Printing patterns on sticker paper requires more than just a printer. It also requires the right sticker materials, the suitable printing method, and the appropriate techniques. In this article, I will introduce the complete printing process, and you will know how to prevent common printing issues.
How to Choose Suitable Sticker Paper
Standard Sticker Paper
Standard sticker paper is made from basic self-adhesive material. Coated paper is the most common type. This type of sticker paper supports both inkjet and laser printing, and the patterns are clear and sharp. These are one of the most cost-effective options. However, these stickers are not waterproof and are prone to fading outdoors. They are suitable for use as office labels and warehouse sorting stickers.
Glossy and Matte Sticker Paper
Matte Sticker Paper
Matte sticker paper is compatible with both inkjet and laser printers. Its surface has a matte coating, giving it a frosted texture. Therefore, the sticker does not reflect light easily. Because this material has better ink adhesion, it is less prone to ink smudging during printing, resulting in very clear text and images. You can use it to print brand labels, product labels, and other stickers.
Glossy Sticker Paper
Glossy sticker paper features a high-gloss coating on its surface, making the printed patterns more vibrant. However, glossy sticker paper is quite smooth, and when using an inkjet printer, the ink does not dry easily. Therefore, laser printers are more recommended. You can use this sticker paper to print decorative stickers, such as logo stickers and gift sealing stickers.
Waterproof Sticker Paper
Waterproof sticker paper is usually made from PP synthetic paper and PET waterproof self-adhesive film. Both of these are made of plastic materials, which are not only waterproof but also more wear-resistant than ordinary stickers. Waterproof sticker paper is dimensionally stable, and it does not easily curl. Flat stickers also help you reduce the risk of paper jams during printing.
When choosing a printing method, UV digital printing is recommended, as it allows the ink to adhere firmly to the sticker paper. Therefore, your stickers will have high color saturation. If you want to print stickers suitable for outdoor use, you can use waterproof sticker paper and UV digital printing to complete the process.
How to Print on Sticker Paper
Artwork Preparation
File Format
The file format directly determines the quality of stickers. Vector formats (such as PDF, EPS, AI) offer good clarity. If you want to print bitmap images (such as PNG, TIFF, JPG) clearly, please make sure the image has a high resolution.
Print Resolution
If you want to customize high-definition stickers, the resolution of the file you provide must be at least 300 DPI. If the resolution is too low, the printed patterns will be unclear. For example, when you customize QR code or barcode stickers, insufficient resolution may prevent customers from successfully scanning the code.
Bleed
When designing sticker files, we typically incorporate a bleed area and a safety zone to prevent text or graphics from being cut off during trimming. The bleed is generally 2–3 mm around the sticker. If you want to print a larger sticker, the bleed should be increased accordingly.
Printer Setting
Suitable Paper Type
During the printing process, we will select the appropriate paper based on the type of sticker. If you want to print matte or glossy stickers, it’s recommended to use thicker paper or label paper. This is because such paper allows the ink to dry faster and results in higher color saturation.
Highest Print Quality
If you want to print sharper stickers, our printers are designed for high-quality output. At the same time, we apply a special coating to the sticker surface to enhance ink adhesion. During the printing process, we also flatten the sticker paper, so the patterns can be printed clearly.
If you want to customize stickers for your projects, we will provide a printing parameter sheet to help you choose the suitable printing method.
Sticker Paper Placement
When placing sticker paper in the printer, it is important to distinguish between the front and back sides. The printed side must be facing up. For example, both matte and glossy stickers have an ink-absorbing coating. If they are placed with the wrong side facing up, the printed patterns will be unclear.
To help you avoid this issue, we indicate the correct side on the sticker paper. This reduces production losses caused by paper jams.
Waterproofing Treatment
To make stickers more durable, we will add a waterproof coating to the sticker paper and then laminate it with a transparent waterproof film to prevent moisture penetration. If you want to print stickers for outdoor advertising, such as bike stickers or reflective car stickers, you should ensure the sticker paper is waterproof.
Precautions for Printing on Sticker Paper
Ink Smudging
To prevent ink smudging during printing, we take measures from three aspects: materials, printing methods, and the environment. In terms of materials, we choose coated PET or PP sticker paper because the coating provides good ink adhesion and effectively reduces bleeding.
We recommend that you choose screen printing or UV digital printing. Screen printing offers stronger ink adhesion and is less likely to fade, while UV digital printing inks are instantly cured by ultraviolet light after printing, thus preventing smudging. Besides, we strictly control the temperature in the workshop to prevent ink smudging.
Color Variation
To minimize color variation between your stickers and the printed product, we will use sticker paper from the same batch. Before printing, we will also apply corona treatment to the paper surface to improve ink absorption.
Additionally, if you want to customize stickers, please be sure to use CMYK color mode when sending your color files. If you use RGB screen colors, the printed stickers will appear yellowish, darker, or duller.
Adhesive Leaks
To minimize adhesive leakage during printing, we maintain a constant temperature in the workshop and strictly control the thickness of the adhesive to prevent adhesive leakage caused by stacking. In addition, during die-cutting, we will control the cutting pressure and depth to avoid damaging the adhesive layer.
FAQ
Can a Regular Printer Print Sticker Paper?
A regular printer can print on sticker paper. However, if you want to print transparent or reflective stickers, it’s hard to get high-quality results with a regular printer. This is because the ink dries slowly on the stickers and tends to smudge easily. Even after printing, it is difficult for you to laminate or die-cut the stickers.
Why Do Stickers Get Scratched Easily During Printing?
During printing, the ink on the stickers dries slowly. Meanwhile, some stickers are smooth and have weak ink adhesion, so the ink can easily get scraped off. To address these two issues, we usually use screen printing, UV printing, or apply corona treatment to the stickers to improve ink adhesion.
Can Stickers Be Printed on Both Sides?
Regular stickers cannot be printed on both sides because their back is coated with a silicone release liner that protects the adhesive. Only double-sided adhesive stickers can be printed on both sides, since these stickers have printable surfaces on the front and back. However, printing double-sided stickers requires a professional roll-to-roll printer; a regular printer cannot do it.
Do I Need a Specialized Printer to Print Stickers?
Yes. If you want to print stickers in large quantities, with high color saturation and durability, you’d better use a professional printer. Only a specialized printer can produce high-quality stickers that are suitable for mass production.
Can I Customize Die-Cut Stickers?
Certainly, you can customize die-cut stickers. You just need to provide us with your design concepts and requirements, and we can create custom die-cut stickers for you. If you already have a complete design, we will recommend the most suitable printing method based on it. If not, our company can also assist you in designing and printing stickers.
Final Thoughts
It is not easy to print attractive patterns on sticker paper, as you need to take into account the paper thickness and color variation. If you are still worried that you cannot print satisfactory stickers, please feel free to contact us. LIYANTIAN has professional printers and top-notch printing technology, and we can also provide you with free customization services.
