The Art of QRart

The QR code is a rapidly changing technology. Everyday people find new ways to make them look more attractive and everyday people find new and innovative uses for QR codes. The new QR codes are more than just black and white boxes. The new QR codes are vibrantly colored and artistically integrated into ads, business cards, billboards, magazines, and many other places. The new QR codes do more than just link you to URLs. They can transfer contact information, business cards, photos, text messages, and GPS locations just to name a few. As powerful as they are QR codes can also be fun and creative.

• What is a QR code?

A QR code is like a bar code except that it serves a different purpose. Instead of being used to track inventory, provide product descriptions, and calculate prices--QR is used to share URLs, photos, text messages, contact information, GPS coordinates, and business cards as well as many other pieces of information.

• How do I scan QR codes?

QR codes can be scanned using QR scanning apps which can be downloaded from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store

• How do I get a QR code?

You can make your own simple QR codes here. You can learn to make more advanced QR or QRart here.

The weakness of QR is also the strength of QR. QR has a tendency to pull your eyes towards it. Use this tendency to your advantage. Instead of allowing an unattractive QR to draw attention away from the center of the advertisement, it could be better to just make QR itself the center attraction. With the right technique the QR code itself has a way of creating harmony instead of breaking harmony. Use the QR's fluid pattern to blend in the same way that the new Marine Corps digital camouflage blends in with its environment.

Place the QR in areas with a lot of color. The old black and white QR codes are plain and unattractive, so placing them in the wrong spots can create distracting color contrast patterns. Placing QRs in colorful areas will allow the QR to blend in with the rest of the artwork. Try to place QR codes in a way that creates a harmonious balance of colors.

In an area where two contrasting colors collide, QR can be used to create a blending effect or transitioning effect. If you are going to make the QR code itself using colors other than black and white choose contrasting colors that are on opposite sides of the color wheel as this will allow it to be easily scanned.

QR can be used to create focal points. You can place QR where the natural focal points are, so that the QR code itself can be the focus of attention. You can also place a QR code to draw the viewers attention toward a particular area of the art. This works well if the artwork lacks a focal point. QR codes can also be placed to create a second focal point. Sometimes a secondary focal point can be used to create a sense of movement throughout the art or to get the eye to move from focal point to focal point. Experiment with multiple focal points to try to find a balance.

The QR code can also be used to create a sense of balance. Placing the QR in a lighter area can provide balance if objects in the artwork seemed to be weighted too heavily on a particular side or location. You can use the QR as a counterweight or counterbalance.

QR can also be used to create texture. QRs rough appearance can be used to create a rough texture. At the same time QR can also blend very well which can be used to create a softer texture. It all depends on its placement and its relationship to other parts of the artwork. The key is to experiment.

QR is a relatively new technology and a relatively new art form, but all of the fundamentals of art pretty much apply to QRart. Principles like composition, color theory, balance, focus, texture, and movement should all be considered when making QRart. Taking the extra time to incorporate these principles will make the difference between creating QR codes that are cold, distant, and rigid vs codes that are vibrant, engaging, and fluid. QR is a relatively new art form and like all other new art forms the key is to be creative and to not be afraid to experiment.