> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://laravel-qrcode.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# QR Code Colors: RGB, CMYK & Gradients

> Set foreground and background colors using RGB, CMYK, or grayscale models. Add gradients and per-eye color overrides for fully branded Laravel QR codes.

The Laravel QR Code package supports three color models — RGB, CMYK, and grayscale — plus gradients and individual per-eye color overrides. Every color method is chainable, so you can combine them freely before calling `generate()`.

## RGB (Default)

RGB is the default color model. Pass red, green, and blue values on a **0–255** scale to `color()` and `backgroundColor()`.

```php theme={null}
use Linkxtr\QrCode\Facades\QrCode;

// Red foreground, white background
QrCode::color(220, 38, 38)
    ->backgroundColor(255, 255, 255)
    ->generate('https://example.com');
```

### RGB with Alpha

Add a fourth argument to include an **alpha (transparency) channel**. The scale is **0–100**, where `0` is fully opaque and `100` is fully transparent.

```php theme={null}
// 50 % transparent foreground on a transparent background
QrCode::color(220, 38, 38, 50)
    ->backgroundColor(255, 255, 255, 0)
    ->generate('https://example.com');
```

<Warning>
  Alpha values use a **0–100 scale**, not the 0–255 scale you may be used to
  from CSS or image editors. The package converts this to the correct internal
  representation automatically.
</Warning>

## CMYK

Switch to CMYK mode by calling `cmyk()` before `color()`. All four channel values use a **0–100** scale (percentage).

```php theme={null}
// Call cmyk() first, then set C / M / Y / K values
QrCode::cmyk()
    ->color(0, 100, 100, 0)      // pure red in CMYK
    ->backgroundColor(0, 0, 0, 0) // white in CMYK
    ->generate('https://example.com');
```

<Note>
  Gradients are only available in RGB mode. Calling `gradient()` while in CMYK
  mode is not supported.
</Note>

You can switch back to RGB at any point by calling `rgb()`.

```php theme={null}
QrCode::cmyk()
    ->color(100, 50, 0, 10)
    ->rgb() // switch back to RGB for the background
    ->backgroundColor(255, 255, 255)
    ->generate('https://example.com');
```

## Grayscale

Use `gray()` for a one-call shorthand that sets both foreground and (optionally) background to shades of gray. The scale is **0–100**, where `0` is black and `100` is white.

```php theme={null}
// Dark gray foreground, light gray background
QrCode::gray(20, 90)->generate('https://example.com');

// Black foreground, white background (defaults)
QrCode::gray(0)->generate('https://example.com');
```

* **First argument** — foreground shade (0 = black, 100 = white).
* **Second argument** — background shade. Defaults to `100` (white) when omitted.

## Gradients

Apply a two-color gradient to the QR code foreground with `gradient()`. Provide start and end colors as RGB arrays or hex strings, then choose a direction.

```php theme={null}
// Vertical gradient: blue → red
QrCode::gradient([0, 0, 255], [255, 0, 0], 'vertical')
    ->generate('https://example.com');

// Horizontal gradient: green → purple
QrCode::gradient([34, 197, 94], [168, 85, 247], 'horizontal')
    ->generate('https://example.com');

// Diagonal gradient
QrCode::gradient([255, 165, 0], [255, 0, 128], 'diagonal')
    ->generate('https://example.com');
```

### Gradient Types

| Value              | Direction                        |
| ------------------ | -------------------------------- |
| `vertical`         | Top to bottom                    |
| `horizontal`       | Left to right                    |
| `diagonal`         | Top-left to bottom-right         |
| `inverse_diagonal` | Top-right to bottom-left         |
| `radial`           | Radiates outward from the center |

<Warning>
  Gradients are only available in **RGB mode**. Using `gradient()` after calling
  `cmyk()` is not supported.
</Warning>

## Per-Eye Color Overrides

Override the color of any individual eye with `eyeColor()`. Each QR code has three positional eyes indexed `0`, `1`, and `2`.

```php theme={null}
// eyeColor(index, innerColor, outerColor)
QrCode::eyeColor(0, [220, 38, 38], [30, 64, 175])  // eye 0: red inner, blue outer
    ->eyeColor(1, [22, 163, 74], [126, 34, 206])    // eye 1: green inner, purple outer
    ->eyeColor(2, [245, 158, 11], [15, 118, 110])   // eye 2: amber inner, teal outer
    ->generate('https://example.com');
```

* **Index** — `0` (top-left), `1` (top-right), `2` (bottom-left).
* **Inner color** — color of the small inner marker square.
* **Outer color** — color of the outer frame. Omit this argument to apply the inner color to both parts.

```php theme={null}
// Same color for both inner and outer parts of eye 0
QrCode::eyeColor(0, [220, 38, 38])->generate('https://example.com');
```

<Warning>
  Custom eye colors require the `ext-imagick` PHP extension when generating
  raster formats like PNG. The GD fallback supports the default foreground
  color only — calling `eyeColor()` without Imagick installed throws a
  `MissingExtensionException`. SVG and EPS output are unaffected and work
  without Imagick.
</Warning>

## Complete Color Example

Chain color options with style and format options to build a fully branded QR code.

```php theme={null}
use Linkxtr\QrCode\Facades\QrCode;

$qr = QrCode::format('png')
    ->size(400)
    ->style('dot')
    ->eye('circle')
    ->gradient([99, 102, 241], [236, 72, 153], 'diagonal')
    ->backgroundColor(255, 255, 255)
    ->eyeColor(0, [99, 102, 241], [30, 27, 75])
    ->eyeColor(1, [99, 102, 241], [30, 27, 75])
    ->eyeColor(2, [99, 102, 241], [30, 27, 75])
    ->generate('https://example.com');
```

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Styling" icon="brush" href="/customization/styling">
    Set module shape, eye style, size, margin, and output format.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Image Merge" icon="image" href="/customization/image-merge">
    Embed a logo or image into the center of your QR code.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>