Can I Add a Logo or Change Colors on My QR Code?

Branded QR codes — with a company logo sitting in the middle of the code, or the modules recolored to match a brand palette — are common, and it's a reasonable thing to want. Here's exactly what PXLA QR supports today, what it doesn't, and the technical reasons behind that line.

Why adding a logo isn't just "place an image on top"

A logo covering part of a QR code is, functionally, deliberate damage to the code — the modules underneath the logo are no longer visible to a scanner, exactly as if that area had been scratched off or stained. This works at all only because of error correction (see Error Correction Explained): as long as the obscured area stays under the error-correction level's recovery threshold, the missing data can still be reconstructed mathematically.

The problem is that this isn't automatic or free. A logo placed carelessly — too large, in the wrong position, or over a code generated at too low an error-correction level — can push the obscured area past what's recoverable, producing a code that looks fine to a human eye but fails to scan for a meaningful percentage of users, especially on lower-end cameras or in imperfect lighting. Getting this right requires several things happening together correctly, not just visual placement.

What safe logo overlay would actually require

• Error-correction level H (approximately 30% recoverable) — the highest level defined by the standard, purpose-built for exactly this use case. PXLA QR currently defaults to level Q for general print durability; see Error Correction Explained for why.
• A strict coverage limit — commonly cited guidance caps a logo at roughly 15-20% of the code's total area, positioned centrally, since even level H has a real ceiling.
• Preserving the finder patterns and quiet zone completely untouched — a logo placed over a corner finder pattern, rather than the center, can break a scanner's ability to even locate the code, regardless of error correction.
• Testing across multiple devices and cameras after every logo change — because "scans on my phone" doesn't guarantee "scans reliably for everyone," and logo overlay is exactly where that gap tends to show up.

None of this is impossible — plenty of QR generators support it well. It's a genuinely different, higher-risk feature than plain code generation, and PXLA QR's V1 philosophy (see About PXLA QR) is to ship the core paste-generate-download experience at the highest possible reliability first, rather than ship a flashier feature with a hidden reliability cost.

Can I change the colors?

PXLA QR generates codes in a deep navy on white by default — chosen specifically for the strong, print-reliable contrast covered in our printing guide. Color customization within the tool itself isn't available in V1, but if you need a specific brand color, you can safely recolor a downloaded code afterward in image editing software, as long as you preserve strong contrast: dark modules, light background, no two similar mid-tones. See Contrast Recommendations for the specifics on what does and doesn't scan reliably.

Using PXLA QR codes alongside your brand

Even without in-tool logo or color customization, a QR code can sit comfortably within a branded design: place it in a clean, uncluttered area of your layout; add a short line of brand-voice call-to-action text near it ("Scan to see our menu," "Scan to visit our site"); and keep the quiet zone and contrast rules intact rather than trying to force the code itself to carry your visual identity. The code doesn't need to look like your brand to work well alongside it — the surrounding design does that job.