Adding Attributes, Signatures, and QR Codes

Written By Vik

Last updated 1 day ago

Designing a professional, verifiable, and personalized credential isn’t just about choosing the right template or colors; it’s about embedding the right details that make every certificate or badge meaningful, trusted, and unique. In Wauld’s Design Studio, you can enrich your credentials by adding Attributes, Signatures, and QR Codes, each serving a critical role in enhancing the value of your digital documents.

These elements go beyond aesthetics. They personalize the credential with recipient-specific data, authenticate it through authorized signatures, and verify it instantly with scannable QR codes. By combining them, every credential issued becomes attractive, credible, and secure.

What Are Attributes, Signatures, and QR Codes?

1. Attributes

Attributes are dynamic placeholders that automatically pull data from the recipient data and document setup when credentials are issued. Instead of typing individual names, dates, or scores manually, you set attributes during the design stage, and Wauld fills them in automatically at issuance.

Common attribute examples include:

  • Recipient Name

  • Course or Program Title

  • Issuance Date / Expiry Date

  • Custom Attributes (e.g., Grade, Hours Completed, ID Number)

This makes credentials scalable and personalized at the same time. Whether issuing 1 or 1,000, Wauld ensures each credential reflects the correct recipient data without manual effort.

2. Signatures

Signatures add a layer of authority and trust to your credential. Just as traditional paper certificates are signed by a dean, manager, or trainer, Wauld allows you to digitally embed one or more authorized signatories directly into the design.

They can be uploaded as images (transparent .PNG recommended), resized, positioned, and aligned neatly on your credential. Multiple signatures can be included when necessary (e.g., Dean + Registrar), giving the credential institutional weight and signaling official approval.

3. QR Codes

QR Codes are scannable tools that bring digital credentials to life by linking them to secure, cloud-hosted records in Wauld. They not only serve as tamper-proof verification gateways but also as customizable engagement features for issuers.

When placed on a credential, anyone with a smartphone or device can scan the QR code to:

  • Open the credential in Wauld’s verification viewer

  • Confirm its authenticity in real time

  • Check whether the issuing organization is verified

This makes every credential instantly verifiable, ensuring that even if someone duplicates or alters the image, the QR code will always lead back to the original, validated credential in Wauld’s system.

Beyond verification, Wauld also allows you to add Custom QR Codes. These let issuers embed any URL of their choice such as a course page, alumni portal, event website, or social media profile directly into the credential. Custom QR codes transform credentials into interactive assets, creating new opportunities to:

  • Drive recipients or viewers toward relevant resources

  • Promote organizational websites, campaigns, or events

  • Enhance engagement by connecting credentials to broader digital experiences

With Verification QRs ensuring trust and Custom QRs extending utility, Wauld helps credentials go beyond proof of achievement they become gateways to deeper connections and opportunities.

Now that you know what Attributes, Signatures, and QR Codes are, this article will guide you through how to add, customize, and position them inside the Design Studio.

For the basics of navigating the Design Studio, start with: Introduction to the Design Studio
To learn about branding elements like backgrounds, logos, and shapes, visit: Uploading Backgrounds, Logos, and Brand Elements

Adding Attributes to Your Credential

Default Attributes

When you enter the Design Studio for the first time, you’ll notice that two attributes are already present by default:

  • Name

  • Email

These are mandatory, system-collected fields for every recipient. They’re always available in your attribute library, ensuring that every credential includes the recipient’s identity data.

Adding New Attributes

In addition to the default fields, you can create custom attributes that reflect the unique data points relevant to your credential.

  1. Open the document in the Design Studio.

  2. Navigate to the Attributes Panel (left side of the screen).

  3. You’ll see the existing attributes already listed there.

  4. In the input field, type the name of the new attribute (e.g., Course Title).

  5. Click Add.

  6. The new attribute is added to your design studio library and is ready to be used.

Using Attributes in Your Design

Once attributes are added to your library, you can place them anywhere on your credential template using text boxes.

  1. Add or select a text box on your credential design.

  2. Type two curly brackets {{.

  3. A dropdown will appear, showing all attributes in your library.

  4. Select the attribute you want to insert.

  5. The chosen attribute will auto-populate within the text box.

In the Attributes Panel, attributes are color-coded for clarity:

  • Green – Attributes already used in the design

  • Yellow – Attributes that exist in the library but have not yet been placed on the credential

Formatting Attributes

Attributes follow all standard text formatting applied to the text box they’re in. You can customize them to align with your credential’s branding and design.

Formatting options include:

  • Font Selection – Choose from a wide variety of professional fonts to maintain brand consistency.

  • Font Size – Increase or decrease text size, with instant updates on the design canvas.

  • Bold / Italic / Underline – Add emphasis to highlight key details like recipient names or course titles.

  • Text Alignment – Align text to the left, center, or right. Useful for symmetry in certificates.

