How to change the color of a QR code?

[kimberlyvdg]

Hi guys,

I have a blue QR code. I'm trying to make the blue in this image pitch black. The white background obviously needs to stay white. I tried converting it to grayscale and then adjusting the color balance but this colores my white background as well. 

This is probably really easy but I'm a newbie and can't figure it out. Any ideas?

Kind regards,

Kimberly

[kimberlyvdg]

Update: 

The image is quite low quality which is why I can't simply convert it to monochrome. Because the boundries of the colores are blurry and Illustrator doesn't know where each color begins and ends. I exported my own QR code from https://www.qrcode-monkey.com and exported it in SVG. This solves my issue. If any of you know how to do this in Illustrator, please let me know. 

[Monika Gause]

Count the squares and then let Object > Make Object mosaic vectorize it. Works well with QR codes.

[Luke Jennings3 · Accepted solution]

You can make QR codes in InDesign, Object> Generate QR code, export to PDF, place the PDF into your Illustrator file. You can make it any color you like.

[kimberlyvdg]

That barely took me 5 seconds. Thanks! 

[Vijay Ramachandran]

Is it possible to change colours after a QR code is generated. 

I made one which is black but I want a white one of the same code too so that I can use it when I am using a black background.

[Ton Frederiks]

Edit menu > Edit Colors > Invert Colors?

[Vijay Ramachandran]

Sorry. When I was looking to post this question, this thread came up. Didn't realise it was for Illustrator.

My quetion was for InDesign since that is were we can generate QR codes. Unless there is a way in Illustrator too. 

[Monika Gause]

There might be plugins and scripts, such as this: https://github.com/dstreet/IllustratorQR

[Luke Jennings3]

Create a new swatch, call it White, apply it to the InDesign QR code.

[Vijay Ramachandran]

If you are providing a solution, please be specifc.

Do I create a colour? In that case isnt white already there?

[Monika Gause]

So your question is still about InDesign?

Select the QR Code on the page. Go to Object > Edit QR Code

Go to the color tab

Change the color.

https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/generate-qr-code.html

[Vijay Ramachandran]

Yes still about InDesign.

Maybe I am doing something wrong.

I create one QR.(Now this is fine. White QR code/Black BG).

The issue comes when I try to change the colours. Eg: I tried to change the colour from black to white. 

This is what I get.

I know nothing is visible. The QR code is changed to white but the background is white too.

In the link you provided it says by default the background is transparent which would be awesome but for me the background always comes as white. 

[Monika Gause]

Please ask about that in the InDesign forum.

You could try and select the frame and set it to the color none. But there might be something special or some bug or whatever. I'm only creating QR codes once in a blue moon.

[Vijay Ramachandran]

Tried that. Not working. 

Anyway. Not that important. 

[Luke Jennings3]

No, there is no InDesign default white swatch, you can use [Paper], but this is not good practice, as [Paper] is used to simulate the paper stock color and any color added to it will not print (or export).

You won't see a white QR code on a white background (or a black QR code on a black background), but you can edit a QR code (Object> Edit QR code) to any swatch you like and also change the background color by selecting it and applying a swatch color. Create your QR code without first selecting an object, or the QR code will be anchored to the object.