How would you like to design a bitcoin banknote?

[unclemantis]

Are there any QR code generators that produce a vector output?

http://blog.qr4.nl/QR-Code-Mecard.aspx

This is the one you need
http://blog.qr4.nl/QR-Code-Text.aspx

[1714604481]

1714604481

[1714604481]

1714604481

[unclemantis]

Are there any QR code generators that produce a vector output?

http://blog.qr4.nl/QR-Code-Mecard.aspx

Source code?

And we need to find a QR-Code generator that produces HIGH ERROR CORRECTION. Remember this is going on paper and the code WILL get damaged.

[Raoul Duke]

Are there any QR code generators that produce a vector output?

http://blog.qr4.nl/QR-Code-Mecard.aspx

Source code?

And we need to find a QR-Code generator that produces HIGH ERROR CORRECTION. Remember this is going on paper and the code WILL get damaged.

And that qr4.nl site is of no use. To output a qr-code in vector format one needs to be a member and membership is paid at the price of €1 for each qr-code in vector format.
yeah... right...

[casascius]

Are there any QR code generators that produce a vector output?

The final artwork doesn't need to include a vector sample QR code.  It can and should contain a sample to produce your mockups, but when combined with the actual generator it will be removed and replaced with the generated one, so it doesn't matter if this part is vector or raster.

Whether or not it's high error correction doesn't really matter either - this will be controlled by the code that is merged with the artwork.  All QR code generators can generally produce high error correction, as the desired error correction level is just a setting that is selected when the code is generated.

[casascius]

Any rewards for engineering and programming suggestions?

I would be willing to offer a further reward if someone wants to take the reins and start modifying a copy of Bitaddress.org to start incorporating some of this artwork, using the following guidelines:

• Modify Bitaddress.org as little as possible - preferably add a single line somewhere that includes a single .js and/or .css file so that Bitaddress.org's code can be audited separately from code that adds the artwork to it.  Use the referenced file(s) to make all the changes.
• The modifications you make don't necessarily have to support EVERY one of these suggestions - in fact, a modification that supports even ANY ONE of these suggestions could be easily modified to support another - so pick one of your choice and run with it.
• Your modification should allow the user to choose from NON-DENOMINATED bills, or to enter a specific denomination of their choice.  This should be implemented by having the bill artwork itself not contain the denomination - rather, the resulting code should superimpose the denomination into the correct spot onto the bill.  An example of a way to make this work is to add something into .js that modifies the DOM that was begun by bitaddress.org to include an extra text input field where the denomination can be typed.
• Ideally, it should be possible for the user (or website operator) to substitute raster elements of the bill simply by swapping out a file that contains just that.  For example, whenever a bill is composed of a vector artwork with a raster (e.g. JPEG) background, the background ought to be a separate file (e.g. background.jpeg) while the vector portion be separate (e.g. artwork.svg) with transparency wherever the background should show.  The bill generator should superimpose the vector part over the raster part.  This, however, is not an absolute requirement, and won't apply to bills generated completely out of vector-based content - it is just something to keep in mind while designing this that will make a lot of non-techie users very happy.  An example of another thing that might lend well to substitution and should likewise be put in a separate file is a portrait (e.g. Leonardo da Vinci as a .png file with an alpha channel)
• Last but not least, do not add any dependencies on third party stuff (jquery etc.)... this is important for auditability of the code.

[Raoul Duke]

I think it should output the bit bills in pdf format, even for paper saving. 3 or 4 notes on each page would be ideal.

Also, won't it be a problem to have text sideways, like the one I included on my samples to show the address and private key?

[casascius]

I think it should output the bit bills in pdf format, even for paper saving. 3 or 4 notes on each page would be ideal.

This won't be within the scope of the modifications I'm soliciting to Bitaddress.org - such PDF code would have to be auditable.  It would be much more sane to install a printer-to-PDF program assuming your browser/OS combination doesn't have that ability built-in.

Also, won't it be a problem to have text sideways, like the one I included on my samples to show the address and private key?

Sideways auto-generated text may be problematic as generating it in a browser-independent fashion might be difficult.  Someone with more browser programming experience may be better suited to speak to this.  It may be possible to render the sideways text by embedding SVG directly into the DOM and manipulating it at runtime, but that's only a high-level hunch.

[Sekioh]

Right, to generate pdf code and trigger a download the information would have to be passed to a backend server code (cgi/perl/php) which means it's now serverside and vulnerable to sniffing or capture. Which for a nondenominated page-printing site is perfectly fine to print out bills with blank white spots for qr and such, but with private and public keys, I can see why it's got to be native javascript, html, and styling. Means it can all be bundled up and saved offline or done without any worry of leaking your keys out.

As to design, I'd like to point out more of a credit card sized option would be good for notes, we don't need much space, and people are used to that size, pockets in wallets can be used to keep seperate from regular cash or needing to fold them, and also we don't want to press any more reason to have it imitating a 'real currency' as competition even in looks. The aspect ratio would leave room for QR fine at reasonable size for short distance reads, and font size isn't an issue for that size considering length of names and card numbers on the real regular cards already.

As far as sideways text goes, you're already using canvas which is a newer element anyway, I don't know how backward compatible the site is as it stands, with that modern level of tagging and functions you should have a few options to work with for rotating a canvas svg of text, or simply using some CSS3 with directional text alignment tags.

[Raoul Duke]

svg xml code to create sideway text that can be created dynamicaly with javascript(?), thus easily auditable and can be saved for offline use(?).

