Custom stickers and labels are an excellent way to add personality and flair to any project. Whether designing a logo, creating promotional materials for your business or just looking for something fun and unique, custom stickers and labels can be used in various ways. But what goes into the design process? There’s much more than meets the eye when designing custom stickers and labels. In this article, we’ll take an inside look at what goes into creating these versatile products so that you’ll have all the information needed to make informed decisions about your next sticker or label design project.
1. Why Vectors Matter
Vector artwork is essential when creating custom stickers and labels because it offers high resolution, sharp edges, and scalability. Vector artwork differs from raster graphics in that it relies on mathematical equations instead of pixels to generate images. This means that no matter how large or small the artwork becomes, it retains its crisp and clean aesthetic. Furthermore, vector artwork allows designers to make edits without any degradation in quality easily.
2. CMYK vs RGB
One of the most important considerations when designing custom stickers and labels is the colour mode. CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) is used for print projects while RGB (Red, Green Blue) is used for digital. CMYK colour mode combines four printing inks to create a wide range of colours, while RGB combines three light sources to create its colour spectrum. Set your colours to CMYK, so your screen will give you an accurate representation of what your finished custom labels and stickers will look like.
3. Converting Text
When designing custom stickers and labels, converting text into outlines or paths is essential. This ensures that the font remains intact if the original font is unavailable on other systems. By converting text into outlines or paths, you can ensure that your artwork will look exactly as intended no matter who opens it. You find a step-by-step video tutorial on how to convert your text to outlines here.
4. Custom Cutlines
Cutlines are necessary when designing custom stickers or labels to ensure they get cut correctly. This can be done by creating a vector path around the design or placing a ready-made template over the artwork. Cutlines also provide an extra layer of protection against unwanted bleeds, which can occur if the artwork extends beyond the edges of the sticker or label. If you do not know how to create a cutline, your sticker printer of choice can do that for you.
5. Adding Bleeds
Bleeds describe an area beyond the cutline and are therefore cut off during production. They exist to ensure that the colours used in your design will extend to the very edge of your stickers without creating unwanted white lines where the material is cut. This means extending the artwork slightly beyond the edge of your design by using a 0.125” bleed on all sides. This will ensure that your artwork looks perfect, even when it gets cut to size.
By following these simple design tips, you can make sure your custom stickers and labels look professional and impressive every time. With a little knowledge, you can confidently create beautiful and unique products that will make any project stand out. With the right design elements, your custom stickers and labels can be an effective marketing tool that will help you reach your target audience in a creative and eye-catching way. So go ahead and let your creativity shine!
