How To: Design and Prepare Stickers For Print (Sticky Business)

Stickers. They tap into our childhood memories and somehow never lose their charm, even as adults. There's something almost magical about slapping a picture anywhere you want within seconds. Now imagine channelling this power for your branding and marketing.

Stickers on a glass wall

The younger generations still feel that nostalgic pull towards stickers. They're also dirt cheap for large quantities – massive payoff for minimal input. You'd be mad not to use this power for your business.

But here's the catch – you've got to do it right. We've put together some solid tips for designing and ordering your stickers, so you can squeeze every drop of benefit from having Printulu-quality stickers in your marketing toolkit.

<AcademyQuote>Stickers aren't just promotional items – they're tiny brand ambassadors that work 24/7 wherever they land.</AcademyQuote>

Designing your Stickers#

Take the size and shape of your stickers into consideration#

Before you start dreaming about what your stickers will look like, make this crucial decision first: What size do they need to be? This depends entirely on their purpose. A massive <a href="https://www.printulu.co.za/product/stickers" class="internal-link text-[#007756] hover:text-[#005d42] underline font-medium">sticker</a> for storefront windows won't work on your A5 [<a href="https://www.printulu.co.za/product/flyers" class="internal-link text-[#007756] hover:text-[#005d42] underline font-medium">flyers</a>.](http://bit.ly/2XIMAup)

Most stickers use the standard rectangular and square shapes you see everywhere. There's a smart reason for this – these formats are the most affordable to print in large runs. No additional die-cutting or custom shaping required.

If you're thinking, "But I wanted my stickers to be different!", relax. You can have a different shape whilst keeping the square format. Sounds impossible? Here's how: print on transparent vinyl instead. This lets you design a custom shape even though the actual sticker cut remains rectangular or square.

One heads-up though – if you choose transparent vinyl, remember that many printers (Printulu included) don't stock white ink. White ink is expensive and pushes up prices, so we skip it to keep costs down for you. This means your design on transparent vinyl shouldn't include any white areas or text.

Resolution, resolution, resolution!#

Speaking of size and designing for the end result, make sure your final file is at least 300dpi. High-resolution with zero pixelation.

We see this problem often at Printulu, and honestly, it breaks our hearts. We want your stickers to look crisp and professional. But no printing job, however brilliant, can fix pixelated artwork. Give your design and brand the respect they deserve – set it to high resolution.

Make it pop!#

This should be obvious, but many stickers we see miss this completely. Doesn't matter what you're using your stickers for – they need to look good. Make them stand out, especially for marketing or promotional use.

Stickers are usually seen from a distance. Think bumper stickers, lamp posts and laptop covers. You never know where your target audience will spot one of your stickers, so they need to grab attention in any situation.

pixels photo print

Be BOLD with your typography#

Literally bold. A tiny printed word on a 5x5cm sticker won't catch anyone's eye. Even if the sticker's colour grabs attention first, nobody wants to squint to read your message. Make it loud, clear, and legible from a distance.

For flyers or <a href="https://www.printulu.co.za/product/brochures" class="internal-link text-[#007756] hover:text-[#005d42] underline font-medium">brochures</a>, beautifully written paragraphs work fine. But stickers need to communicate fast – walls of text won't help you. Your stickers aren't there to tell your life story. Usually, they're just creating brand awareness in our fast-paced world.

<AcademyProTip>Test your sticker design by printing it on your home printer and sticking it on your car. If you can't read it clearly while walking past, your font's too small.</AcademyProTip>

Keep it simple!#

As we mentioned above, stickers aren't meant to give someone your product's entire history. When designing, it's tempting to keep adding more elements.

But stickers are beautiful because they're eye-catching and fun. Overwhelming someone is the last thing that'll convince them to buy your product, so hold back. Sometimes text isn't even necessary. Often, your company logo is enough. Your logo on a cool sticker in the right spot communicates your message loud and clear. Icons also help keep your sticker visual and fun.

stickers print

Printing your Stickers#

Choose the material#

Printulu offers different materials for sticker printing. White indoor vinyl is the most popular choice. You can also choose transparent vinyl, or outdoor vinyl for something tougher that'll survive the elements.

Set up your bleed like a champ#

Stickers are usually printed in large batches. You're probably ordering more than one sticker. And why wouldn't you? They're super affordable, especially with Printulu.

When we cut large amounts of stickers, mistakes can happen. That's why you need a bleed around your artwork's perimeter – at least 3mm wide. Also make sure none of your elements (logo, text, icons) sit within 3mm of your artwork's border. This prevents accidental trimming and keeps your stickers looking as spunky as intended.

<AcademyDadJoke>Why don't stickers ever get lost? Because they always stick to the plan!</AcademyDadJoke>

Wrapping Up#

This might seem like a lot, but don't stress. Printulu's got your back. Follow the basic guidelines in our [<a href="/blog/print-ready-file-guide" class="internal-link text-[#007756] hover:text-[#005d42] underline font-medium">print-ready</a> artwork checklist](http://bit.ly/2HNO17Q) and you're sorted. If you're ever unsure about anything, call us at 010 593 0558 or email support@printulu.co.za.

If all else fails, our fantastic professional design services can handle the whole process for you. We're always happy to help!

Related Articles:

1. How to get the perfect large format print
2. Why Graphic Design is Useless! (Revealed)
3. Custom Stickers: A cost-effective marketing tool

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