Learn how to do anything: How to Print Vinyl Stickers

Saturday, December 9, 2017

How to Print Vinyl Stickers

You can easily print your own vinyl stickers at home using a few simple tools. Once you've designed your stickers on the computer using an image editing software, print them onto vinyl printer paper. Laminate your stickers to protect them from water and UV rays from the sun. When you're finished, just peel off the backing on your stickers and they'll be ready to use!

EditSteps

EditCreating Your Design

Look at other vinyl sticker designs for inspiration. Do an online search for “vinyl stickers” or “vinyl sticker designs.” Pay attention to what you like and don’t like about the different designs you see. Try to find stickers that are similar to the ones you want to make.^[1]
- For example, if you want to make vinyl stickers to put on your laptop case, look for stickers other people have made to put on their computers. This will give you an idea of what size and color your design should be.
Sketch out your design on paper. Don't worry about drawing all the details. You just want to get a basic idea of how your design will look before you attempt to make it on the computer. Make sure your design is small enough to fit on an 8 x 11 inch (20.3 x 27.9 cm) piece of paper.^[2]
- If you’re just starting out making vinyl stickers, keep your design simple.
- If you're having trouble coming up with a design, use graphics or images from online instead.
Create your design on the computer using image editing software. If you don’t have Photoshop or Illustrator, use a free image editing software like GIMP. Recreate your sketched design using your software’s drawing and editing tools, or scan and upload your sketch and work from that. If you’re making a colored design, use bold, vibrant colors that will show up well when printed.^[3]
- Make sure the resolution of your design is at least 300 pixels per .

EditPrinting out Your Stickers

Open a new 8 x 11 inch (20.3 x 27.9 cm) document in your image editing software. If the software you're using doesn't let you specify the size when you open a new document, edit the size after you open the document. Look for the size button in your software's menu bar.^[4]
Paste the design you created in the new document. If you want to make multiple stickers of the same design, paste the design multiple times and arrange the copies in rows. Make sure none of the copies are in the margins of the template or they won’t print onto the paper.^[5]
Click the print preview button to see how your stickers will print. If any of the copies of your design are cut off in the margin, move them in further away from the edge of the template. Make sure none of the copies are overlapping.
Load an inkjet printer with 8 x 11 inch (20.3 x 27.9 cm) vinyl printer paper. Load the paper into the printer’s paper tray so the print side (non-adhesive side) will be the side that the printer prints onto. If you’re not sure whether to put the paper face up or face down in the tray, run a test sheet through the printer to check.^[6]
- You can find vinyl printer paper online or at your local office supplies store.
- Use clear vinyl printer paper if you want the background of your stickers to be transparent.
Print your design from the editing software onto a sheet of vinyl paper. Make sure the computer you’re using is set to print to the ink jet printer. Locate the print button in the image editing software and click on it. Wait for the printer to print your stickers and then grab them from the printer.^[7]

EditLaminating and Cutting the Stickers

Apply an over-laminate sheet over your stickers. Peel back the backing at the top of the over-laminate sheet and line the top edge of the laminate up with the top edge of the vinyl paper. Use your fingers to press the laminate onto the vinyl paper so it sticks.^[8]
- You can find over-laminate online or at your local office supplies store.
Peel back the rest of the over-laminate backing slowly. Press the laminate onto the vinyl paper as you go. Keep going until you’ve peeled off all the backing and the whole sheet of vinyl is laminated.^[9]
- To prevent air bubbles, use the edge of a ruler to press the laminate onto the vinyl paper.
Cut out the laminated stickers from the sheet of vinyl. Use a ruler and a craft knife to make precise straight cuts. If your sticker designs are rounded, use scissors to cut them out, or give them a square background. Once all your stickers are cut out, discard any leftover paper scraps.^[10]
Peel off the backing on your stickers to use them. The vinyl backing will be on the opposite side of the over-laminate, on the back of the sticker design. Grab a corner of the vinyl backing with two fingers and peel it back until it’s completely off the sticker. Place your sticker on a dry, flat surface.