Craftarea

Sticker Printing

Short answer

Craftarea prints stickers on self-adhesive paper or film with a selected surface finish and contour. Choose material and adhesive for the actual surface, required duration and exposure; vinyl alone does not guarantee outdoor, washing or chemical resistance.

A sticker is the most flexible advertising carrier there is: it can sit on product packaging, a shop window, a vehicle, a laptop or an order parcel. That is why the key question when ordering is not 'which colour' but 'where will it be applied' — the material choice follows directly from that. This page covers which material suits which use, how shapes are cut, what you need to know about the contour line in the artwork, and what turnarounds are realistic.

Get a quoteStickers and Labels — all pages →

Key facts

Materials
Vinyl, paper, clear film
Surface
Matte or gloss
Shape
Any — plotter cut
Waterproof
Confirm the selected material, adhesive and exposure
Printing
Digital, CMYK
Artwork
Vector PDF / AI / EPS + contour line
Cutting mode
Full cut or kiss-cut on sheets
Quote
Specify sticker dimensions, material, cutting contour, quantity and finishing.

Vinyl or paper — how to choose

Paper can suit short-term dry indoor packaging, while a suitable film or specialist label stock may be needed for moisture, abrasion or outdoor exposure. The choice also depends on the adhesive and printed surface. Choose the face material, adhesive, ink and any laminate as a compatible system for the actual surface and exposure. Water resistance, UV resistance, cleaning tolerance and service life are separate properties; confirm the product specification and test the intended application where needed.

  • Paper — indoor, dry, short-lived
  • Vinyl — water, sun, abrasion, outdoors
  • Clear film — windows and glass
  • Matte — no glare; gloss — brighter colour

Die-cutting: full cut and kiss-cut

Sticker shapes are cut on a plotter in one of two modes. A full cut takes the blade through the whole material, so each sticker is a separate piece. A kiss-cut cuts only the top, printed layer and leaves the backing intact — the stickers stay on a sheet and peel off individually. Kiss-cut is more convenient when stickers are handed out together or packed into a parcel; a full cut suits cases where each sticker is used on its own.

  • Full cut — individual stickers
  • Kiss-cut — stickers on a sheet, backing intact
  • Any contour — including a logo silhouette
  • Minimum corner radius — 2 mm preferred

The contour line in artwork — the most common mistake

Die-cutting needs a separate vector contour in the artwork — the line the plotter follows. That line normally sits on its own layer with a specific name such as 'CutContour'. The most common mistake is that no contour exists at all — in which case we create one around the image, but that requires an extra approval step. The second common mistake is missing bleed. The artwork must extend 2 mm beyond the contour line, otherwise a micro-deviation in cutting leaves a white sliver at the edge.

  • Contour — a separate vector layer
  • Bleed beyond the contour: 2 mm
  • Important elements 3 mm inside the contour
  • No contour? We create one by agreement

Sticker materials and their uses

Sticker materials and their uses
MaterialWaterproofTypical use
Paper, matteSpecification dependentPackaging, inventory, promotions
Paper, glossSpecification dependentProduct labels, bakery
Vinyl, matteSpecification dependentWindows, vehicles, laptops
Vinyl, glossSpecification dependentProducts, wet environments
Clear filmSpecification dependentGlass, windows, bottles
Silver / goldSpecification dependentPremium packaging, seals

How It Works

  1. 1

    Choose the material

    We establish where the sticker will be applied — that dictates paper, vinyl or clear film.

  2. 2

    Artwork and contour

    We receive vector artwork with a separate contour line, or create the contour around the image ourselves.

  3. 3

    Digital printing

    Printing runs in CMYK on the chosen self-adhesive material.

  4. 4

    Lamination (where needed)

    For outdoor use or abrasion resistance, a protective laminate is applied.

  5. 5

    Plotter cutting

    The plotter follows the contour — full cut or kiss-cut, according to the order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a sticker work on a car?
Vehicle use needs film, adhesive and any overlaminate specified for the particular panel and conditions. Confirm the surface, curves, planned duration and cleaning routine before printing; neither the word vinyl nor lamination alone guarantees suitability.
What is the minimum run?
Digital printing allows small runs. The exact minimum depends on material and size — when you describe the order we will tell you the quantity at which it becomes economical.
Can you cut to a logo shape?
Yes. The plotter follows any vector contour. The only limit is very fine detail — a very narrow neck in a shape can tear during cutting. A minimum 2 mm radius at corners is preferable.
How is white printed on clear stickers?
Standard CMYK does not print white. Solid colour on clear material requires a white underbase — this must be marked as a separate layer in the artwork and is confirmed at order.
How long does a sticker last outdoors?
That depends on material, lamination and exposure. Laminated vinyl holds its colour considerably longer than unlaminated. Direct sunlight shifts colour fastest.
Will adhesive residue be left after removal?
Adhesion and removal depend on the adhesive grade, surface finish, preparation, temperature and time in place. Permanent and removable are product categories, not guarantees of residue or damage-free removal. Confirm suitability and test an inconspicuous area when the surface matters.
Why is there no price?
Price depends on material, size, shape, run length and lamination — far too many combinations for one figure. Timing is agreed after the project review. Send the sticker dimensions, material, surface, finishing and quantity, required date and collection or delivery location.

Related Services

Vinyl stickersDie-cut stickersWaterproof stickersPackaging stickersSticker printing in Tbilisi

Ready to order?

Send your artwork, quantity and preferred deadline — we will confirm pricing and production details after reviewing the project.

Get a quote