How Sticker Cutting Processes Affect the Look and Feel of Your Stickers

When you create a sticker design it’s important to consider how the final stickers will be cut. This can have a big impact on the overall look of the stickers and how they stick to surfaces.

Advanced graphic designers often utilize custom cut contour sticker cutting lines in various colors to achieve desired visual effects. For example this monster sticker has a white cut line added to the monster for a full bleed effect.

Size

When it comes to choosing a sticker shape, size is one of the most important factors. This is because you will want to ensure that your sticker design is the correct size so that it fits well on its intended product or vehicle. Stickers can be purchased in either cut-to-size or roll formats. The former can be peeled and applied by hand, while the latter is a great choice for labeling large numbers of items in bulk.

The most common custom sticker sizes include circles, rectangles, and ovals. The rectangle sticker size, for example, is 3.5 x 2 inches, which makes it ideal for name tags and wordmark logo stickers. This sticker size is also popular among food and beverage businesses because it allows them to place labels on a wide variety of products. Its business card-like size also makes it easy to share with fans at events. In addition, this sticker size is compact enough to fit on a variety of personal belongings.

Material

Die cut stickers are produced using a metal die that is custom-made for your sticker design. The process resembles using large cookie cutters and is great for producing large quantities of stickers at once. It’s also a cost-effective option for creating unique shapes that may not work well with standard circle or square stickers.

Die-cut stickers are available in a variety of materials that range from waterproof BOPP and white premium sticker paper to matte and cardstock. Some are coated in gloss, which helps make bold colors stand out, while others offer a more subdued look. Choose a material that works best with your aesthetic and the environment in which your stickers will be used.

You can also decide whether you want kiss-cut or full-cut stickers. Kiss-cut stickers leave the back liner intact while full-cut ones cut all the way through it. This results in a different look when the stickers are peeled off of the paper, but they look the same once applied. Both types of stickers are made from non-toxic inks and break down during composting or recycling, giving your customers a guilt-free unboxing experience.

Shape

The shape of a sticker is an important factor to consider when designing it. If the sticker is a standard circle, oval or rectangle it will fit easily on most objects. If the sticker is a custom shape, it will require more precision and planning.

In addition, the size of a sticker can have a significant impact on its effectiveness. A smaller sticker will be harder to apply and is less likely to adhere properly. A larger sticker, on the other hand, is more visually striking and will be easier to see.

It’s essential to remember that die cutting stickers requires a small safety zone around the design to account for tiny variances in registration during sticker cutting printing and cutting. This is especially important for designs with thin or small edges. For this reason, it’s recommended to add a white border around the sticker. This will prevent the machine from cutting off any part of the design that shouldn’t be there and will also make it easier to remove from the paper. This will save you money and time in the long run.

Bleed

When your design extends past the sticker’s outline, this is called bleed. This allows for a little extra space to guarantee that once the stickers are peeled off the liner, they will reach all the way to the edges of your sticker sheet.

This is particularly important for designs with a lot of text or images that are not centered. If you don’t add a little extra room, the text or images may end up getting cut off by the edge of the sticker sheet.

To avoid this, it’s best to add bleed during the design process. You can use the Print Bleed feature in Silhouette Studio to make this happen. This will allow you to print your design on inkjet printable vinyl and then use your Cameo to cut around the sticker’s outline. You can also use the Slice(r) 00200 Safety Cutter, which has a finger-friendly(r) blade edge that is less likely to cause lacerations when you’re cutting large numbers of stickers. This is a great alternative to expensive machines that can cause damage to the vinyl or hurt your fingers.

Printing

The printing process affects how easy it is to peel and stick the stickers. Some stickers are produced without a crack-and-peel or slit-back liner, making them harder to remove from the backing and apply.

If you want the easiest stickers to stick, go for kiss-cut stickers. These leave an edge around the sticker that can be peeled off easily, and also work as a nifty frame to highlight your design. They are available in different sizes and shapes, and can be printed on a sheet or individually.

Another option is die-cut stickers, which are cut into a custom shape using a machine that uses a computer-guided knife or laser. This technology is much faster and more accurate than the old method, which used metal dies. It allows for bespoke shapes that would be too difficult or costly to make with a traditional die. However, this process requires a large investment in equipment, so is usually only used for larger orders. If you want your stickers to last longer, consider adding a laminate. This will protect your stickers from scratches, fading and other weathering, and will make them look even better.