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Inspiring
April 13, 2025
Question

Feature Request: Enhanced QR Code Generator (and barcode support) in InDesign

  • April 13, 2025
  • 3 replies
  • 1163 views

Hello Adobe InDesign team,

The current QR Code generator in InDesign is extremely limited compared to modern standards. We would love to see extended customization options similar to advanced online generators.

Suggested improvements:

  • Choice of edge marker shapes (square, circle, rounded)

  • Selection of pattern styles (dots, tetris, geometric)

  • Quiet zone size and color control

  • Custom foreground/background colors with HEX support

  • Support for logo insertion (centered or in corner)

  • Editable call-to-action frame (text + style)

  • Size control with scan distance ratio

  • High-resolution export for print

  • Live readability preview or test mode

  • Compatibility with brand guidelines (colors, fonts, ratios)

  • Support for transparency or branding overlays

This would greatly improve workflows for covers, posters, packaging, product inserts, and any visual material where the QR code must integrate aesthetically with the design.

Especially on magazine covers, where foreground elements (like a model's head) overlap the masthead, and the QR must blend in stylistically and structurally.

Additional request: Barcode Support

While improving the QR Code tool, it would be logical to also enable generation of EAN barcodes and related formats (EAN-13, UPC, ITF-14 etc.) for packaging, retail, and publishing.

These are basic industry tools that should be native in InDesign.

Thank you for considering both enhancements.

    3 replies

    E
    Community Expert
    Eugene TysonCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    April 14, 2025

    I don't agree really that InDesign should become a barcode generator - there are already great tools out there that do way better job that InDesign does. InDesign is a page layout application, and it's always been best practice to generate assets in other applications and place them for layout in InDesign. 

     

    Barcode Studio is brilliant, quick and easy to use/learn and customise barcode generation - including batch creation of barcodes for placing in layouts. 

     

    There are other options out there, some free, some stand alone applications, some online only.

    Esko Plugin is also really useful for Illustrator - which would be best place for barcode creation/editing. 

     

    These are the options I use everyday. 

     

    While I get the idea of InDesign doing 'everything' - I can't get behind it being an asset generator. 

    You might look at for creation in InDesign
    https://www.teacupsoftware.com/product/barcodemaker/

     

     

     

      .random..
      .random..Author
      Inspiring
      April 14, 2025

      I get your point, and I used to think the same — that barcode generation should stay outside InDesign, handled by proper tools. But that changed for me the moment Adobe themselves introduced a QR code generator. Once you step into that space as a native feature, it no longer makes sense to do it halfway. The current QR generator in InDesign is, frankly, not good. Maybe not completely useless, but it’s not something any serious user would rely on.

      So if Adobe has the ambition to include such functionality, they should commit to doing it properly. Otherwise, don’t include it at all.


      And sure, InDesign is a layout tool first and foremost — I completely agree. But barcodes are an everyday element in packaging and editorial workflows. They belong in layouts. That’s why having native support isn’t such a wild idea.
      Also, I don’t see why everything has to be outsourced to plugins. If it’s a common use case, why not have it integrated and well-executed?

       

      I get that this might not be great news for plugin developers and third-party services. I'd feel the same in their shoes. But if I were on the InDesign dev team, I’d want to build a barcode tool that’s better than all the rest — not just a checkbox feature.

        E
        Community Expert
        Eugene TysonCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        April 14, 2025

        The best way to get it integrated is to put in the feature request and then link back to the threads. With enough traction and needs it could well get added. 

         

        I don't have any other advice, aside from my personal opinion.

         

        The solutions I've offered are what I use daily (aside from TeaCup which I have used before but not anymore).

         

        Other than personal opinion, this is how I approach barcodes on a daily basis.

        Robert at ID-Tasker
        Robert at ID-Tasker
        Legend
        April 13, 2025

        @.random..

         

        I'm affraid, if you need a high volume of codes - QRs with extras and Barcodes - it's InDesign Server area... 

         

        And if you have them already generated - importing and taking care of the quiet zones isn't a big deal.

         

        leo.r
        Community Expert
        leo.rCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        April 13, 2025

        As you probably know anyway, it's best to submit your requests here:

        https://indesign.uservoice.com/forums/601021-adobe-indesign-feature-requests

         

        You'd probably want to submit a separate request for each of your bullet points. Also, make sure to check if a similar request is already there - there are quite a few QR Code-related requests there.

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