A QR code to a PDF you can replace
PDF is the format everyone already has: the instructions, the catalog, the exhibition floor plan, the building's rules. The problem is making it accessible on a physical medium and being able to keep it up to date. The dynamic PDF QR code does both.
How it works
You upload the PDF to Scanolo (up to your plan's storage limit). The code opens a mobile page that displays the document with a download button. To replace the file, you upload a new one: the code doesn't change.
- Displayed in the browser, download button as a backup
- File replacement with no reprinting
- Title and description shown above the document
- View counter per day
- Version history in the code's log
A PDF built for the phone
An A4 document laid out in three columns reads badly on a 6 cm screen. If the PDF is meant for mobile, prefer a single column, a font of at least 12 points, and a file size under 5 MB so it loads over 4G. Compress the images before exporting.
Code size by medium
| Medium | Reading distance | Minimum code size | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business card | 15 to 25 cm | 2 cm per side | Reserve a corner, keep a 3 mm white margin around it |
| Table tent, menu | 30 to 50 cm | 3 cm | One code per medium, never two side by side |
| A5 flyer, product label | 40 to 60 cm | 4 cm | Avoid busy photo backgrounds behind the code |
| A3 poster, shop window | 1 to 2 m | 10 cm | Place it at eye level, not at the bottom of the poster |
| Roll-up banner, tarp, vehicle | 3 to 5 m | 25 to 40 cm | Simple rule: distance ÷ 10 = code size |
Common mistakes
- Encoding the direct file address on your site as static: rename the file, and the code is dead.
- Uploading a 40 MB PDF: nobody waits for that to load.
- Not saying what people will find behind the code: a "Scan for the menu" doubles the scan rate compared to a bare code.
- Placing the code over a busy photo background or a heavy gradient: contrast drops and the scan becomes hit or miss.
Frequently asked questions
What file size is accepted?
5 MB per file on the Free plan, more depending on your plan (see the Pricing page for total storage).
Is the PDF public?
It's accessible to anyone with the link or who scans the code, like any published document. Don't use it for confidential documents.
Can I password-protect the document?
Not for now. You can pause the code at any time, which shows an explanation page instead of the document.