Now that people are talking about them, you’re starting to see QR Codes used more frequently. Quick Response codes let the appropriate code scanner read the embedded content and interpret it accordingly. If you read this blog yesterday, you’ll remember that I created and used QR Codes for links to the four feature Ontario Edublogs.
If you go to my Scoop.it site, I’ve created QR Codes for each of the blogs on a separate page. Take a picture with your QR Code reader and you’re directed to the website.
Normally, we think of QR Codes as a combination of black symbols on a white background. For example, my website http://www.dougpeterson.ca looks like this as a QR Code.
But, that is so blah! I was doing some reading and was interested to note that they don’t have to be black on white. I viewed that as a challenge. Could I deck out my own code? I’m sure that there are limits to what can be done but I decided to have a go at it.
First of all, the original code is pretty small. I brought it into an image editing program and doubled the dimensions to come up with a bigger image.
If you look closely, you’ll see that the image has actually lost a bit of its sharpness and quality. But, a quick check with Google Goggles and Barcode Scanner indicated that there still was enough detail to do the deed. Now, I’m off…
I decided to colour it up a bit. I deleted the white background (it seemed like it was going to be easy until I got going but I persevered.) Using a colour fill tool, I did a little bit of painting…
Does it still scan? Check!
Oh, this is good. What would it look like with a pattern for a background?
Still work? You bet.
Now, why would you want to do this? For me, it was the challenge to see if I could make it work. But, I’m thinking about using the concept with students. It’s one thing to use a tool to create a black and white QR Code. But, it isn’t a big stretch to see a couple of eyes in the QR Code. With some editing, you could very quickly personalize your own QR Code. The more you do – add layers, colour, fill, etc., the more you enhance your digital image editing skills. In the meantime, in the proper hands, it becomes a piece of art. Or at least a Rorschach test!
And hopefully generate ideas for decking out QR Codes for any classroom activity that you’re doing.
doug -- off the record 
Please share your thoughts here. I’d enjoy reading them.