Bootcamp · Day 2
Bootcamp Day 2: customize your QR code so it looks like yours
Yesterday you made a tracked QR code. Today you make it look like yours — by changing the shape of the little squares and the corner "eyes," not the colors. MyQR keeps classic codes black-on-white on purpose: that's the contrast a phone camera needs to read it fast, so your code can have personality and still scan on the first try. (Want a whole picture woven into the code? That's QArt — tested to scan before you can download it.)
What can I actually customize on a MyQR code?
You can change the shape of the modules (the small squares that make up the pattern) and the style of the three corner finder "eyes." That's the part people recognize as your look — and it's all today's styling changes, on purpose.
Open your Day-1 code and you'll find a couple of style choices: rounded or square modules, and a few corner-eye shapes. Pick a combination, and the same scannable code now has a softer, more finished feel — the kind of detail that makes a poster or sticker look designed instead of slapped together.
- Module shape — the little squares can be square, rounded, or dot-style.
- Corner eyes — the three big squares in the corners get their own shape treatment.
- Everything else stays put — the actual data pattern doesn't change, so the code keeps pointing where you aimed it on Day 1.
Why are classic MyQR codes black-on-white?
Because contrast is what lets a camera read a QR code quickly, and plain black-on-white gives the most contrast possible. For classic codes, MyQR treats the shape as your identity and leaves the color alone so the code reads on the first try.
A QR scanner works by telling dark modules apart from light background. The further apart those two are in brightness, the faster and more reliably your phone locks on. Low-contrast color combos — light gray on white, two similar colors, or a busy gradient — are exactly where scans start failing in real light. The QR Code standard (ISO/IEC 18004) calls for high contrast between the dark and light parts of the code, which is why black-on-white is the safe default.
Plenty of tools let you tint a code any color you like — and plenty of those codes fail under a dim restaurant light or a glossy print. MyQR's classic codes give you custom shape instead of custom color, so your code looks distinct and still scans every time. And when you want a full picture, QArt weaves a photo or logo into the code — we test it before you can download it. The look is yours; the reliability is not negotiable.
Will styling my code make it harder to scan?
No — shape changes alone don't hurt scannability the way low-contrast colors do, and keeping black-on-white means a styled MyQR code reads just like a plain one.
Rounded or dot-style modules are a cosmetic change to how each square is drawn, not a change to the data. As long as the dark-and-light contrast stays strong — which it does, because the code stays black-on-white — your camera still sees a clean pattern. The thing that actually breaks scans is poor contrast and clutter, and that's the exact problem black-on-white avoids.
Good habit: after you style it, test it. Open your own phone camera, point it at the code on screen, and confirm it still jumps to the right place before you commit it to anything.
Do it now: style your Day-1 code
Open the code you made on Day 1, pick a module shape and a corner-eye style, then scan it with your phone to confirm it still works. Two minutes, and your code now looks like yours.
- 1.Open the dynamic code you made on Day 1.
- 2.Choose a module shape — try rounded for a friendlier feel, dots for a modern one.
- 3.Choose a corner-eye style so the three corners match the look.
- 4.Point your phone camera at it and confirm it still opens the right link.
- 5.Keep it — the styling rides along when you export later.
Want the full walkthrough with screenshots? See how to customize your QR code. And the rest of the bootcamp lives on the learn page.
What's coming on Day 3?
Day 3 is about getting your styled code off the screen and into the world: exporting print-ready sticker sheets and PDFs so it scans crisply on paper.
Tomorrow you'll turn this good-looking code into something you can actually stick on a window, a product, or a flyer — including ready-to-print sticker sheets with Avery die-cut presets, all with a crisp vector QR that stays sharp at any size. Bring the code you just styled. Day 3: print and place.
Frequently asked questions
Can I add my logo or change the color of my QR code in MyQR?
Yes to the logo — QArt, on your code's page, weaves your logo or any photo into the code itself, and we test it before you can download it. Classic codes stay black-on-white for reliable scanning, with module shapes and corner eyes as the way to make them yours.
If I restyle the code, does the link change?
No. Styling only changes how the pattern is drawn, not where it points. And if it's a dynamic code from your account, you can re-aim the destination anytime without restyling or reprinting — see dynamic vs static.
Is custom styling available on the free plan?
Yes. Custom module shapes and corner styles are included on the free tier, along with your free dynamic code, full scan analytics, and print-ready stickers. Paid plans are coming at launch (pricing isn't finalized yet) from about $5/month, with early-bird pricing — but styling isn't behind a paywall.
How do I know my styled code will scan in the real world?
Test it yourself before you print: open your phone camera and check it opens the right link. Keeping it black-on-white gives you the high contrast cameras rely on, which is the single biggest factor in whether a code reads cleanly.
Sources
Keep reading
Make a free QR code and style it
Paste a link, get a tracked QR code, then give it a custom shape — all on the free generator, no signup to start.