How to Generate Unique QR Code Event Passes with Python
Tags: python, programming, beginners, tutorial
Published: 2024-01-28 16:18:44

Event organizers require robust access management systems to facilitate entry for attendees securely. Traditional paper ticketing brings risks like counterfeiting, duplication, and lack of access controls after first use. Modern solutions like QR code-based digital passes provide enhanced security, better analytics, and more control.

This article provides a step-by-step tutorial on leveraging Python to create unique QR code passes for events of any scale. It covers the end-to-end process - from generating randomized QR codes to seamlessly integrating them with custom pass designs - focusing on simplicity and beginner-friendliness.

## Generating Unique QR Codes

The first step is generating QR codes programmatically with randomized data strings to ensure uniqueness for each pass. We'll use the Python qrcode library:

```python
    import qrcode
    import random
    
    for i in range(100):
      num = random.randint(0, 9999999999999999999)
      data = f'ticket_no:{str(num)}' 
      qr = qrcode.make(data)
      qr.save(f'./result/myQr{str(i)}.png')
```
This creates 100 QR codes with ticket numbers between 0 and 999 trillion, saving each QR code image with a sequential file name.

We add validity checks to ensure no duplicate codes get generated:
```python

    import pymongo
    
    client = MongoClient(MONGO_URL) 
    db = client['<database_name>']
    
    for i in range(100):
      num = random.randint(0, 9999999999999999999)
      data = f'ticket_no:{str(num)}'
    
      # Check if QR code exists
      temp = db.tickets.find_one({"qr": data}) 
      if(temp):
        print("Duplicate QR Code")
        continue 
    
      # Generate and save QR
      qr = qrcode.make(data)
      db.tickets.insert_one({"qr": data, "checkIn": False}) 
```
This connects to a MongoDB database that checks if the randomly generated code exists before creating and storing the QR code data.


## Integrating QR Codes into Ticket Design

Most tickets require integrating the QR code into a customized graphic design featuring event details, branding elements, etc.

We leverage Python's PIL library to merge the visual ticket design programmatically and generate QR code into a single ticket image:

```python
    from PIL import Image
    
    qr = qrcode.make('<QR_CODE_DATA>')
    qr.save("myQr.png")
    
    img1 = Image.open("myQr.png")  
    img2 = Image.open("./ticket_design.png")
```
```python
    # Create canvas matching max width and height 
    new_height = max(img1.height, img2.height)
    new_width = img1.width + img2.width  
    new_image = Image.new('RGB', (new_width, new_height))
    
    # Paste images side by side
    new_image.paste(img1, (0,0)) 
    new_image.paste(img2, (img1.width, 0))
    
    new_image.save("final_ticket.png")
```
This script opens the QR code and background ticket design, identifies optimum dimensions, and pastes both images side-by-side into the final ticket file.


## Scaling Ticket Generation

Wrapping the above procedures into functions lets you rapidly generate any number of uniquely coded tickets in batch while dynamically customizing elements like ticket design, text, etc:

```python
    for i in range(100):
    
      # Generate QR Code
      qr_data = generate_qr() 
    
      # Create Ticket
      create_ticket(qr_data, design, text) 
```
Adding parameterized inputs, validity checks, and error handling provides further control and automation possibilities.

## Conclusion

This guide provided a beginner-friendly introduction to leveraging Python to create foolproof digital event passes. Automating uniqueness and integrating custom designs help scale secure access management to events of any size without compromising branding or user experience.

As physical paper tickets get increasingly phased out in favor of scannable QR code-based solutions, having these skills as an event organizer can help future-proof and streamline attendee access control while unlocking creative possibilities for community engagement.

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## Resource
- [Getting started with Folium](https://realpython.com/lessons/python-folium-get-started/)
- [20 Essential Python Extensions for Visual Studio Code](https://blog.learnhub.africa/2023/05/26/20-essential-python-extensions-for-visual-studio-code/)
- [Using Python for Web Scraping and Data Extraction](https://blog.learnhub.africa/2023/04/27/using-python-for-web-scraping-and-data-extraction/)
- [Getting Started with Python](https://www.python.org/about/gettingstarted/)
- [Creating Interactive Maps with Folium and Python](https://blog.learnhub.africa/2023/10/04/creating-interactive-maps-with-folium-and-python/)