Choose before you print
| You need | Start here |
|---|---|
| A fixed website link in an Express design | Adobe Express’s free static QR quick action. |
| A standalone PNG or SVG of a fixed link | Scanely’s free QR generator, with no account. |
| Destination edits and QR scan analytics | Create a dynamic QR in a Scanely account, then place its image in your design. |
| WiFi details or a contact saved directly from the code | A dedicated WiFi or vCard generator. |
How to generate a QR in Adobe Express
- On the Express homepage, open the plus menu, select Quick actions, then Generate QR code.
- Enter the destination URL. Choose the style, color, and file format.
- Scan the preview to check the link. Download it, or open it in the editor to add it to a design.
Adobe lists PNG, JPEG, and PDF exports for this URL-based tool. Its current instructions cover the quick action. Features in other Adobe applications can differ.
Make a print file you can trust
Use the downloaded asset instead of a screenshot. Keep the QR square, with dark modules against a plain light background and an empty border on every side. Leave nearby text and decorative elements outside that border.
PNG is a practical choice for image placement. SVG is useful when you need to scale the QR in a vector workflow; Scanely’s free generator provides it. For a transparent PNG or SVG, use the transparent export tool and place it over a solid light area. Transparency does not make a QR readable over a photograph.
Check the size for your scanning distance, export the finished layout, and read its QR from the image. A physical proof is still necessary: glare, textured stock, folds, and low print quality are not visible in a clean source file.
If the destination needs to change later
A static QR contains fixed data. That is enough for many print jobs, especially when you control the linked page and can keep the URL stable. You can also use website analytics on that destination, including campaign parameters; the static image itself does not provide a QR scan dashboard.
For a campaign managed in Scanely, create a dynamic QR before placing it into your Adobe design. Later URL changes happen in the dashboard, while the printed image stays the same. Plan limits and feature availability are shown on our pricing page.
If the code has already stopped working, use our QR expiry troubleshooting guide. A readable QR that opens a broken page has a different problem from an image that a camera cannot decode.