We are proud to announce that Heritage Makers is on the cutting edge of new technology—being one of the first companies in our industry to allow you to place your customized QR codes on our customizable products.QR Codes have been around for a while but are now entering the mainstream of our lives. It’s time for us to get on board and start making our 2-dimensional projects come to life with this new interactive technology. You may be asking some of the following questions:
What is a QR Code?
Sound too difficult to figure out? Scared about the latest technology? Don’t know how or why to use them? Don’t be afraid! We are going to show you how easy they can be to use.
Who can scan a QR Code?
Where do I get a QR Code Reader?
For our Android users, we recommend going to the Google Play App Store and getting the QR Droid Reader.
Once you have a QR reader app loaded, give it a try! It’s amazing how many QR codes you’ll find around you to read.
How does the QR Code App Work?
Why would I want to create my own QR Codes?
How do I create my own QR codes?
Once you have a generator page pulled up, give it a try. Type in a message or copy and paste the URL from your favorite YouTube video and see what happens. You’ll be amazed!
Tips and Tricks for Successfully Using a QR Code on a Studio Project:
#2 — Always test your QR Code before publishing your project. Always, always! After you have created your own QR code and dropped it into your Studio project, give it a test to make sure that it is readable at 100% of the project size. If you go to “View” at the top of your Studio page, scroll down to Zoom and select 100%. That will give you an accurate view of the size it will be when printed. Simply hold your smart phone up to your computer screen and scan. Did it take you to where you wanted to go? If not, try re-generating the code or making the QR Code larger in your project.
#3 — Until people become aware of QR Codes and how to use them, we suggest placing some simple instructions on your holiday cards this year. For instance: “To see what’s new in our lives, simply open up a QR Code reader app on your smart phone, point your phone’s camera at the code on the card and scan.”
#4 — We suggest that you always use the QR Code in its original black and white form. If you choose to add color, always remember that the code color should be dark and placed against a light-colored background. Make sure the contrast is sufficient or the code will be difficult to scan. A reversed-out code, where the background is dark and the pixels are light, is never recommended. And always, always test before publishing!
QR Code FAQ’s
Although not easy, if you use your computer’s search engine, you can find a few sites that offer a service of translating the QR code for you. But it requires taking a picture of the printed code, downloading the picture to your computer and then uploading the QR code to the translation site.
Will QR Codes be good for years to come? Or are they a passing fad?
QR codes have been around for a while but are just becoming popular in the mainstream. QR codes are being used in magazines, on marketing campaigns, in museums and art galleries. As long as the URL or website address exists, QR codes will always work.
How do we get our own QR Codes into our Studio account and can they be used in both Basic and Premier?
QR Codes can be uploaded into your account just like a photo. Once in your Photo Album, a QR code can be used in a project just as a photo would. Just drag and drop to replace an existing QR code or photo in a project. QR Codes that are .png or .jpg files can be uploaded into a Premier account. However, QR Codes need to be saved as .jpg files to be uploaded into a Basic account. To save an image as a .jpg, simply right click on your code and select “all files” as the file type and be sure to type in a file name followed by .jpg.
What do I look for when searching in the Template Gallery?
How else can a QR Code be used?
Driving directions on a party invitation
Preserving Grandma and Grandpa’s story or message to future generations
Documenting each child’s school year
Making a video guest book for the bride and groom
Placing a video recording on your family holiday ornament
Adding your baby’s first cry to his birth announcement
Making a card asking your girlfriend to the dance
Adding clips of each school year to a graduation card or gift
Talking calendars where there is a special message recorded for each family member’s birthday or a special holiday message
Letting Dad read stories to the little ones to hear while he’s serving far away, or your little ones recording video messages to send to him The possibilities are endless with QR Codes. Clearly, our society values all things digital but QR Codes are also fun to play with and can add that “cool factor” to your Heritage Makers projects. There is no need to fear the unknown. We, at Heritage Makers, encourage you to give it a try and to see how simple and easy it can be. For further information, be sure to check out our free recorded QR class or call your Heritage Makers Consultant. Because technology changes at a rapid pace, some of the website and phone app information in this article may be outdated. You may have to search out different QR Code generating websites or code reader applications for your mobile devices.