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Hand Drawn QR Codes (2025)

sethmlarson.dev

11–20 of 47 posts

Re: Hand Drawn QR Codes (2025)

#11
post #5

One time I tried to understand the QR algorithm and I didn't understand it at all despite trying multiple times. Maybe I can try again with the help of LLMs. Hmm not a bad idea

There is also a nice Veritasium video about it, if you prefer that: https://youtu.be/w5ebcowAJD8

Re: Hand Drawn QR Codes (2025)

#12
post #5

One time I tried to understand the QR algorithm and I didn't understand it at all despite trying multiple times. Maybe I can try again with the help of LLMs. Hmm not a bad idea

I found this page very helpful in understanding each step of the QR code creation process. I can't say I recall it all but it would be possible to turn this into a small booklet, I guess. https://typefully.com/DanHollick/qr-codes-T7tLlNi Here's a HN discussion from 2022 about it. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32837565

Nice! I also found this page very helpful:

https://www.nayuki.io/page/creating-a-qr-code-step-by-step

This is an interactive guide that will break down the process for your specific QR-code.

Re: Hand Drawn QR Codes (2025)

#15

thats fun I would definitely scan this rather than a generated one

Then again, writing the url by hand and using OCR built into the camera app would probably be more practical and user friendly for everyone involved. Although for sure not as fun.

Re: Hand Drawn QR Codes (2025)

#17
I saw similar engraved and then inked onto wooden boards at a restaurant, sadly, despite the error handling, 3 out of 4 I tried were not scannable, the 1 I did manage to scan to me to a reviews site for the restaurant (where a lot of reviews said they struggled to make the QR work - likely not the feedback the restaurant wanted)! I guess it kept me entertained whilst waiting for the bill.

Re: Hand Drawn QR Codes (2025)

#18
> Note that a lovely reader informed me shortly after publication that indeed I can include my full domain name in a version 1 QR code by using all capital letters instead of lowercase. TIL that the "alphanumeric" character set for QR codes actually contains symbols for URLs like : and /.

This is a nice trick worth remembering. I have used it myself in the past. Handy not just for creating ultra small QR codes, but also for getting as much data as possible into the limits of the largest QR codes.

Re: Hand Drawn QR Codes (2025)

#20
I once sent a letter to a friend with a hand-written QR Code whose content was the typed letter.

It's cool for the receiver, but tedious for the sender (but it's a good way to help with difficult to read cursive).

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