QR code is blurry

I'm experiencing an issue with viewing QR codes in PDF files on my Apple device. When I open a PDF file using Apple's default applications, the QR code appears blurry. However, when I open the same file with third-party applications, the QR code is clear. The file also appears clear on Windows operating systems. I'm looking for a solution to make the QR codes appear clear when using Apple's default applications. The screenshot shows the Data-Matrix code, but the same with the qr-code. I see this problem on all my Apple devices: iPhone 13, MacBook Pro 2016. And on several recent operating systems.

MacBook Pro KP

Posted on Jul 31, 2023 4:56 AM

Top-ranking reply

Grant Bennet-Alder

Level 10

140,801 points

Posted on Jul 31, 2023 12:24 PM

By the time it has made it into the document as a TEXT character, it is FAR too late to just fiddle with smoothing. You need to go back to the source document and fix the fundamental error of presenting a graphic as a large capital letter in a barcode font.

Make it into a graphic in the original document, (e.g., by screen-capturing a picture of it and placing the picture in the document) and your troubles will cease.

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21 replies

KolinPower Author

Level 1

12 points

Jul 31, 2023 7:59 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

How to test your theory?

This command in the terminal does not affect the situation in any way:

defaults -currentHost write -g AppleFontSmoothing -int 0

Jul 31, 2023 7:54 PM in response to KolinPower

Do you have a display with lower resolution, such as 2K or lower?

on those displays, the doubling of TEXT sizes is not the default.

KolinPower Author

Level 1

12 points

Aug 1, 2023 8:20 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

This problem is also visible on the iPhone 13 and iPad (6th generation) 2018. I don’t have other Apple screens.

KolinPower Author

Level 1

12 points

Aug 1, 2023 9:39 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Nothing happens, everything remains as it is. You can check for yourself.

PDF file

KolinPower Author

Level 1

12 points

Aug 5, 2023 1:43 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

The first post is not PDF! It's a jpeg (screenshots).

Preview

The problem is only in pdf.

Jul 31, 2023 6:49 AM in response to KolinPower

Items the Mac thinks are TEXT are scaled up, and anti-aliased for pleasant transitions and smooth looking diagonals and pleasant character-edges when viewed on screen at scaled resolutions, for easy viewing.

Items that the Mac thinks are GRAPHICS are not fiddled with.

¿is it possible your QR code is inserted in the file as if it were a single large character of TEXT?

If so, that is a Bad Idea™, because the Mac will "fix it for you".

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QR code is blurry