Watermark Overlay
Subtle branding across the whole code.
Watermark Overlay
Where a logo sits in the center, a watermark spreads lightly across the whole code. Used subtly, it adds brand texture and a signal of authenticity without interfering with the scan.
Add a watermark image
Upload a mark or wordmark to overlay across the code area.
Tune opacity and scale
Keep it light — a faint watermark preserves the contrast the scanner needs. Adjust opacity, scale and position to taste.
Verify scannability
As with any styling, confirm the finished code scans on real devices, especially at the size you'll print.
Where it delivers
Authenticity
A consistent watermark helps customers recognize an official code and spot tampered or fake ones.
Premium feel
Light brand texture makes a code feel designed rather than generated.
Event and ticketing
A subtle watermark across entry codes adds a layer of visual security.
Functionality
- Image watermark overlay
- Opacity control
- Scale and position control
- Live preview
- Combines with logo and colors
Keep watermark opacity low. The single biggest cause of a failed scan is anything that reduces contrast across the modules.
Create yoursPractical notes
A watermark is a tint, not an image on top
The overlay blends with the modules rather than covering them, which keeps the light-dark structure a scanner needs. That is why a watermark can span the whole code where a solid logo could not.
Keep the overlay subtle
The stronger the tint, the smaller the luminance gap between modules and background. A light watermark reads as deliberate branding; a heavy one reads as a broken code. If the scan-health meter dips, reduce the opacity rather than the size.
Check it on the final material
Watermarks interact with paper. A tint that looks delicate on screen can disappear on uncoated stock or turn muddy on gloss. Print a proof before a run.
Decide between watermark and frame
A watermark brands the code itself; a frame brands the space around it. A frame carries a call to action, survives any printing process, and costs nothing in scan reliability, so it is usually the safer choice when space allows. Reach for a watermark when the code has to sit alone with no room for a caption.
Common questions
Does a watermark make a code harder to scan?
It can, if it is too strong. Because the overlay reduces the contrast between modules and background, keep it light and watch the scan-health meter while you adjust it.
Can I use a photo as a watermark?
A simple, low-contrast image works best. Busy photographs introduce light and dark areas of their own, which competes with the pattern the scanner is trying to read.
Is a watermark better than a logo?
They solve different problems. A logo is a clear mark in the centre; a watermark is a wash of brand across the whole code. A watermark usually disturbs the data less, because it tints rather than covers.
