Raster vs. vector, in plain English
PNG, JPEG, and WebP are all raster formats — a fixed grid of pixels, decided at the moment you export. Enlarge a raster image well beyond its original size and it gets soft or blocky, because there's no more detail to reveal, only existing pixels stretched bigger.
SVG is a vector format — it stores the QR code as mathematical shapes (paths, rectangles, circles) rather than pixels. It can be scaled up to any size, from a favicon to the side of a building, and the edges stay perfectly sharp at every size, because it's redrawn from the math each time rather than stretched.
When SVG wins
- Large-format printing — posters, banners, storefront signage, vehicle wraps
- Laser engraving or cutting — many engraving tools work directly with vector paths
- Anything you might resize later — a design that starts small and might get blown up for a different use case
- Professional print workflows — most print shops and design software (Illustrator, InDesign, Figma) prefer vector source files
When PNG, JPEG, or WebP make more sense
- Social media posts and other platforms that only accept raster uploads
- Email signatures — most email clients render PNG reliably; SVG support is inconsistent
- Apps or CMS platforms that don't accept SVG uploads for security reasons (some strip or reject them)
- Quick digital sharing where file size and universal compatibility matter more than infinite scalability
Between the three raster options: PNG is the safest default — lossless, and supports transparency. WebP gives similar quality at a smaller file size if the platform you're using supports it. JPEG doesn't support transparency at all (a transparent background will be flattened to white on export), so only reach for it if file size is the priority and you don't need a see-through background.
The "pure threshold" option
If you're exporting a raster format and edges look slightly soft when zoomed in, the Pure threshold toggle in the Export tab removes anti-aliasing for perfectly crisp, hard edges — useful for die-cut stickers or situations where a strict scanner wants unambiguous black-and-white pixels rather than smoothed gray edge tones.