The Secret Formula to Apple's Scannable Promo Codes

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Posted July 14, 2017 at 7:36pm by iClarified

Equinox, the developer of Mail Designer Pro, has uncovered a secret formula used by Apple to create scannable promo codes for the App Store.

If you've used an iTunes Gift Card, you may have used your iPhone's camera to scan the code and quickly redeem it. Turns out, it's a bit complicated to create that scannable code.

The first factor is the font. Turns out there is a hidden font you need to use. After a lot of searching, Equinox discovered its called 'Scancardium'. If you're on a Mac you can find it here: /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CoreRecognition.framework/Resources/Fonts/.

The Secret Formula to Apple's Scannable Promo Codes

Your promo code must be in the Scancardium font and it must be inside a box with some pretty specific sizing. The surrounding box must be a ratio of 3 width to 1 height. The thickness of the box border must be a factor of 0.045 and the font height inside the box must be a factor of 0.34.

To make things simpler, Equinox has created some templates in Sketch and Photoshop for developers to use. You can download the templates from the link below. They've also posted a FileMaker template to make it easy to generate your own codes.

Hit the link below for more details...

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Marcos Paulo - July 14, 2017 at 7:56pm

Clever.

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stevenlacross - July 14, 2017 at 9:20pm

Not really, it's just what Apple programmed it as, they could have easily programmed it to use a different font, and different sizing, it would have been clever if they figured out how Apple made the codes to work with whatever they are redeeming, like let's say season one of such and such uses UHKF in the 3rd 4th 5th and 6th character and stuff like that. That would have been clever, not this

Me84 - July 14, 2017 at 9:33pm

Not really? So you must be more clever, for sure you already knew all this but didn't share it with anybody. I don't why you are not working for Apple...oh wait! I know! Apple is so far behind you! Indeed, what Equinox did, it is clever!

stevenlacross - July 14, 2017 at 10:37pm

Did you even read the article? It's basic knowledge, same as qr codes, I mean really come on. And apple won't fix the pcb boards on MacBooks but instead would just replace the whole board and charge you an arm and a leg, Apple isn't way ahead, they are just good rip off artist. And yes I've got an iPhone because I realize it's better than android and don't want what Amazon did with their spyware on their phone to happen to me.