An information code producing method for producing information code (100, 200, 300) by an information code producing apparatus, the information code having a predetermined code region which is arranged on a physical medium in which a plurality of types of cells (102, 202, 302) are arranged, the cells being units for displaying information in the code region, the information code producing method comprising: providing a specification pattern region, a data recording region and an error correcting code recording region in the code region, a specification pattern (104, 106, 108) being arranged in the specification pattern region, data being recorded, as code words, in the data recording region by the plurality of types of the cells, the specification pattern having a predetermined shape and including a pattern indicating a position of the code region, error correction codes being recorded, as code words, in the error correction code recording region by the plurality of types of the cells; providing a canvas area (110, 210, 310, 410) in the code region, the canvas area being other than the specification pattern region, the data recording region, and the error correcting code recording region in the code region, the canvas area recording data and/or displaying designs by a method different from a method for recording data in the data recording region, the canvas area having a predetermined size larger than a size of a single cell of the cells, the canvas area being not subject to error correction which is performed with the error correction codes; and determining a shape of the canvas area by at least one of: a method for selecting a shape from a plurality of preliminarily prepared candidate shapes; and a method for setting a shape according to shape specifying information input from outside to the information code producing apparatus. providing a specification pattern region, a data recording region and an error correcting code recording region in the code region, a specification pattern (104, 106, 108) being arranged in the specification pattern region, data being recorded, as code words, in the data recording region by the plurality of types of the cells, the specification pattern having a predetermined shape and including a pattern indicating a position of the code region, error correction codes being recorded, as code words, in the error correction code recording region by the plurality of types of the cells; providing a canvas area (110, 210, 310, 410) in the code region, the canvas area being other than the specification pattern region, the data recording region, and the error correcting code recording region in the code region, the canvas area recording data and/or displaying designs by a method different from a method for recording data in the data recording region, the canvas area having a predetermined size larger than a size of a single cell of the cells, the canvas area being not subject to error correction which is performed with the error correction codes; and determining a shape of the canvas area by at least one of: a method for selecting a shape from a plurality of preliminarily prepared candidate shapes; and a method for setting a shape according to shape specifying information input from outside to the information code producing apparatus.