A QR print checklist for links that must last

Lock the encoded address

Before generating artwork, decide whether the QR should encode a direct landing page or a managed link. A managed link can change target later while the encoded URL remains fixed, provided you own its hostname and route. Copy the final HTTPS URL into a campaign inventory. The free JustLNK QR generator can encode the entered URL as a PNG, but it does not create or operate the managed redirect behind it. Test a physical proof before production.

Encoded: https://go.example.com/box-guide
Target:  https://example.com/manual-v1

Prove the printed object

Scan a proof at its actual size, material, contrast and intended distance. Avoid placing the code across folds, seams, curves or reflective areas that distort the pattern. Leave sufficient blank border around it according to the generator and printer's specifications. Check with multiple ordinary phone cameras, poor lighting and a slow network. A print-size rule cannot be universal because scanning depends on distance, optics and material.

• Inspect the scanned URL before opening it.
• Test both the on-screen proof and a physical sample.
• Place a readable fallback URL near high-value codes.
• Confirm the landing page works on a small phone screen.

Plan for the day after launch

Assign a domain renewal owner and a route owner. Keep the printed placement and revision history with the public URL. Retest a physical sample periodically; if a destination changes, scan that same sample again and verify the final content. If the encoded domain is lost, an unrelated new domain cannot repair the ink. Plan replacement labels or signage as the fallback.