Free tools in BrandDeck: QR codes, photos and emoji

BrandDeck offers seven free tools for designers and brand managers, including a QR code generator, a contrast checker and a color palette generator. You can use every tool on the BrandDeck website without an account. They take care of the small jobs that come up in brand work every day.

What free tools does BrandDeck offer?

BrandDeck offers seven free tools on its website. Each one does one job well.

1. QR code generator. Create QR codes for websites, presentations and print materials in seconds.

2. Color contrast checker. Check if two colors are readable together and meet the WCAG accessibility standards.

3. Color palette generator. Build a five color palette from one starting color, or from scratch.

4. Color palette from image. Upload an image and get a five color palette that captures its tone and mood.

5. Gradient builder. Pick your colors, set the angle and copy the CSS code for a smooth gradient.

6. Font viewer. Type your text once and preview it in every font in the library.

7. Convert images for print. Turn an image into a high resolution, print ready file with the right color profile.

[Check: inside BrandDeck there is also a stock photo finder and an emoji finder. Are these still available, and are they free without an account?]

Do you need an account to use the free tools?

No. All tools on the BrandDeck website are free and work without an account. There is no signup, no credit card and no trial period. Just open the tool and start.

Where do you find the free tools in BrandDeck?

You find the free tools in BrandDeck under [Check: menu location]. The video above shows where they are and walks through a few of them. On the website, all tools are listed in the footer under Free tools.

Which tool do you use for what?

The tools match the jobs that come up in brand work. A few common situations:

1. A client needs a QR code on a flyer. Use the QR code generator and download the file for print.

2. You doubt if white text works on the brand color. Use the contrast checker. It tells you right away if the combination meets WCAG.

3. A client sends a mood image and asks for a palette. Use color palette from image to pull the main colors out.

4. You need a background for a slide or a website. Use the gradient builder and copy the CSS.

5. The printer asks for a CMYK file. Use convert images for print instead of opening heavy design software.

6. You are picking a font for a new brand. Use the font viewer to compare your headline in many fonts side by side.

Why does BrandDeck offer free tools?

BrandDeck is built for the people who work with brands every day. Most of that work is not big strategy. It is small jobs like checking a contrast or making a QR code. The free tools save time on those jobs, so there is more time left for the brand itself.

When you are ready to keep everything about a brand in one place, BrandDeck is right there. You can build as many brands as you like for free, and only pay when a brand goes live.

Tips for using the free tools

1. Check contrast early. Test your brand colors in the contrast checker before the brand guide is finished, not after.

2. Save palettes as color blocks. Found a palette you like? Add it straight to your brand in BrandDeck as a color block.

3. Bookmark the tools you use most. Every tool has its own page, so you can open it in one click.

What to do next

Want to keep your colors, fonts and files in one place? Learn how to add a logo and how to add assets to your brand.