Japanese QR Codes: A New Trend in the World of Visual Art

Reddit user nhciao has created a series of unique QR codes using the Stable Diffusion artificial intelligence model to synthesize images. These images resemble anime and traditional Japanese art and are functional QR codes that can be scanned using a smartphone.

The author hasn’t disclosed detailed information about how they used Stable Diffusion to create these images, but it’s presumed that they trained custom ControlNet models with fine-tuned LoRA settings. Existing QR codes might have been fed into the Stable Diffusion image generator, and ControlNet could have been used to maintain the positioning of the QR code data, possibly with written prompts.

This is possible due to the error correction feature built into QR codes, which allows for the recovery of part of the QR code data if it’s damaged or altered. This enables the modification of the QR code’s appearance while still retaining its scannability.

All the codes in the examples point to the URL qrbtf.com, which is likely owned by nhciao and serves as a QR code generator. While technically this method can work with any QR code, it’s preferable for QR codes with less information. Creating artistic QR codes opens up new possibilities for creativity and marketing in the gaming industry.