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3. Create QR Code as Image

How to Create a QR Code as an Image

ByChaknith Bin

October 10, 2024

Updated  June 1, 2025

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Creating a QR code as an image involves generating a visual representation of a QR code, which encodes data (such as a URL, text, or other information) in a two-dimensional matrix composed of black and white squares. These squares can be scanned and decoded by a camera or QR code reader.

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Create QR Code as Images

Creating a QR code with IronQR is very simple. You only need one line of code to create the QR code as an object. To export the QR code as an image, use the Save method followed by the SaveAs method.

:path=/static-assets/qr/content-code-examples/how-to/create-qr-code-image.cs

// Using QRCoder Library
using QRCoder;
using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Drawing.Imaging;

// Main entry point of the program
class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        // Input text to encode in the QR Code
        string data = "12345";

        // Create an instance of QRCodeGenerator
        using (QRCodeGenerator qrGenerator = new QRCodeGenerator())
        {
            // Create the QR Code data
            QRCodeData qrCodeData = qrGenerator.CreateQrCode(data, QRCodeGenerator.ECCLevel.Q);

            // Generate the QR Code as a bitmap
            using (QRCode qrCode = new QRCode(qrCodeData))
            {
                // Create the bitmap based on the QR Code data, with scale 20
                using (Bitmap qrCodeImage = qrCode.GetGraphic(20))
                {
                    // Save the QR Code as a PNG file
                    qrCodeImage.Save("simpleQrCode.png", ImageFormat.Png);

                    // Inform that the file has been saved
                    Console.WriteLine("QR Code generated and saved as 'simpleQrCode.png'.");
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

' Using QRCoder Library
Imports QRCoder
Imports System
Imports System.Drawing
Imports System.Drawing.Imaging

' Main entry point of the program
Friend Class Program
	Shared Sub Main()
		' Input text to encode in the QR Code
		Dim data As String = "12345"

		' Create an instance of QRCodeGenerator
		Using qrGenerator As New QRCodeGenerator()
			' Create the QR Code data
			Dim qrCodeData As QRCodeData = qrGenerator.CreateQrCode(data, QRCodeGenerator.ECCLevel.Q)

			' Generate the QR Code as a bitmap
			Using qrCode As New QRCode(qrCodeData)
				' Create the bitmap based on the QR Code data, with scale 20
				Using qrCodeImage As Bitmap = qrCode.GetGraphic(20)
					' Save the QR Code as a PNG file
					qrCodeImage.Save("simpleQrCode.png", ImageFormat.Png)

					' Inform that the file has been saved
					Console.WriteLine("QR Code generated and saved as 'simpleQrCode.png'.")
				End Using
			End Using
		End Using
	End Sub
End Class

The Save method returns an AnyBitmap object. With this object, we can export to various image formats, such as:

• JPEG (.jpg or .jpeg): JPEG is a commonly used compressed format for digital photos. It uses lossy compression, reducing file size while maintaining acceptable quality.
• PNG (.png): PNG is a lossless image format ideal for web use. It supports transparency and retains high quality without data loss.
• Bmp (.bmp): The Bitmap format is an uncompressed raster image format used primarily on Windows platforms. It retains high-quality images but produces large file sizes.
• GIF (.gif): GIF supports animations and transparency but is limited to 256 colors. It is widely used for simple web graphics and short animations.
• TIFF (.tiff or .tif): TIFF is a flexible format used for high-quality images, often in professional photography. It can be lossless or compressed.
• WBMP (.wbmp): WBMP is a monochrome format used in wireless communication. If unsupported, it defaults to BMP.
• WebP (.webp): WebP is a modern image format that provides excellent compression (both lossy and lossless), making it ideal for the web.
• Icon (.ico): Icon format stores small square images used as icons for programs or files, commonly in operating systems.
• WMF (.wmf): WMF is a vector and raster image format used primarily on Windows. It is often used for graphics in legacy systems.
• RawFormat (.raw): Raw format refers to unprocessed image data, typically used in digital photography. It retains maximum quality and is used by professionals for image editing.

Supported QR Code Types

Multiple types of QR codes are supported for both creation and reading. Below are the supported QR code types:

• QRCode: This is the standard QR code most commonly used today. It can store a significant amount of data (up to 7,089 numeric characters or 4,296 alphanumeric characters), making it suitable for a wide range of applications, from website URLs to contact information.

• MicroQRCode: The Micro QR Code is a smaller version of the standard QR code, designed for situations where space is limited. It can store less data than a standard QR code (up to 35 numeric characters or 21 alphanumeric characters), but its compact size makes it ideal for applications where a standard QR code would be too large, such as on small packaging or tiny printed labels.

• RMQRCode: RMQR Code (Rectangular Micro QR Code) is another compact version of the QR code but in a rectangular shape rather than a square. This version allows for flexibility in its aspect ratio, which can be useful for applications where a rectangular space is available. It can store data similar to the Micro QR Code but is designed for specific use cases where the available space is non-square.

Chaknith Bin

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Software Engineer

Chaknith works on IronXL and IronBarcode. He has deep expertise in C# and .NET, helping improve the software and support customers. His insights from user interactions contribute to better products, documentation, and overall experience.