Craftarea

Sticker Printing

Short answer

Craftarea prints stickers in Tbilisi using digital printing on self-adhesive vinyl or paper, with a matte or gloss surface. Shapes are cut on a plotter — round, rectangular or any custom contour. Vinyl stickers are waterproof and suitable for outdoor use.

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.

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Key facts

Materials
Vinyl, paper, clear film
Surface
Matte or gloss
Shape
Any — plotter cut
Waterproof
Vinyl — yes; paper — no
Printing
Digital, CMYK
Artwork
Vector PDF / AI / EPS + contour line
Cutting mode
Full cut or kiss-cut on sheets
Quote
Timing by agreement

Vinyl or paper — how to choose

The choice comes down to one question: will the sticker meet water, sunlight or abrasion. Self-adhesive paper is cheap and ideal for indoor, single-use applications — packaging seals, promotion labels, inventory stickers, bakery boxes. On contact with water it degrades quickly. Vinyl is a plastic material, waterproof and far more durable — it is what you need on a vehicle, a shop window, in a kitchen, on a wet product or outdoors. Vinyl costs more than paper, but is often the only correct choice.

  • 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, matteNoPackaging, inventory, promotions
Paper, glossNoProduct labels, bakery
Vinyl, matteYesWindows, vehicles, laptops
Vinyl, glossYesProducts, wet environments
Clear filmYesGlass, windows, bottles
Silver / goldYesPremium 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?
Yes, if it is printed on vinyl with protective lamination. A paper sticker on a car will be ruined by the first rain. For outdoor use always choose vinyl.
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?
That depends on the adhesive type. Standard permanent adhesive leaves traces on removal; if the sticker is temporary (seasonal window graphics, for example) a removable adhesive material is needed — tell us before ordering.
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.

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