Enhanced QR Code Generator

A comprehensive GUI application for creating styled QR codes with advanced features including batch generation, scanning, and extensive customization options.

Features

Visual Styling

• Themes: Classic squares, rounded corners, circles, gapped squares, vertical/horizontal bars

• Color Effects: Solid colors, radial gradients, square gradients, horizontal/vertical gradients, image-based color masks

• Custom Colors: Full hex color support with color picker

• Size Control: 100-1000px with precise border control

• Error Correction: L, M, Q, H levels for different reliability needs

Content Types

• General Text: Any plain text content

• URLs: Websites with automatic protocol detection

• WiFi Credentials: SSID, password, security type, hidden networks

• Business Cards: vCard format with name, organization, phone, email, website

• Email: Pre-filled mailto links with subject and body

• Phone Numbers: Direct dial links

• SMS: Pre-filled text messages

Image Overlays

• Logo Integration: Add center logos or images

• Flexible Sizing: 5-50% of QR code size

• Background Options: Match QR, custom color, or transparent

• Padding Control: Precise spacing around images

• URL Support: Load images from local files or web URLs

Advanced Features

• Configuration Management: Save and load custom presets

• Batch Generation: Create multiple QR codes from CSV/JSON files with full styling support

• QR Scanning: Decode QR codes from image files (optional)

• Universal Clipboard: Works across Windows, macOS, Linux with multiple fallback methods

• Export Formats: PNG, JPEG, BMP

Quick Start for GitHub Pages

The web-based version of the application is available at https://revalew.github.io/qr-generator/. It provides a user-friendly interface for generating QR codes with various styling options, without the necessity for a local installation. This version was created using PyScript and GitHub Pages.

Quick Start for Local Installation

Automatic Installation (Recommended)

# Clone or download the project
git clone https://github.com/revalew/qr-generator.git

cd qr-generator

# Run the complete setup - handles everything automatically
python setup.py

Manual Installation

# Create virtual environment
python -m venv qr_env

# Activate environment
# Windows:
qr_env\Scripts\activate

# Linux/macOS:
source qr_env/bin/activate

# Install all dependencies
pip install -r requirements.txt

Run the Application

# Activate environment
# Windows:
qr_env\Scripts\activate

# Linux/macOS:
source qr_env/bin/activate

# After installation, run:
python qr_generator.py

Usage

GUI Application

# Activate environment
# Windows:
qr_env\Scripts\activate

# Linux/macOS:
source qr_env/bin/activate

python qr_generator.py

1. Choose a content type (URL, WiFi, Business Card, etc.)

2. Enter your content

3. Customize style, colors, and effects

4. Add image overlay if desired

5. Generate and export your QR code

Command Line Utilities

# Batch generation from CSV/JSON
python qr_utils.py batch examples/sample_batch.csv

# Scan QR codes from images (requires opencv + pyzbar)
python qr_utils.py scan --file qr_image.png --analyze

# Create sample files
python qr_utils.py samples --all

Batch Generation

Create CSV files with these columns:

• content: The QR code content (required)

• filename: Output filename (optional)

• theme: rounded, circular, classic, gapped, vertical*bars, horizontal_bars *(optional)_

• color_mask: solid, radial, square, horizontal, vertical, image (optional)

• fg_color: Foreground color in hex (e.g., #000000) (optional)

• bg_color: Background color in hex (e.g., #FFFFFF) (optional)

• size: Output size in pixels (optional)

• error_correction: L, M, Q, H (optional)

Example CSV:

content,filename,theme,color_mask,fg_color,bg_color,size
https://example.com,website_qr,rounded,radial,#1a365d,#ffffff,400
WIFI:T:WPA;S:MyWiFi;P:password;H:false;,wifi_qr,circular,horizontal,#8B4513,#F5DEB3,350
mailto:contact@company.com,email_qr,classic,solid,#0066cc,#f0f8ff,300

Project Structure

qr-generator/
├── index.html                      # PyScript page
├── qr_generator.py                 # Main GUI application
├── qr_utils.py                     # Command line utilities
├── requirements.txt                # Dependencies
├── setup.py                        # Automatic installer
├── assets/                         # Assets (CSS, images)
│   ├── css/                        # CSS files for PyScript page
│   ├── images/                     # Example images for overlay and masks
│   ├── pyscript/                   # PyScript core (compiled dist)
│   ├── pyscript_config/            # PyScript configuration and code
│   ├── pyscript_example/           # PyScript example
│   ├── dist.zip                    # Archive of PyScript compilation
│   ├── pyscript-2025.5.1.zip       # Archive of PyScript repo
│   └── README.md                   # Local compilation instructions (for PyScript)
├── config/                         # User configurations
│   └── user_presets/               # Saved presets
├── examples/                       # Sample files
│   ├── sample_batch.csv            # Batch generation example
│   ├── sample_config.json          # Configuration example
│   └── example_config_files.json   # Preset library
└── exports/                        # Generated QR codes
    └── batch_output/               # Batch generation output

Styling Guide

Theme Selection

• Classic: Traditional squares, maximum compatibility

• Rounded: Modern look with rounded corners

• Circular: Artistic circles, may have scanner limitations

• Gapped: Unique spaced squares for branding

• Vertical/Horizontal Bars: Linear patterns for artistic effect

Color Combinations

• Professional: Navy (#1a365d) on white (#ffffff)

• Modern: Dark gray (#2d3748) on light gray (#edf2f7)

• Vibrant: Purple (#7c3aed) on lavender (#f5f3ff)

• Nature: Green (#059669) on mint (#ecfdf5)

• Ocean: Blue (#0066cc) on light blue (#f0f8ff)

Error Correction Levels

• L (~7%): Perfect printing conditions

• M (~15%): General purpose (recommended)

• Q (~25%): Image overlays or damage expected

• H (~30%): Maximum reliability, emergency use

Size Recommendations

• Business Cards: 300-400px

• Posters: 500-800px

• Digital Displays: 400-600px

• Print Materials: 600-1000px

• Mobile Screens: 300-500px

Dependencies & Installation

Core Dependencies (Required)

• Python 3.7+

• qrcode[pil] - QR code generation

• Pillow - Image processing

Optional Dependencies

• pyperclip - Enhanced clipboard support

• opencv-python-headless - QR code scanning

• pyzbar - QR code decoding

Linux System Dependencies

The setup script will automatically detect and offer to install:

• python3-tk - GUI framework (required)

• xclip/xsel - Clipboard support

• libzbar0 - QR scanning library

Troubleshooting

Clipboard not working:

• The app includes multiple fallback methods

• Works on all platforms without extra setup

QR scanning not available:

• Run: pip install opencv-python-headless pyzbar

• Linux: Setup script will offer to install libzbar0

GUI not showing on Linux:

• Setup script will offer to install python3-tk

Package installation fails:

• Try Python 3.11 or 3.12 instead of 3.13

• Some packages may not be available for the latest Python

Examples

Business Card QR Code

Content Type: Business Card (vCard)
Theme: Rounded Corners
Colors: #1a365d on #ffffff
Image Overlay: company_logo.png (20% size)
Error Correction: M

WiFi Sharing

Content Type: WiFi Credentials
Network: CoffeeShop_Guest
Password: welcome123
Theme: Circular
Colors: #8B4513 on #F5DEB3
Effect: Radial Gradient

Website Promotion

Content Type: URL
URL: https://mycompany.com
Theme: Gapped Squares
Colors: #2d3748 on #edf2f7
Effect: Square Gradient
Size: 500px

Support

• Check the examples/ folder for sample configurations
• Run python qr_utils.py --help for command line help
• The setup script handles most installation issues automatically