Instagram QR codes: nametag vs. a real QR code
Instagram has its own scannable nametag inside the app, but it has a catch: for years it only worked when someone opened Instagram's own scanner. A standard QR code doesn't care which app you use — the built-in camera on any modern phone recognises it, shows the link, and opens your profile in the Instagram app if it's installed. That's the difference between a code that works on a shop counter and one that only works if you talk someone through finding the scanner.
The link encoded here is instagram.com/yourhandle, the canonical form of your profile URL. It survives app updates and works in a browser for people who don't have Instagram installed, which is exactly what you want on printed material where you can't explain anything.
Because Instagram is so visual, the brand gradient preset is worth a look: it tints the code from purple through pink to orange while keeping the dark-on-light contrast scanners need. Add the Instagram glyph in the middle and the code reads as "Instagram" at a glance, before anyone has even scanned it.
One last thing worth doing before you print: make sure the handle really is yours, and that it's free on the platforms you haven't joined yet. If you ever rebrand, a printed QR code pointing at an old handle turns into a dead end — or worse, someone else's profile.