• Safe Logo Size is typically expressed in pixels or as a percentage of the QR code's total area.
• It is dependent on the QR code's version (size), which ranges from 1 to 40, with each version containing a specific number of modules.
• The logo must not exceed 10% of the total QR code area to maintain scannability under standard conditions.
• For high-resolution outputs, the minimum resolution of the logo should be at least 100 DPI to prevent pixelation.
• Safe Logo Size parameters are configurable in PixQR's API and UI, allowing developers to define acceptable dimensions based on use case requirements.

Quick Reference

Basic Example

PixQR Example QR

This QR links directly to this glossary page, so printed notes, onboarding docs, and support material can bring scanners back to the current reference.

/glossary/qr-code-design/qr-code-design-safe-logo-size

This example demonstrates a basic configuration for setting a safe logo size in a PixQR API request.

{
  "qr_data": "https://example.com",
  "logo": {
    "url": "https://example.com/logo.png",
    "size": "15%"
  }
}

The size property is set to 15%, which is within the safe limit of 10% for most QR code versions. This ensures that the logo enhances brand recognition without compromising scan performance.

Production Example

This example shows a more robust implementation with validation, error handling, and dynamic configuration based on QR code version.

function generateQRWithLogo(data, logoUrl, version) {
  const maxLogoSize = Math.min(10, 100 / version);
  const logoSize = Math.min(10, maxLogoSize);

  return {
    qr_data: data,
    logo: {
      url: logoUrl,
      size: `${logoSize}%`,
      resolution: 150
    }
  };
}

This version dynamically calculates the logo size based on the QR code version, ensuring that the logo remains within safe limits regardless of the output size. It also enforces a minimum resolution of 150 DPI, improving visual clarity.

Common Mistakes

• Setting logo size to more than 10% of the QR code area, which can cause scanning failures on some devices.
• Using low-resolution logos (below 100 DPI), leading to pixelation and reduced visual quality.
• Ignoring QR code version when calculating safe logo size, resulting in oversized logos in smaller codes.
• Not validating logo dimensions before QR code generation, causing runtime errors or invalid outputs.
• Using vector logos without converting them to raster formats, which may not render correctly in QR code outputs.

Security And Production Notes

• Always validate logo URLs to prevent malicious content injection in QR code outputs.
• Enforce minimum resolution requirements to ensure logos do not degrade scan performance.
• Use a consistent safe logo size across all QR code variations to maintain brand integrity and scan reliability.
• Test QR codes with embedded logos under various lighting and scanning conditions to verify performance.
• Implement dynamic sizing logic to adapt logo dimensions based on QR code version and intended use case.

Related Concepts

Safe Logo Size is closely connected to several key QR code design and operational concepts:

• QR Code Version: Determines the total number of modules and affects the maximum safe logo size.
• Error Correction Level: Influences how much of the QR code can be obscured while still maintaining scannability.
• Module Size: The physical dimension of each QR code cell, which impacts how much space is available for logos.
• Scan Reliability: Ensures that QR codes remain scannable under real-world conditions.
• Brand Safety: Maintains consistent branding while preventing visual clutter that could affect performance.

Further Reading

• MDN Web Docs
• WHATWG HTML Standard
• QR Code Version Information
• ISO/IEC 18004:2015 QR Code Standard
• PixQR API Documentation