For those who have been using decals in the past or intend to use them in the future, it is quite entertaining to know a few facts and the procedure through which custom printed stickers are manufactured. A quick guide to how customized printed stickers are produced:
What is the Process of Sticker Making?
Types Of Materials:
Stickers are made from various materials, giving one option to decide according to their usage needs and pocket limits. The most globally known material used is Litho stock, taking its name from lithography printing. It is produced from paper but not water-resistant and is very pocket-friendly. It can / cannot have a coating over it.
Another common material used is Vinyl. We often apply it to make stickers that can be water-resistant and disaster-resistant. While white vinyl is the most durable sticker paper. Plus, it is slightly expensive than paper ones. So, clear vinyl is an addition to outdoor printing stickers. Custom printed vinyls & decals or clear vinyl stickers can be simply applied indoors and outdoors to withstand high temperatures without curling or color fading.
UV Coating Types For Stickers
As we all may have seen, stickers or decals usually come in two categories of coating such as:
- Glossy
- Matte
There is another option of getting UV coating to make it resistant to the sun.
As the name implies, the matte coating makes the sticker appear straight without brightness and stability, corresponding to printing coating techniques.
- The glossy coating proffers it gloss, making the sticker look new for longer as it adds shimmers to the paper. It creates designs that remain appealing for a long span and produce vibrant designs that stand out in the market.
- But the UV coating is employed by using Ultra Violet waves, making the paper extra glossy with an additional, more robust protection layer. Not only does it make the printed sticker look brighter. But it also makes it damage and weather-resistant, individually able to withstand high temperatures.
Self-Adhesive Types For Custom Printed Stickers
Basically, custom stickers wholesale made these days are self-adhesive instead of requiring external factors like glue or liquid to stick to a surface. These adhesives are known as pressure-sensitive adhesives. They are the most frequent type of adhesive applied for industrial or commercial and individual use. PSA is commonly made from rubber and gum/resin. The rubber is applied to a hard surface of cellophane.
Once that is formed, a coating factor, also known as the release agent, is connected. You might have seen the clear or white paper at the back of a sticker which is the first thing you discard before using a sticker. The release liner preserves the adhesiveness from any outer filth. Therefore, We produce it from waterproof and damage-proof material. It does not slip away from the vinyl decals and stays fixed.
Make release liners more effective, associate silicon with them. It has a higher waterproof index. Moreover, it is heat resistant as well. Furthermore, attaching polyolefin coating to the release agent makes it impracticable to wrinkle. It does not let any dampness from moisture in the air enter.
Custom Printed Sticker And Labels’ Stock Types
- Clear Or White Polypropylene. A Thin, Yet Durable Film Used For Nearly All Custom Printed Stickers.
- Static Cling Vinyl.
- Opaque Vinyl.
- Clear Vinyl.
- UV Lamination.
- Standard Lamination.
- Matte Lamination.
The number of materials used, chemicals brought together, and the inks used can make a simple sticker look daunting. However, it is not so for a professional that they can lead one better about which type of sticker to implement for the purpose that one needs.