CorelDRAW has included the ability to create barcodes for many versions now. Unfortunately it is also a feature that hasn't changed in many versions. That means you don't have the ability to create some of the new types of codes that are popular today. One that is increasingly popular is the QR Code (short for Quick Response Code). I've included an example of one at right.

With any barcode, the key is that it must be scanned for the data stored inside the code to be converted back to useful data. QR Codes are popular as many mobile phones can easily take a picture of the code and have the phone execute a function. Most often the code is a URL and the phone can browse to the page encoded in the QR Code.

I have seen an add-on for CorelDRAW that can create a QR Code, but the author has not made it available to the public. For now the best solution for creating QR Codes is a Web site. The nice thing about the QR Code and 2D Code Generator site is that it will easily create a code in either bitmap or vector format. The code you see above right was saved as a PDF file and it imported as vector artwork in CorelDRAW. It was then exported as a PNG file for placement in this post.

Usage of the QR Code and 2D Code Generator site is free. I will note there is a button to donate to them via PayPal if you find it useful. Those of you in business who need to create QR Codes for customers should consider making at least a small donation.

Labels: barcode, coreldraw-x5-unleashed, weekend-widget