How to create custom stickers
Stickers are a fabulous way of showcasing your designs and it’s easily accessible by everyone. Who doesn’t like a good sticker? Seriously, the audience is large! If you want to take your sticker obsession to a new level, why not make some with your own designs? In this post, I’ll share some tips on how to create stickers with your artwork, overview of material/cut/size options, and professional printer recommendations.
Creating a design for your sticker
The great thing about stickers is that it’s some form of a print so whatever detail you put into your artwork will translate well. There’s a lot of room for pretty much anything! The design could be as simple as a logo, funny or inspirational text phrase that people can easily connect with, or any kind of bold & vibrant artwork. You can also incorporate the material of your sticker into the design to create trippy & funky effects.
Selecting sticker material and finishing
The material and finishing of your sticker impacts the look & feel quite a bit. I’m pointing out a few below that are most popular and my personal go-to options.
Glossy Vinyl
Smooth and shiny, durable and weatherproof, great for outdoor use
Matte Vinyl
Soft look, anti-glare, great for taking photos
Holographic
Eye catching trippy look, personal favorite, enhances your design and adds fun
Selecting the cut and size of your sticker
The most common cut options are die-cut and kiss-cut. You can also select round, square, triangle, etc. options depending on what your printer offers.
Die cut: cut exactly to the shape of your design. When you peel the sticker, the whole thing is peeled with no remainders.
Kiss cut: only cut through the top layer so when you peel, only the design will peel and the backing will stay intact.
When it comes to size, it’s really up to you. I find that 3” - 3.5” is a great size. Anything smaller is a bit too small and won’t stand out unless you’re trying to create a sticker specific for smaller surfaces like the back of your phone.
Which sticker vendor should I use?
You could print your own stickers using a machine like Cricut but it’ll eat up a good chunk of your budget when you also add up material costs. Don’t feel lost! There’s a number of professional printers out there that offer these services like Sticker Ninja. But, I’ve been solely working with the below local print shop based in the US since 2017 and I haven’t switched since!
I’ve been working with them for a few years and they’re my favorite go-to.
- Wide selection of materials, finishings, and cuts
- Customizable size and qty, qty minimums vary by size
- High quality, durable, weather proof, and long lasting
- Bonus stickers included in orders
Check out our sticker collection!
From glossy vinyl to holographic, die-cut and square cut, we carry a variety of stickers with fun & vibrant designs. Look through our collection for inspiration or maybe some will be lucky to find themselves on your gear!
Thank you so much for reading! I hope this was helpful ☻ If you have any questions, feel free to drop me a note! Don’t forget to:
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