How do I design for stickers?

It’s essential that you upload high-resolution images. Stickers come in large sizes up to 14 inches (35cm), so higher resolution files will be offered in the larger Sticker sizes and still look crisp and clean. We recommend uploading a file with the maximum pixel requirements (2800x2800 pixels) to ensure your design is available on all 4 Sticker sizes.

You should also pay attention to details, textures, and any text you add to your design. Take into consideration that these types of features might not be so easy to read in smaller sizes.

Mastering the art of transparency is vital to designing for stickers. Let’s start by explaining what kiss-cutting is.

All Stickers offered on the Redbubble marketplace are kiss-cut by 3rd-party printers, which means the edge of each Sticker is cut by a sharp metal die or laser, but the cut does not penetrate the Sticker’s backing, so they arrive on a small sheet.

Stickers are cut to the exact shape of your design, plus approximately 1/8 inch (3.2mm) white/transparent border so that they can be easily peeled off from the sheet.

To get your Sticker to be cut to the shape you want, your artwork needs to have a transparent background, and the file must be saved in PNG format. If you're unsure how to create a transparent background, check out this blog post for more information!

Once you have your transparent background, you must check for stray pixels. These might be caught by the machine and cut around, so the Sticker can end up having extra white/transparent space that doesn’t belong there. A trick to eliminate all of these pixels is to create an extra layer under your artwork and fill it with an intense color not present in your design. This way, it’ll be easier to spot and erase the pixels.

Holographic Stickers print on a rainbow reflective film without a white underlay. This is why designing for them can be a bit trickier than with others.

• Because there is no white underlay, any white parts of your design will be transparent and thus holographic when printed. 
• Use black and white strategically.
  • Black helps keep outlines prominent, but because of the darker color, it can also block some of the holographic effects if used too much.
  • White areas allow the holographic material to pop through making them more reflective may get lost in the reflective nature of the substrate.
  • This means existing designs may need to be customized. 
• Adjust color saturation. Light colors look different on a holographic, while dark colors may block it out. 
• Avoid gradients. Some gradient effects don't translate well to holographic printing. Darker gradients should be OK. Designs should be reviewed in the uploader before enabling the option.
• Use high contrast. Incorporate high-contrast elements to make the design pop against the shimmery background.
• Incorporating blank or transparent spaces in the artwork allows areas of the holographic film to show through, letting the iridescent effect shine. 
• Design with a colored background to help distinguish between white and transparent areas. Just remember to remove it before finalizing. This also helps with identifying stray pixels.

Sticker packs are gradually stealing the show, and independent artists are increasingly excited to design for these fun compilations of mini-stickers. Don’t miss the chance and jump on the packswagon!

It’s important to note that it's not possible to estimate a fixed size for each mini-sticker, as only the final size of the whole Sticker pack can be determined.

"How can I create a Sticker pack?" you may ask. Well, let’s look at the essentials of a Sticker pack:

• Your file must be saved in PNG format.
• The artwork must have a transparent background. Good thing you already know how to do that!
• It's recommended that all individual items are a minimum of 0.7 cm from each other. If they’re too close, the machine won’t be able to cut them separately.