Sticker Types: How to Choose the Best Match for your Needs
Stickers, there are everywhere. Often without you realizing
it. Whether displayed outside, in shop windows, on food products, etc.,
companies here and elsewhere use stickers in a thousand and one ways to promote
their products.
Only there is a variety - the choice of print type, glue or
finish will give the sticker multiple variations. We will not choose, for
example, the same type of printing if the sticker is intended to be glued to
the outside that will be placed on a cosmetic product or the same type of glue.
It is therefore important to choose the right method according to the use you
want to make.
My role is to advise you to make the best choice. In
addition to my knowledge of graphic design, I have nearly eleven years of
experience in screen printing. So I'm familiar with how to print stickers, from
design to printing, while not neglecting the technical preparation stage. The
field of printing is therefore an additional branch to my field of expertise.
But, let's start from the beginning ...
1- What type of printing do you need?
Screen printing is the type of printing that will often be
the most expensive. Often, with this method, we will use a type of ink more
durable in the sun, a UV ink. Just think of the famous roadside signs or
warning stickers - beware! - stuck on agricultural machinery. It goes without
saying that it takes a quality of print that will withstand the weather of
Mother Nature. We will then choose this type of printing for the different
possibilities of supports (wood, plastic, fabric, paper, cardboard, etc.), but
also for printing in large quantities.
UV digital printing is the most popular type of printing
today. This method will be chosen in order to obtain a higher quality of
printing, for example, faces, landscapes, etc. On the other hand, and unlike
screen printing, digital UV printing will fill a need for a smaller quantity.
Subsequently, offset-type printing is by far the most used
impression for mass production. This is a method of printing on press, to meet
a need of very large quantity and often without UV ink. The offset type will
mainly be used for interior stickers, for example, food labels.
Finally, there is digital printing, a small press that uses
colors from powdered ink, without UV protection. This type of printing will
therefore be used for stickers intended to be used indoors and for small
quantities. The advantages of this method are usually fast printing times and
low cost for small and medium quantities.
2- Stickers with varnish or lamination?
Once printed, your sticker is not protected in any way. For
a better resistance and durability, you can choose to put a varnish or a
lamination.
Varnish is a thin layer of transparent lacquer that will be
applied over printing, at the last stage of chain production. You can usually
opt for a glossy, semi-glossy or matte finish. Varnish is the most economical
choice.
Rolling, on the other hand, is a plastic film, matt or
glossy, applied after printing. The glossy finish will give reflections to the
sticker, while the colors will be less vivid with a matte finish. In addition
to offering protection to the sticker, you can give your product a more upscale
appearance through rolling. Although matte lamination is presently trendy, the
choice of finish remains a matter of taste. This last technique is done with a
laminator, a machine used as a result of printing. This other step, in addition
to the rolling material, makes it so that this technique is more expensive than
that of the varnish. It goes without saying that it is ten times more
resistant. By using lamination, you significantly extend the durability of your
sticker, since it will be protected against tearing, UV rays, natural abrasion,
etc. This is ideal for stickers that will be handled or installed on a car, for
example.
It is relevant to add that varnish is particularly used with
offset or digital printing. Rolling, meanwhile, can be used on all types of
prints listed above and also on custom decals.
3- Choose a UV or standard ink?
Printing with UV ink will provide resistance to the sun. You
will choose this type of ink if your sticker is intended to be installed on a
car, outside, or even in a window. If this is the case, but you choose a
standard ink, do not be surprised to see your sticker fading, fading or
becoming bland after six months.
That's why you need my expertise. As always, I tend to
respect your needs while giving you some savings. Why offer a UV ink for an
outdoor poster, when it will only be posted two months? Due to its short
exposure to the sun, the colors will not have time to deteriorate. Everything
is a question of necessity and logic.
4- Stickers doming or dooming: what is it?
A doming sticker is a sticker with a few drops of clear
polyurethane resin, which creates a kind of translucent dome over the sticker.
This method is mainly used to highlight brands or logos. We can see this
process on high-end products or vehicles, for example. We will often use doming
for high-end products. Although this is an excellent protection for the
sticker, this technique is mainly aesthetic. Here are some examples found on
the web.
5- Repositionable or electrostatic stickers?
The repositionable stickers are composed of a semi-adherent
glue, they can thus take off and stick on a smooth and clean surface. So you
can change places without taking new ones each time. The electrostatic
stickers, meanwhile, are provided with a load of electricity to glue them in
the windows, and without leaving any residue of glue. Although with time, the
load of electricity decreases, this type of stickers is used only for display
in shop windows.
6- What type of glue to use?
When you choose to print silkscreen or digital UV, three
main types of glue are available to you. On the one hand, the standard glue,
economical and of respectable quality, can be applied on most surfaces. It
offers good adhesion and good durability. Subsequently, the repositionable
adhesive, as mentioned above, can peel off and re-glue without leaving a
residue. Finally, the aggressive glue offers the maximum adhesion. Difficult to
take off, it is very durable, but more expensive. I will recommend this type of
glue if the sticker is intended to be glued on non-smooth surfaces or which
will be frequently cleaned with a pressure system.
In standard digital printing or offset printing, you can use
either standard glue or aggressive glue. The features are different, you will
choose the first for, for example, barcode labels and the second for labels to
go in the freezer. Thus, the latter, with an aggressive glue, will not tend to
take off, since it is a type of glue resistant to frost and frequent handling.
The type of printing, the different glues, the desired
finish are just a few factors to consider when it comes time to create a
sticker. Different media can also be used for your stickers: vinyl and
polypropylene are some of the most popular examples I like to use, but there
are several others. All in all, it is important to get advice and guidance to
obtain a quality product, but at a respectable price, while meeting your needs.
In order to make the right choices and benefit from
expertise in the field, do not hesitate to contact me. I will be happy to help
you and take care of all the steps of printing your stickers.
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