  • Color Picker – Use Wauld’s modern color picker to apply brand colors with:

    • Click-to-select swatches

    • HEX code entry

    • RGB/opacity sliders

  • Opacity Controls – Make text fully opaque or semi-transparent for subtle effects like watermarks.

Attribute Management

  • Deleting an Attribute from Design: If you delete a text box containing an attribute, the attribute will also be removed from the design.

  • Unused Attributes: Any attributes not used in your credential design will remain in the attribute library and can be added later if needed.

Attributes and Recipient Data

When you reach the Add Recipients step of credential issuance, Wauld will automatically prompt you to provide values for all attributes included in your design.

  • If you’ve added custom attributes (e.g., Score or Certification ID), you must supply recipient-specific data for those fields.

  • This ensures that no credential is issued with missing or incomplete information.

To learn more about adding and managing recipient data, visit: Adding Recipients (Manual, Bulk CSV)

Adding Signatures to Your Credential

  1. Open your document in the Design Studio.

  2. From the left-side panel, click on the Signature section.

  3. Click the Create Signature button.

  4. A modal will appear with two options:

    • Type Signature (default option)

    • Upload Signature

Option 1: Type a Signature

  1. When the modal opens, Type Signature is selected by default.

  2. In the Type Here field, enter the text you want to appear as the signature.

  3. A live preview of the typed signature will appear below.

  4. Use the Change Style dropdown to select from 4 available font styles.

    • The dropdown shows previews of each style instead of font names.

    • Click on any style to update the preview instantly.

  5. Once satisfied:

    • Click Add to insert the signature onto the credential.

    • Or click Cancel to exit without saving.

  6. After adding the signature:

    • Drag to reposition it anywhere on the canvas.

    • Resize using the bounding box.

    • Use the toolbar at the top to change font size and color.

Option 2: Upload a Signature

  1. In the modal, select the Upload Signature option.

  2. Click the Upload button to open the file uploader.

  3. Choose to:

    • Drag and drop the file, or

    • Click Browse to select a file from your computer.

  4. Accepted formats: .PNG, .JPG, .SVG.

  5. Once uploaded:

    • Click Add to place it on the credential.

    • Or click Cancel to exit.

  6. After adding the uploaded signature:

    • Drag to move it anywhere on the canvas.

    • Resize using the bounding box.

Notes

  • Multiple signatures can be added by repeating the steps.

  • For uploaded images, a transparent PNG is recommended for the best visual results.

  • Signatures can be freely styled and aligned for consistency across templates.

Adding QR Codes to Your Credential

  1. Open your document in the Design Studio.

  2. From the left-side panel, click the QR Codes section.

  3. Choose one of the two options:

    • Add Verification QR Code

    • Create Custom QR Code

Option 1: Add Verification QR Code

  1. Click Add Verification QR Code.

  2. A QR is placed on the canvas. This code is auto-generated per recipient at issuance and links directly to the credential’s secure verification page.

    • This link is not editable (by design) to preserve integrity.

    • Scanning the code on a phone opens the credential and its verification state. To learn how verification works, visit Verifying Credentials .

  3. Reposition/Resize

    • Drag to move it anywhere on the canvas; snap guides help align with other elements.

    • Drag the handles to resize while maintaining scan reliability.

  4. Delete

    • Select the QR and click Delete on the toolbar to remove it.

Place the verification QR in a clear, high-contrast area (typically bottom-right or bottom-left) and keep enough white “quiet zone” around it to ensure reliable scanning on print and screens.

Option 2: Create a Custom QR Code

Use this when you want the QR to open any URL (e.g., program syllabus, course page, social profiles, help center, feedback form).

  1. Click Create Custom QR Code.

  2. In the modal, paste your URL.

  3. Click Generate. A live preview of the QR appears.

  4. Color & Background

    • Set QR Color and Background Color using the color pickers.

    • The picker supports:

      • Swatches

      • HEX input

      • RGB sliders

      • Opacity

    • Ensure good contrast between QR and background for reliable scans.

  5. Add Center Image (Optional)

    • Click Add Image to place a small logo in the center of the QR.

    • Upload via drag-and-drop or Browse; supported types: .PNG, .JPG, .SVG.

    • Transparent .PNG logos work best.

    • You can remove or replace this image anytime in the modal.

  6. Click Add to place the generated QR on the canvas (or Cancel to discard).

  7. Reposition/Resize on the canvas as needed (drag to move; handles to resize).

  8. Delete at any time by selecting the QR and clicking Delete in the toolbar.

Notes

  • Verification vs. Custom QR

    • Verification QR: Auto-links to each issued credential’s verification page and is not editable. Best for authenticity checks. See Verifying Credentials for details.

    • Custom QR: Fully configurable; use it to drive recipients or viewers to relevant resources (event page, alumni portal, social media, etc.).

Once you’ve added the necessary attributes, placed signatures, and inserted QR codes into your credential design, your template is complete. At this point, you can close the Design Studio and move forward to the issuance process.

With these elements in place, your credential designs are not only visually professional but also secure, interactive, and fully ready to be issued.