Are you choosing the right sticker?

by | Jan 5, 2023 | Uncategorized

Are you unsure which custom sticker is right for you? Confused?

Experience tells us that too many people buy the wrong sticker and pay more than necessary.

We’ve spent time creating this resource to help you get the perfect custom sticker.

This guide will give you enough information to make the right decision but doesn’t get bogged down in technical jargon or too much science.

We’ve split this guide into 4 sections:
  • Choosing the right material
  • Getting the adhesive right
  • Choosing the perfect cut
  • Should I get my stickers lacquered

Once you’ve read this guide, buying the right sticker will be easy.

This guide will give you enough information to make the right decision but doesn’t get bogged down in technical jargon or too much science.

We’ve split this guide into 3 sections:

  • Choosing the right material

  • Getting the adhesive right

  • Choosing the right cut

  • Should I get my stickers lacquered

After reading this guide, you’ll be better equipped to choose the perfect stickers for your application.

Get ready to make the right decisions, saving you time and money! Let’s get stuck in.

1. Choosing the right material

This is the most critical part. Getting this right could mean the difference between your sticker enjoying years of happy sticking and looking great (something we all want), vs disintegrating at the first touch or drop of water.

But don’t worry! It’s easy to make the right decision with the information we’re about to give you.

When we talk about the material, we mean the layer your design is printed onto.

There are several types of sticker. We recommend reading the links to the manufacturers data sheet so you are fully aware of the nature and specifications of your sticker.

Budget/everyday options

  1. Normal stickers – click the blue link for the data sheet matt-white-perm A brilliant white, smooth material with quality that will match any of the leading brands. The adhesive used is strong and instant, but may take some time to fully adhere to a surface.

Premium Stickers

  1. Glossy stickers – click the blue link for the data sheet Inkjet-Gloss. These labels have a superb gloss white finish and really make your vivid colours really pop.

  2. Clear stickers – click the blue link for the data sheet  Laser_gloss_clear. Strong and waterproof with a permanent adhesive, these gloss transparent inkjet labels are totally clear after application as well as being primed.

Environmentally friendly

  1. Eco stickers – click the blue link for the data sheet Eco-Permanent are a biodegradable permanent label that’s white with a premium laid texture. These labels also have excellent environmental credentials. They are specifically designed for products where all packaging should be biodegradable or recycled. This product is also compostable!

  2. Kraft stickers – click the blue link for the data sheet Kraft-label. A natural brown, unbleached, uncoated paper. This product is designed to be both environmentally friendly and to look environmentally friendly
Speciality stickers

  1. Waterproof stickers – click the blue link for the data sheet Waterproof-White are technically matte white, but these labels have more of a satin effect. These labels are waterproof, however, clients should note that unless covered, anything printed on them may wear in certain environments.

  2. Peelable stickers – click the blue link for the data sheet peel_1. Our Matt White Peelable Paper Labels have a special peelable adhesive (often referred to as removable)These labels are matt white, and made from a smooth material. Great for when you want the label to be removed without leaving a residue. Please note that if left for a prolonged period the label may not be as easy to remove.

2) Get the adhesive right

Getting the adhesive right is really key to ensure your custom sticker doesn’t peel and look unattractive within a few hours – not ideal.

While there are many different types of adhesive, the most significant factor is strength. We will focus on this.

There are 3 different adhesive strengths used for sticker and label applications. These are:

Removable

With removable adhesive, stickers can be removed after a very short period of time, leaving no residue behind.

Permanent

Most stickers use this material – well over 90%. This is because they’re ideally suited to sticking to nearly all surfaces (see the list below).

  • Glass

  • Metal

  • Paint

  • Galvanized steel

  • Powder coatings

  • Paper

  • Cardboard

  • Leather

  • Plastic bottles

  • Fibreglass

High tack

(currently not stocked but can be ordered, just contact us for details)

An industrial-strength adhesive for applications that are difficult to adhere to. Choose these if you’ve used stickers in the past that don’t stick or you’re sticking to one of these materials:

  • Rubber

  • Low energy plastics – polypropylene and polyethene, to be exact.

  • Wood

  • Stone

Top tip

If you’re selling your stickers to your customers, giving them away as handouts, or just unsure about which is appropriate for your needs, choose the permanent adhesive option. It’s the most reliable all-rounder and won’t risk ruining anything they will be stuck to.

3) Choose the appropriate cut

Do you order stickers individually or buy them in sheets?

Getting this right could save you valuable hours! Choose between individually cut stickers or sticker sheets

To help explain how significant this is, stickerit.co did a test of applying 1000 stickers that were 3cm circles. It took 2 hours and 17 minutes when cut individually, whereas it took 48 minutes when on a sheet. That’s a saving of 1 hour and 29 minutes or 65% – now do I have your attention?

Individually cut

If you have a custom size sticker you will be given the option to have them cut into individually cut stickers.

They are easy to store and often the easiest to buy in small quantities. If you choose individually cut stickers, then you have two main options; kiss-cut or die-cut.

What’s the difference?

The main difference is that kiss-cut stickers are only cut through the top, self-adhesive layer, whereas a die-cut sticker is cut through the sticker and the backing paper. You can deep dive into this in this fab article “What is the difference between kiss cut and die cut stickers?”

Sticker sheets

If you’re starting to apply hundreds or even thousands of stickers to products or packaging, we recommend getting your stickers on sheets.

All stickers on a sheet are kiss-cut through the sticker layer but remain on the backing paper, evidently making them super quick and easy to remove. We have lots of pre-cut sticker sizes in round, rectangle, oval and square shapes.

4) Should I get my stickers lacquered?

Having waterproof stickers may prove to be costly for your product, or may make your product less cost friendly. There are many reasons you may need a more durable sticker that may be in contact with a moist environment for a short period. Therefore, paying extra for waterproof stickers may not be a viable option. Here at L A Ink we have a spray-on lacquer that doesn’t change the appearance of the sticker. It makes it water resistant and adds a bit of UV protection too. Most customers use lacquered stickers for their diffusers and room spray labels. Obviously then if some of the product falls onto the sticker it’s less likely to damage the sticker. It will not protect against total submersion.