Downloading and printing QR codes
Last updated June 13, 2026
Where to download
- Open the passport in the editor and go to Review & publish. The QR panel sits in the final panel together with the publish actions, in both the Guided and One page views.
- Click SVG or PNG under the QR preview.
- To change the export size or resolution first, open Export options (the settings (sliders) icon at the top of the QR panel).
The file is named after your product (for example linen-shirt-dpp-qr.svg), so bulk downloads stay sortable.
The same panel shows the Encoded URL with a copy button. If you'd rather have your label supplier generate the code in their own tooling, copy the URL and send them that — any QR generator encoding the exact same URL produces a code that resolves identically. What that URL means is covered in GS1 Digital Link explained.
For a draft passport the panel shows a preview labelled "Preview — publish to activate". You can download it, but the code won't lead anywhere useful until you publish.
SVG vs PNG
- SVG is a vector format: it scales to any size with no quality loss, which is why it's the format to send to print. The export embeds a physical size in millimeters, so a 20mm SVG opens at 20mm in your supplier's design tools.
- PNG is a fixed-resolution image for digital use — product pages, emails, internal docs. Two resolutions are available: Standard (1024px) and High-res (2048px).
One format to avoid entirely: JPG. Lossy compression blurs the module edges and breaks scannability. If a workflow demands a raster image, use the PNG.
Picking a size
Export options offers SVG size presets matched to common textile applications:
| Preset | Size | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| Care label | 20mm | Sewn-in care/composition labels |
| Hang tag | 25mm | Hang tags and swing tickets (the default) |
| Large | 30mm | Packaging, inserts, larger labels |
| Custom | 10–200mm | Anything else |
The expandable Print guidance section in the QR panel keeps the minimums on hand: care labels minimum 20mm, hang tags 25mm or larger, and woven labels minimum 14mm — for woven labels, send the SVG to your supplier rather than a raster file, since weaving needs the vector outlines.
Bigger is safer. A QR code that scans fine on screen can fail at 15mm on a curved, creased, or textured surface.
Print quality essentials
PassportCraft generates codes that are already print-hardened:
- High error correction (Level H) — the code tolerates up to 30% damage, which matters on fabric labels that crease and abrade.
- A built-in quiet zone — the white border around the code is part of the standard, not empty space. Never let artwork, text, or label edges intrude into it.
- Black on white — maximum contrast. If your designer recolors the code, keep dark modules on a light background, never the reverse.
And the universally safe practices on top:
- Print at or above the minimum size for the placement (see the table above).
- Avoid placing the code across a seam or fold line.
- Matte finishes scan more reliably than glossy ones under direct light.
Serial numbers
If the passport's optional Serial Number field is filled, the QR code automatically encodes the item-level form of the URL, /01/{GTIN}/21/{serial}, instead of the product-level /01/{GTIN}. There's no separate toggle: the encoded URL follows the passport's data. If you serialize, each serial number needs its own passport record with a matching Serial Number, or the scanned code won't find it.
Downloading in bulk
From the Passports page you can export many codes at once:
- Select passports with the checkboxes — or select none to export everything in the current view.
- Click Download QR Codes (in the toolbar on the All and Published tabs, or in the action bar that appears when passports are selected).
- You get
passportcraft-qr-codes.zip: one print-ready SVG per passport at 25mm, plus aREADME.txtwith the print guidelines and a list of any passports that don't have a GTIN yet.
If unpublished passports are in your selection, the action bar warns you: "Some selected passports are not published. Their QR codes won't resolve until published." The files still export (useful for preparing label artwork ahead of a launch), but remember the codes only go live when the passports do. See Drafts vs published passports for how the two states behave.
Test before mass printing
One scan now saves a reprint later
Before committing to a production run of labels or hang tags, print one physical sample at final size on the final material, and scan it with a normal phone camera in normal lighting. A code that scans on your monitor proves nothing about a 20mm code woven into a textured label.
A sensible pre-print checklist:
- The passport is published and scanning your test print opens the live passport page.
- The GTIN on the passport matches the product the label goes on.
- The printed size meets the minimum for its placement, with the quiet zone intact.
- The file sent to the printer is the SVG (or the PNG — never a JPG conversion).
If the test print won't scan, work through QR code not scanning to find the cause before changing your artwork.
For the bigger picture of how these codes fit the EU's labelling rules, see our guide to product passport QR codes and GS1 Digital Link.
Frequently asked questions
Should I download SVG or PNG?
SVG for anything that goes to print — it's a vector format that scales to any size without quality loss, and label suppliers can place it directly into their artwork. PNG is for digital use: web pages, emails, presentations, or print workflows that can't handle vector files.
Does the QR code change if I edit my passport?
No. The QR code encodes a URL built from your GTIN (and serial number, if set), not the passport's content. Edit and republish as much as you like — printed codes keep working. The code only changes if you change the GTIN or Serial Number themselves.
Can I print the QR code in my brand colors?
Downloads are black on white, which is the safest combination for scanning. If your label supplier recolors the code, keep the contrast high (dark modules on a light background) and test a physical sample before committing to a production run.