Do you want to print stickers at home with a printer? It is an economical solution that may not fully reflect the result we want or must obtain. So, here are some tips on how to print great stickers from home.
Print Stickers: The Questions to Ask Yourself in Order Not to Be Wrong
To create and print stickers or labels that are impactful and graphically adequate, you must, first of all, ask yourself:
- What is the purpose of our adhesive?
- What do we want to advertise?
- Where will it be applied?
- How will we distribute it?
How to Print Great Stickers from Home: Facts to consider
Before printing stickers at home, consider the following facts:
- What uses for which stickers?
Whether it is distributed in a rap concert, given in a skate shop, offered in a cereal box or even provided at the counter of an insurance agency, a sticker will have its own life: it will register in a given communication campaign, with a given target, and for a given use.
Thus, the sticker of the football player to collect in a notebook will not have the same vocation.
For each type of use of a sticker (expected life, indoor or outdoor use, etc.), we will, therefore, favor one kind of paper.
- Which printing house to choose for its sticker?
Printers have several solutions depending on their fleet. Offset printing is excellent value for money but only provides proper weather protection.
For specific uses (snowboards, for example), we will contact a printing company equipped with screen printing. The cost will then be much higher.
- The different types of media for printing stickers
The stickers can be printed on several types of support, ranging from high-gloss chrome coated paper to vinyl-coated plastic, in white or transparent.
- Stickers on coated paper
- Stickers on laminated vinyl paper (white and transparent)
- The different sticker formats
The sticker formats generally vary between the 5×10 format and the 20×30 format, for square or rectangular formats. The larger the format, the more visibility the message will gain. But the sticker may lose its practicality. A small format sticker is more discreet and will be more efficiently used.
Tips on How to Print Great Stickers from Home
After considering the above facts, follow these seven simple tips, and you can print a perfect sticker.
- Prepare your file for printing stickers.
To have an optimal result when printing your stickers, there are a few rules to respect. New technologies make it possible to print labels in small series, in color, and at low cost in any shape-round, rectangular, square stickers, with rounded edges and even with a personalized form.
- Simplicity
The design and text of the sticker must be structured. In this way, the transmission of the message takes place most immediately and rapidly possible. Furthermore, very often, the message must also be viewed from a distance (when we have to print stickers for cars and vans or the walls of shops). So be careful not to overdo intricate graphic details and keep a simple and intuitive type of communication.
- Big isn’t always better.
The bigger the sticker, the better we can see it, right? Very accurate, but a promotional label will never be displayed because it is too large and uncomfortable. Do not print a sticker that you can never apply anywhere because too flashy.
- Consider the “die cutting.”
The visual appeal of a cartoon, an inscription, or an image also derives from its shape, which can be particular or unusual. Printing round or oval stickers, usually does not involve additional costs. It will make you gain in terms of style, originality, and elegance.
- Think backward
Just because we print on a white background does not mean that we have to write in black. Turn your thinking upside down. Use white on a dark background to give more contrast and provide a more attractive design.
- Print transparent stickers
If you are designing stickers for cars, bottles of wine, or jars, consider printing them on transparent material. Don’t forget to use white ink because it reflects light more and gives visibility.
- Watch out for the glue.
It depends on the use you want to make of it. In general, an adhesive that requires a long time or solvents to be detached from a surface never gives too much satisfaction. Make sure you use adequate and not too aggressive glue.
- Make a rough print to practice.
Always print one or two stickers for practice. Well, it may be a little bit expensive. So, use cheap paper to see how out works out. When you figure out how to make the perfect one, you can print the final copy.
These are our tips on how to print great stickers from home. What other tips would you add?