Different Types of Sticker Cutting
Stickers and decals add a great deal of visual interest to any product, especially when they’re custom-cut. However, some cutting methods come with additional costs while others can be quite expensive (such as rotary dies).
When it comes to sticker cutting there are several factors to consider. Here are 4 quick tips to remember:.
Size
A sticker is a label with pressure-sensitive adhesive on one side, which can be used for decoration or practical purposes. It can be applied to many surfaces, including paper, plastic, glass, walls, and cars. A common use is to identify a particular product, such as food or luggage. Stickers can also be used to decorate scrapbook pages.
The size of a sticker is an important factor to consider, especially when it comes to its purpose. For example, if you’re printing die-cut stickers, it’s essential that the design is properly sized to ensure that it will cut accurately.
Additionally, you should be aware of the normal safety zone for your die-cut stickers. This safety zone accounts for tiny variances in registration during cutting. It is important to avoid design elements near this edge, as Car Film Wrapping the sticker may start to peel prematurely. For this reason, you should always create your stickers using a larger file size than what you’re actually going to print. The extra space will ensure that the sticker’s edges are trimmed cleanly, and no white space is visible on the final product.
Shape
The shape of a sticker is a unique way to deliver a message. It can evoke emotions like unity, stability, dynamism, or elegance. Sticker shapes are also a great way to promote businesses and brands.
Stickers come in various shapes and sizes, ranging from standard circle and rectangle stickers to custom die cut stickers that can take on any form you can imagine. They can be printed on a sheet of paper, or on vinyl or BOPP for outdoor use and refrigerated food labels.
When printing your stickers, consider the shape of the artwork and how it will be used to decide on the best cutting option. For example, kiss cut stickers have a border with extra material, which means that they are easily peelable without needing tools or skills. This is a great choice for large stickers that will be handled and stored often. It can also make your stickers more durable and resistant to tearing or fading over time. They are also better suited for indoor use than outdoor, as the back of the sticker will protect the artwork from water and oil damage.
Bleed
A bleed is the extra space around the edge of your sticker that will be trimmed off after it’s printed. This ensures that your colors and graphics go right to the edge of the sticker. If you don’t add a bleed, your stickers may end up with white edges.
Bleeds are important for any stickers that will be laminated or have a border. The bleed area helps prevent the border from looking uneven after the stickers are laminated or cut. This is especially important for stickers that will be used on cars, laptops, and other surfaces that will be touched by people.
Bleeds are also necessary for any sticker that will be die-cut or kiss cut. Because limited printing technology can cause papers to shift slightly, without a bleed, some of your design might be cut off during the cutting process. A bleed will prevent this from happening by adding an extra 2mm of space on all sides. If you are designing a file for printing, it is recommended that you add a safety margin of 0.125″ on all sides to avoid any unwanted text or images getting cut off in the cutting process.
Trim
Unlike die cut stickers, kiss-cut stickers are cut through the vinyl material but not through its backing paper. As a result, the sticker’s edges are protected by the paper until it is peeled away, which can help prevent wear and tear during transport or handling. Kiss-cut stickers are also more durable, especially if your design has complex or delicate edges.
You can also choose to have your stickers laminated for extra protection or a more refined aesthetic. Gloss lamination can make bold colors look more vibrant while matte can give a subdued or muted effect.
If you’re producing a large batch of stickers, you can save time and effort by choosing a crack-and-peel sticker sheet. These stickers have a small strip of adhesive on the back of each sticker that makes them easier to peel from their backings. This style of sticker is also a good choice for designs that require a lot of text or intricate details, as it can help reduce the risk of mistakes or errors during application. A crack-and-peel sticker sheet can also be used as a marketing tool by adding your brand’s logo or website.
Adhesive
A sticky substance that causes two surfaces to adhere to each other. It may work through sticker cutting mechanical means, where the adhesive seeps into small pores in substrate and polymerizes to hold them together, or it may work through one of several chemical mechanisms.
A sticker’s adhesive is typically a water-based pressure-sensitive material that can be easily removed without damaging the surface to which it is stuck. This makes it ideal for applications that require the stickers to be easily removable from smooth, clean surfaces.
A sticker’s adhesive can also be a block out, which is a dark glue that enhances the opacity of white paper or vinyl. This is useful when there is a mistake in a design or the print is to be applied on a dark surface, where it would otherwise blend in and become invisible. This type of adhesive is commonly used when printing on a high-quality paper stock or vinyl. It is also used for applications where the stickers will be exposed to cold temperatures (e.g., freezer stickers) and inclement weather, such as rain or sunlight.