Everything to Know About Custom Vinyl Stickers and Decals
It is important to consider the material you use when creating adhesive stickers as it will affect the final product. Retailers often use paper stickers to label products and seal packages. They have become a widespread favourite due to their low price. But with lower cost also comes lower quality and versatility. Paper stickers are vulnerable to moisture, fade in sunlight, scratch off, and often leave a sticky residue when removed.
The clear choice for anyone looking for more than just a simple sticker is vinyl! There are so many benefits to using vinyl to create a custom decal or decal. Vinyl stickers do not fade; you can easily clean them; they are outdoor safe, durable, long lasting and offer extreme customization for outstanding graphics.
Tips for creating a quality decal design
The best part of creating a custom sticker or decal is the freedom you have. You can customize everything from the shape and color scheme to the font style and graphics. Whether you're promoting a business or just want some awesome stickers for yourself, there are some helpful tips you can follow to help you with the design process.
While circles and squares are by far the most common shape for stickers, they can be a bit boring to look at. Instead, consider using non-organic ways to really draw people's attention to your custom sticker.
The amount of detail you include in your sticker can really add or take away from the final design, literally. Depending on your decal application, too many intricate details can hamper the effectiveness of the design. For example, if you're creating custom vinyl stickers or decals for your business, you don't want anything to detract from your business name or important tagline. On the other hand, if you are trying to promote your brand, having a sticker with more contrasting details can create an eye-catching design.
Using unique fonts and colors for your sticker text is a great way to add your own personal flair. But it's important to make sure the text isn't too big or cluttered to ensure everything remains legible.
Sticker Printing Process
Vinyl Decals Portland ORA's DIY trends have continued to rise in just about every category imaginable, some people have taken to making their own vinyl decals. While this is a possibility, there are many components that go into it. You would need a computer, a specialized printer, rolls of vinyl paper, special knives, laminate, a squeegee, etc. Making vinyl stickers not only requires a lot of skill and practice, but also making large quantities at home can be a time-consuming process. Having your stickers or decals made at a print shop, on the other hand, takes this work off your hands and allows you to create one-of-a-kind custom designs in large quantities.
The first step in making your sticker is the design. You can create your design yourself or work with a professional. Both freehand drawing and Photoshop work as long as you can upload a high resolution image to your computer. Once the image is ready to go, the next step is design. Adhesive vinyl is not as cheap as paper, so it is essential to arrange the images on the vinyl sheets with as little white space as possible. After the initial test print comes out and any necessary adjustments are made, the rest of the stickers can be printed. A layer of vinyl laminate can be applied for bumper decals and other exterior vinyl applications for added durability. Once all the vinyl sheets with stickers have been printed, they will be individually cut and trimmed. A special vinyl cutter ensures clean edges and excess vinyl can be disposed of.
How to apply decals
Once your stickers or decals are printed and cut, you can start applying them wherever you want! However, applying a decal is not the same as applying a sticker. Before using the decal, you should always start with a clean, smooth surface. Cleaning the area with soap and water or isopropyl alcohol will ensure that no dust or dirt remains under the decal; this is especially true for bumper stickers.
First apply the decal to a flat surface and a piece of masking tape on each corner on top of your decal and adjust until your graphic is level and centered. Then you will apply a piece of tape in the middle to act as a hinge. Starting on the left side, separate the pre-mask and vinyl decal from the release liner and cut through, being careful not to cut through the decal. Then, using something like a squeegee like a credit card, scrape down the decal to make sure it adheres properly with no air bubbles. Repeat this process on the other side and ta-da! Your decal is applied!
Unique ways to use vinyl stickers
Adhesive vinyl stickers and decals are a great way to personalise, promote and decorate just about anything! You can create custom designs for tumblers and other glasses for themed parties and gifts. Help out a teacher friend by getting decorative stickers to help organize her drawers and storage. And printable vinyl stickers are a great and easy way to decorate for the holidays! Business owners can benefit from adhesive vinyl decals for their windows or vehicles to help promote their business. Whatever you have in mind, you can make a sticker for it!