7 Steps on How to Make a Transparent QR Code for Free

Here’s a secret from pro-marketers: a transparent QR code is key to seamlessly integrating QR codes into marketing campaigns! 

With a clear background, marketers can use QR codes to create bespoke designs on any available material: product packaging, posters, and brochures—even billboards, digital ads, and 3D displays.

Nailing the marketing campaign's design ensures the right application of QR codes and communicates the right message to your target audience. 

To increase your chances of success, here’s a quick and simple guide to creating the perfect QR code using a free QR code generator.

To ponder: Can a QR code be transparent?

Of course! A QR code can have a transparent background. But just to make it clear, only the background can be transparent, not the code or the pattern.

A QR code with a transparent background easily complements any design, color, or frame, blending well with the overall campaign visuals. But it can be tricky sometimes, so don’t forget to perform a QR code test.

A guide to creating a QR code using Free QR Code Generator

Making this type of QR code takes only seven steps. Plus, this online platform is completely free; no credit card details are required upon signing up.

Check the the steps below:

1. Visit Free QR Code Generator website by clicking the link
2. Choose among the available QR code solutions.
3. Enter the necessary information.
4. Customize the QR code design by choosing from the different colors, eye shapes, frames, and pattern design options. Add a logo for branding.
5. Under colors, toggle the option for Transparent Background.
6. Check if the QR codes work.
7. Download in either SVG (print quality) or PNG.

Pro-tip: Save your QR code in SVG format to make a scalable file that can be printed for high quality.

What to consider when creating a transparent QR code

Knowing how to create this type of QR code is just the first step for stunning visuals in your marketing campaign. Just like any tool, you should learn how to make the most out of it to guarantee its effective execution.

Here are a few QR code best practices you should note to make a functional and artistic QR code with a transparent background.

Follow your brand colors for consistent branding

If you’re overwhelmed by the QR code platform's color selection, the best approach is to follow your brand’s colors.

Consistent branding is crucial for increasing the success of your marketing campaign. That’s why every design element must follow your brand's overall design language.

The tricky part about using a transparent QR code, however, is that it doesn’t have a background. You must play with colors and, at the same time, maintain a contrast to guarantee that it is still recognizable and scannable.

Know the material where the QR code will be displayed

When it comes to QR codes, always remember that size matters! An effective marketing campaign with QR codes, more often than not, is determined by size.

That’s why you should never use a QR code for brochures on a billboard, as it won’t be readable by most QR code scanners.

Before generating a transparent background QR code, know the material where it will be displayed. This way, you can adjust the size and scalability to make it scannable even at a distance.

Be more creative in your QR code placement

Having no background presents many challenges in making your content visible to your target audience. So, you must strategically place the QR code in a recognizable and accessible location to boost leads and sales conversion.

On the other hand, you can fully embrace the transparency of the QR code in shapes! There are plenty of invisible QR code ideas where it is hidden in plain sight—kind of like an easter egg for your audience to find.

Regardless of where you want to place the QR code, be creative to create a compelling marketing campaign that people will scan.

Best uses of a transparent background QR code

Marketing campaigns are indeed the best activities for using QR codes. But how exactly can you implement them in your campaign? We’ve listed the five best use cases below.

Window QR codes on glass storefronts

Glass windows envelop the exterior of most modern stores. It’s a prime location to place your QR code marketing campaigns, as onlookers and passersby can quickly scan it for your current promotions or special deals.

Moreover, this store window QR code is effective with a new catalog of products, easily redirecting customers who may prefer to shop online.

Since glass is prone to glaring, it is best to test the QR code in different lighting conditions, angles, and distances to ensure it is recognizable by QR scanners, regardless of how people scan it.

Stencil QR codes in street art

If you want to appeal to your creative audience, one of the best ways to market to them is through the medium they’re familiar with—arts. A transparent QR code can blend easily with the overall design motif usually seen in street art.

The best part about using this QR code art in graffiti, for instance, is that your creativity is the limit. More creativity yields better results when appealing to this audience.

On the same note, brands can integrate QR codes on murals to pursue certain causes and corporate social responsibilities, such as advocating for the conservation of the natural ecosystem, which is elaborated in the QR code.

Just remember to place QR codes in a way that complements the overall design but is still distinguishable.

Clear QR code sticker on bags, shirts, mugs, and goodies

Say, you’re in an expo where plenty of brands are also launching their marketing campaigns.  How can you stand out from the competition?

Giving away merchandise, such as bags, shirts, mugs, and goods, is a great way to do it. But if you want to make the most out of this strategy, use a clear QR code sticker.

This way, even when the expo is finished, people can still scan the QR code to look back, view, or watch your marketing campaigns. 

Limited-time product packaging and labels

Are you planning to create a marketing campaign for the holiday season? Simply placing a product packaging QR code without a background in your product packaging can be one of your best bets.

For example, during the holidays, you can add holiday design elements with a QR code with transparent background to your existing product packaging—no need to overhaul the design completely.

Once the holiday campaign period elapses, you can easily revert to your original packaging.

This strategy not only saves you time and resources for designing your product packaging but also ensures you capture your customers’ awareness of the campaign.

QR promotions in traditional print media

Looking for ingenious ways to incorporate a transparent QR code into different media is always great. However, there’s still a big merit in simply improving the design of traditional print media, such as brochures, billboards, and more.

Using these media can make people feel familiar with the marketing process, which increases their interaction with your campaign. 

Plus, it’s a great way to reach your target audience, who may not be as familiar with QR codes, while still offering your younger audience a way to learn more about the campaign by scanning the code.

Transparency is the transformation of marketing campaigns

A transparent QR code is all you need to achieve a transformative marketing campaign that can unlock your best conversion rates into sales.

Having no background means better flexibility and creativity in the overall design and seamless integration of QR codes. A superior design attracts scanners and connects them to your marketing campaign.

Transform QR codes into successful marketing campaigns for FREE with Free QR Code Generator today.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to make a QR code PNG?

Once done creating the QR code, select the PNG option when downloading your customized QR code. The PNG format is often used to clear the background because it supports transparency features.

Can I make my QR code background transparent?

Of course! And the best part is you can do it for free using Free QR Code Generator.

How to make an invisible QR code?

Don’t confuse transparency with invisibility. An invisible QR code simply means the code is designed to camouflage itself in the overall design of the material. Depending on the design, it can have a background or no background.