QR code color mistakes that break scanning

Mistakes that break scans

• Low contrast — light gray on white or yellow on white.
• Inverted codes — light modules on dark backgrounds often fail on consumer cameras.
• Busy backgrounds — photos behind the code confuse detectors.
• Overstyled modules — extreme shapes plus a huge logo.

Safe styling

Start with near-black on white, then introduce brand color only if contrast stays strong. Always test the final PNG on a phone in the real lighting where it will be scanned.