QR codes require precise print quality. But, what should a printer have to print perfect QR codes?
Whether in retail, catering or public spaces, QR codes are appearing in more and more places in everyday life. They are versatile and offer not only access to important information, but also the possibility of contactless payments. Behind the pattern of these codes lies a complex technology that requires precise print quality in order to function effectively. High-quality printers and first-class printer technologies are therefore crucial for printing QR codes.
Not only the price and quality, but also the origin and transparency of the supply chain are important criteria that customers pay attention to when making their purchases. In order to make this data available, QR codes are becoming increasingly widespread.
As a survey by the digital association Bitkom shows, 76% of retailers in Germany publish information about the certification of their products or ingredients. More than half (55 per cent) of retailers also already provide information on the repairability of products or the availability of spare parts.
Brick-and-mortar retailers are also recognising new opportunities to expand their information offering through digital applications. For example, they are making additional information available via QR codes on products or price tags. For QR codes to work properly, they must be printed cleanly and clearly, which requires a precise, high-quality printer. Find out more about what features are important when printing QR codes below:
What should I bear in mind when printing QR codes?
1. Readability and reliability: QR codes are based on a matrix of black and white dots that encode information. Inadequate print quality causes some of these dots to blur or become out of focus, affecting the readability of the code. High-quality printers and printer technologies ensure precise placement and definition of the dots, making QR codes easy to scan and reliable to read.
2. Longevity: QR codes are often used for long-term applications, whether on product packaging, marketing materials or business documents. If the print quality is inferior, the codes will fade or smudge over time, limiting their functionality. Professional printer technologies use durable print heads and media to ensure that QR codes remain clear and legible over time.
3. Accuracy and consistency: In the mass production of QR codes, for example on product labels or admission tickets, consistent quality is crucial. Good printers and printer technologies offer precise colour and pixel accuracy, which means that every printed QR code is exactly as required. This is particularly important for QR codes that need to be machine read or processed.
4. Versatility: QR codes are used in different environments and applied to a variety of surfaces from paper to plastic and metal. To ensure that QR codes are clear and legible on any surface, suitable printers offer a variety of printing and material options, even for the use of QR codes in challenging or unusual environments
Important features of a QR code printer
For organisations where accuracy and reliability are critical, professional printers and printer technologies are essential. They ensure that QR codes work effectively and provide added value for customers. In addition, QR code printers should offer speed and high print resolution to meet the needs of businesses.
A suitable QR code printer brings features such as stable performance, reliability and reasonable cost to help businesses achieve their goals effectively and fulfil the needs of their customers.
Printing speed
Saving time is a key factor in retail, industry and logistics. A label printer should therefore print large volumes of labels in a short time. In general, a printer that can print more than 50 labels per minute is suitable as a label printer for QR codes in retail, catering or logistics.
Print resolution
As the legibility of the QR code is crucial, a printer must be able to deliver flawless results. The print resolution of a printer for QR codes should therefore be at least 200 dpi. This ensures that the device provides razor-sharp printouts.
Costs and TCO
There is a wide range of printers on the market and various company requirements that a suitable QR code printer should fulfil. The factors mentioned above, such as durability, reliability and low maintenance requirements, as well as the costs, provide a guide. In addition, it is worth investing in a branded device, such as a printer from a well-known brand like Citizen, which is characterised by high quality. With their long service life, Citizen printers have proven themselves at many retailers, in logistics, catering and other areas and have been shown to be profitable in terms of TCO because they are very robust and durable.
The three best QR code printers from Citizen
The printing of QR code labels is possible with standard label printers that meet the respective business requirements. Here you will find an overview of three suitable QR code printers from Citizen:
Label printer CL-H300SV
The CL-H300SV model meets industry standards and is ideal for retail shops, restaurants, kitchen ordering, cafes and any environment where hygiene is important because it is bacteria resistant. With a flat top design and drop in media loading, it is suitable for all retail applications.
The CL-H300SV has a print speed of 200mm per second. With the ability to print tickets, wait numbers, coupons, kitchen orders and more – it is the perfect fit for an array of applications where QR codes are needed quickly on a first-class print.
CL-E300 compact label printer series
The CL-E300 is an attractive, easy-to-use printer for confined spaces. The CL-E300 series is available in direct thermal and thermal transfer versions, with 203 and 300dpi as well as cutter and peeler options for internal processing of 5-inch media rolls. The printers always guarantee good connectivity thanks to integrated Ethernet LAN, USB and serial interfaces as standard, as well as the EX model with optional Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or LAN with XML support.
Thanks to its high printing speed and extremely fast receipt printing at up to 200 mm per second, the CL-E300 is ideal for QR code printing.
Further applications in sight
In the future, the printing of QR codes will change even further, as dynamic 2D barcodes are already being discussed today. This is a QR code with a digital link that leads to different content, for example to a discount promotion in the shop, then on to the instructions for use of an appliance and at a later stage to recycling instructions. The choice of a suitable printer therefore remains an important parameter for the future.
Citizen also offers other models that are well suited for printing QR codes. For an overview, visit the website: www.citizen-systems.com