Code:

  <text
     x="-342.69812"
     y="196.88989"
     id="maintext"
     xml:space="preserve"
     style="font-size:7.98474503000000002px;font-style:normal;font-weight:bold;line-height:125%;letter-spacing:0px;word-spacing:0px;fill:#000000;fill-opacity:1;stroke:none;-inkscape-font-specification:Ubuntu Bold;font-family:Ubuntu;font-stretch:normal;font-variant:normal"
     sodipodi:linespacing="125%"
     transform="matrix(0,-0.95570692,1.0463459,0,0,0)"><tspan
       x="-342.69812"
       y="196.88989"
       id="tspan3006"
       style="fill:#000000;font-weight:bold;-inkscape-font-specification:Ubuntu Bold;font-family:Ubuntu;font-style:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-variant:normal">5Hw7XgVq8nWhLGpLL88C6jHenNXQYgFhWf5n48ATEq39Ppjg6CB</tspan></text>

Now i don't know if you'll be using js to create the svg and I really have no idea because I'm not a programmer. Just looked inside an svg with a text editor and grab the code.

[casascius]

svg xml code to create sideway text that can be created dynamicaly with javascript(?), thus easily auditable and can be saved for offline use(?).

Now i don't know if you'll be using js to create the svg and I really have no idea because I'm not a programmer. Just looked inside an svg with a text editor and grab the code.

This would be completely acceptable and even desirable.

[paraipan]

Any rewards for engineering and programming suggestions?

I would be willing to offer a further reward if someone wants to take the reins and start modifying a copy of Bitaddress.org to start incorporating some of this artwork, using the following guidelines:

• Modify Bitaddress.org as little as possible - preferably add a single line somewhere that includes a single .js and/or .css file so that Bitaddress.org's code can be audited separately from code that adds the artwork to it.  Use the referenced file(s) to make all the changes.
• The modifications you make don't necessarily have to support EVERY one of these suggestions - in fact, a modification that supports even ANY ONE of these suggestions could be easily modified to support another - so pick one of your choice and run with it.
• Your modification should allow the user to choose from NON-DENOMINATED bills, or to enter a specific denomination of their choice.  This should be implemented by having the bill artwork itself not contain the denomination - rather, the resulting code should superimpose the denomination into the correct spot onto the bill.  An example of a way to make this work is to add something into .js that modifies the DOM that was begun by bitaddress.org to include an extra text input field where the denomination can be typed.
• Ideally, it should be possible for the user (or website operator) to substitute raster elements of the bill simply by swapping out a file that contains just that.  For example, whenever a bill is composed of a vector artwork with a raster (e.g. JPEG) background, the background ought to be a separate file (e.g. background.jpeg) while the vector portion be separate (e.g. artwork.svg) with transparency wherever the background should show.  The bill generator should superimpose the vector part over the raster part.  This, however, is not an absolute requirement, and won't apply to bills generated completely out of vector-based content - it is just something to keep in mind while designing this that will make a lot of non-techie users very happy.  An example of another thing that might lend well to substitution and should likewise be put in a separate file is a portrait (e.g. Leonardo da Vinci as a .png file with an alpha channel)
• Last but not least, do not add any dependencies on third party stuff (jquery etc.)... this is important for auditability of the code.

I would love to have that little script working like you described Cas, I actually saved the existent one on my desktop and use it occasionally.

How about making a new bounty on Rugatu? I will contribute some coins too

[Realpra]

Now, here is a new colored version without the tilted B's.

Also great.

Just tell the crazies that the number shown is in fact already encrypted *wink* and hence incorporated into the design.

[Raoul Duke]

New version. As always I'm open to suggestions. Don't be afraid to criticise.

The privkey Qr-code was switched to the middle or else it will be seen trough the paper when folding the note to hide it. It shows backwards and one could always hide it with the thumb, but if it's in the middle, like it is, that won't be needed.

[teflone]

Now, here is a new colored version without the tilted B's.

Also great.

Just tell the crazies that the number shown is in fact already encrypted *wink* and hence incorporated into the design.

Love this one...

[teflone]

New version. As always I'm open to suggestions. Don't be afraid to criticise.

The privkey Qr-code was switched to the middle or else it will be seen trough the paper when folding the note to hide it. It shows backwards and one could always hide it with the thumb, but if it's in the middle, like it is, that won't be needed.

Ooops..  this one is even better

Folding puts the private key in trouble... the crease will be an issue no ?

[BitLucky]

As to design, I'd like to point out more of a credit card sized option would be good for notes, we don't need much space, and people are used to that size, pockets in wallets can be used to keep seperate from regular cash or needing to fold them, and also we don't want to press any more reason to have it imitating a 'real currency' as competition even in looks.

How about it being "dollar" sized when freshly minted, but "credit card" sized when private key QR code is folded over?

[casascius]

Agree, codes should be on opposite sides both for foldability and to avoid unknowingly scanning the wrong one.

[bpd]

These are looking really cool! I love the wisdom of the crowd :-)

One suggestion -- make the private key QR code smaller, and don't include the full text of the private key (maybe just first 12 letters or something).

It would be ideal if the private key QR were made in a standard size that could be easily covered by a cheap standard holographic sticker like these:

http://www.amazon.com/Square-Serial-Evident-Hologram-Stickers/dp/B0051CORIS/ref=pd_sbs_op_1

[punningclan]

Wow, guys! This is coming along rather nicely. I really like the above image, but not at all fond of the plain looking orange/slanted-B in the the corners. I do feeling it needs an orange shade Bitcoin logo of sorts, but not this one.

~Bruno~

This ones looking rather nice.

[TraderTimm]

I'm really liking the recent designs here. If I ever get a chance to break away from what I'm working on and be creative, I'd love to throw one into fray.

Good job guys, love the collaboration.