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Designing batches of custom vinyl stickers can be interesting and even exciting! We at OPT know that it is the little things that make all the difference. Whether you need stickers for a work promotion, fundraising or a school event, printing them the right way is important. We’re here to get you started making your own custom vinyl stickers, step by step.
A Comprehensive Guide
First, consider the kinds of stickers you’d like to produce. Do you want them colorful and bright, or low-key and understated? Once you have a concept, develop your stickers. Software that you can use includes Adobe illustrator or even things like Canva for free. Design your own, and consider colors and shapes. Because it will be printed, be sure your images are of high enough quality that they’ll look good. After designing, save your work in a file format that printers can read (like PDF or PNG).
Then you need the right printer. Not all printers are built to accommodate custom vinyl stickers, so be sure to find one that is. If you do not have a vinyl printer, you can even use a regular inkjet printer with unique vinyl sheets. Just remember to calibrate your printer settings for vinyl. This is helpful to avoid smudging and make the colors vivid.
Now that your printing is finished, it’s time to trim everything. Use a craft knife or cutting machine, such as a Cricut. If you need to cut lots of stickers, a cutting machine might save some time. Simply load the printed vinyl into the machine, and it does the work for you.
After slicing, remove the excess vinyl. Now you have your stickers! You may want to laminate them, to give them more longevity. This also helps keep them safe from water and scratches. Finally, if you’re making a ton of stickers, maybe package them nicely. This will give your bands a more professional look, and if you're selling or gifting them, it's fantastic.
What Is The Best Material For Custom Vinyl Stickers?
The materials you use make a huge difference when it comes to making stickers. High-quality vinyl is also essential for printing any custom vinyl stickers. At OPT we suggest the use of vinyl which is weatherproof and waterproof. This means that your stickers won't rust, more durable even they are in the outside or water bottles.
There are several types of vinyl you can use. There’s glossy vinyl, for instance, that can produce colors that are bright and shiny. This is great for cute designs. Then, there is matte vinyl that gives off a more understated vibe. It’s commonly used for classy designs or business logos. Both are good, so choose one that seems to suit your design.
You must, too, consider the adhesive in the vinyl. Some are made with permanent adhesive, so they stick really well and can be difficult to get off. This is useful where you want stickers that will last a very long time. Other stickers are on removable adhesive and remove more easily. This is great if you tend to change your stickers a lot without the sticky remnants of the previous sticker.
You also may want to consider laminate instead of vinyl. Laminate is a thin piece of plastic that it gets put over the sticker after its printed. It shields your sticker from water, sunlight (UV), rain and snow. If you intend to use your stickers outside, laminate is a necessity. Like the vinyl, you can opt for glossy or matte laminate.
With proper material choice and good sticker care, you can make beautiful designs that people will enjoy. And remember at OPT, we’re always here to help answer any questions you may have about creating personalized vinyl stickers. Happy sticker making!
How to Choose the Perfect Size and Shape for Custom Vinyl Stickers
If you're looking to create your own custom vinyl stickers, the first thing you'll need to break down is their size and shape. Size is an important consideration as it will influence the appearance of your stickers, but also how easy it will be for people to use them. For instance, if you’re going to hand out stickers at a school event, you might want smaller stickers that can be placed on notebooks or water bottles. On the other hand, if you’re designing a sticker that goes on a car window, maybe you want something big enough to see from far away. Shapes also matter! Stickers can be round, square and even custom designs in animal shapes or logos. What is good to consider is what you think will look best for your design. A larger sticker would better display those details if your design is highly detailed. At OPT, we suggest sketching out multiple sizes and shapes to see what fits best for your idea. You might even be able to print some out and see how they look in real life. That way, you can ensure your stickers are perfect before printing tons of them.
Ensuring Perfect Color Accuracy for Custom Vinyl Stickers
Next up, let’s talk color accuracy. When you order your vinyl stickers to be custom printed, you want the colors to match what you see on your screen. This is significant because your stickers might not look great if the colors do not match. A high quality printer that’s designed to print stickers will ensure color accuracy. Here at OPT, we recommend a printer with high color capabilities. It’s also useful to employ color profiles when you’re printing. And this means your printer and computer should be using the same color settings. Always print a test sticker before printing a large order. This test will help you realize if the colors are right. If they are not, you can tweak the colors on your computer until everything looks right. Remember that the more time you spend on your stickers, taking in colors etc. nicer they will be.
Finally, once you’ve created your own vinyl custom stickers, consider how to begin selling them especially if targeting wholesale buyers. The more effectively you market your stickers, the more people you’ll reach and the more stickers you'll sell. A good place to begin is coming up with a name and logo for your sticker business that's catchy. It will make people remember you, and your stickers. You can also utilize social media to post photos of your stickers and let people know where they can buy them. At OPT, we recommend contacting local businesses, schools and organizations with potential interest in purchasing stickers in large quantities. Providing special promotions for larger purchases can also motivate them to make more purchases. You could also visit craft fairs or markets to display your stickers in person. Being that it’s visually stimulating, the display can grab someone’s attention. Also, think of setting up a website where individuals can quickly place orders for your stickers on the internet. The more places you put your stickers, the more people will see them! You can get wholesale by doing a great job promoting your stickers.