Written by Marco Querini

HCC2D Codes

HCC2D (High Capacity Colored Two-Dimensional) code is a color 2D code format that extends QR codes by encoding data in colored cells, increasing data density while preserving QR-style robustness and error correction.

Decoding. HCC2D Decoder is available on Google Play, on Huawei AppGallery, and on the App Store for iPhone.
Encoding. Beyond the online generator, HCC2D Encoder is available on the App Store for Mac. The open-source WebAssembly web encoder is available on GitHub and as a ready-to-use GitHub Pages app. Open-source native and command-line encoders are also available on GitHub as a C command-line encoder and a pure Python encoder, usable both from the command line and as an importable library. Debian/Ubuntu users can install the packaged C encoder from the official HCC2D APT Repository, while Python users can install hcc2d-encoder from PyPI. The HCC2D API provides programmatic generation from any language or platform.
Air-Gapped File Transfer. HCC2D Streamer is available on the App Store for Mac and on the Microsoft Store for Windows. An open-source single-file command-line C Streamer is also available on GitHub. The app transfers files from a Mac or PC to a smartphone (iOS or Android) via air-gapped optical streaming of HCC2D codes -- no network or cables required. Watch a 30-second demo of HCC2D Streamer for Windows. Advanced users can reach higher throughput with the command-line HCC2D Streamer — watch a demo at ~1 Mbit/s. The ability to tune these settings for higher throughput will be added to the Windows and Mac apps in upcoming versions. Watch a side-by-side speed comparison of the same file transfer via standard QR Code, HCC2D 4-color, and HCC2D 8-color.

See it in action

HCC2D Streamer for Windows — 30-second demo

Command-line HCC2D Streamer — 1.5 MB in 12s (~1 Mbit/s)

QR (~0.34 Mbps) vs HCC2D 4-color (~0.73 Mbps) vs HCC2D 8-color (~1.05 Mbps) at 15 fps

Generate a Code

Content Type

Templates help you encode common QR content without manual formatting.

Mode Error correction Colour palette

You can change only the two intermediate HCC2D4 colours, because index 0 must remain black and index 3 must remain white. Choose colours that are chromatically distant; if they are too similar, the decoder may not distinguish them reliably. Poor colour choices can produce broken HCC2D codes; responsibility for a custom palette rests with the person choosing it.

Index 1 colour Index 2 colour

Scale Quiet zone

Auto version Forced version

Text payload Upload file

Ready.

Preview

Download PNG

🎨 Make it yours: HCC2D4 lets you choose the two intermediate colours. Have fun creating your own palette, then try decoding the result with HCC2D Decoder!

Preview

Generated PNGs will appear here.

The views expressed in connection with the HCC2D Code Specification, HCC2D applications distributed through app stores, and HCC2D source code released as open source are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of any institution, organization, or employer with which the author is or has been affiliated.

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