Participant

Question

placed PNG QR Code glitch

Forum|Forum|5 months ago
October 10, 2025
5 replies
321 views

Hello!

I have a PNG of a QR code generated outside of adobe that I'm trying to place into a flyer in InDesign. The image works and is stable elsewhere. When I place (linked) into my document, it appears normal and after a minute or so it glitches out, and changes every minute or so. I think some other community posters are experiencing the same thing but many of the answers are related to the native QR code feature. See attached images for examples. I can delete the placed image and place it again and it will appear normal for a few minutes before doing this again. Each time it looks different.

C

cuboid555Author

Participant

Wanted to follow up: I'm using a 2022 Macbook pro with Sequoia 15.6.1 and the file was stored locally in a folder on desktop.

I tried several different QR codes. Unfortunately PNG was the only format offered by the analytics tool we're using (QR was link to survey tool).

I don't think the PNGs were corrupted, as I stated that they would appear normal and then spontaneously glitch within a minute of placement. I didn't try to export with the placed glitched PNG, so no way to know atm if it was due to GPU perfomance though I thank Bob for that thoughtful suggestion!

I can say that I exported the doc from indesign without it as a PDF, and then placed the QR code in illustrator. Ideal? No. Clunky? Yes. Illustrator had no issues with the image.

This was a one-time and time-sensitive issue so it's unlikely I'll pursue fixes for this, but it was extremely frustrating while it happened.

leo.r

Community Expert

I can say that I exported the doc from indesign without it as a PDF, and then placed the QR code in illustrator.

By @cuboid555

Did you place the PDF in Illustrator, or did you open it in Illustrator? If you opened it, then it's not a good solution at all as Illustrator isn't a PDF-editing tool. When you open a PDF in Illustrator, it can end up being altered one way or another.

Anyway, you received multiple suggestions to resave the PNG as PSD or TIFF, which you could do from Photoshop. I know you said this was a one-time thing, but this info could be helpful in the future.

Brad @ Roaring Mouse

Community Expert

I agree that there might be a corruption in the PNG. Re-saving it, or saving as a different format should clear it up.

If not, where do you have the file stored? and what is your System?

tonks_the_auror

Community Expert

I disagree with Willi—I use a website called QRcode Monkey to generate all of my QR codes as .PNG files and have never had a problem.

I can't replicate this problem on my M2 MacBook Pro with GPU performance enabled. What happens when you export to PDF? I'm just wondering if it's a display issue, will it show up in the PDF?

Willi Adelberger

Community Expert

I think that the PNG is probably damaged. Resaving as file type which supports true 1c would help. PNG is also always result in RGB oe in 4c black, which is another problem

BobLevine

Community Expert

If it's an available option, try turning off GPU Performance in your InDesign preferences.

Willi Adelberger

Community Expert

Open the image in Photoshop and resave it as PSD or TIFF as bitmap or greyscale.

Or better creare QR codes in InDesign.

Sign up

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Sign in to Adobe Community

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Scanning file for viruses.

This file cannot be downloaded