Here is our new Custom Decal Printing video.
Sticky Business specializes in a variety of custom decal printing options, such as Window Decals, Bumper Stickers, Static Cling Decals, Service Stickers and Auto Dealer Decals.
Just in time for the Academy Awards:
Every so often we get the opportunity to print some really cool labels and decals that have been created by designers that understand the print world. We have proudly held onto the extras from many of these jobs to help give new customers ideas about how to set up the artwork for their custom decal printing.
Here are a few tips and tricks from our Decals Hall of Fame.
1. Use your substrates.
A substrate is the material that the decal or label will be printed on. Substrates come in a variety of colors, metallic effects and finishes. An effective use of substrate goes a long way in a design. Ask for samples ahead of time.
2. Embossing
Embossed products are elegant. The simple use of an embossing on a gorgeous substrate looks much richer than it costs.
3. Foil Stamping
This is the process of pressing foil onto the substrate rather than printing a design in ink. Foil comes in a variety of colors beyond just gold and silver and using it can enhance a design substantially. It is not often used but it is always gorgeous.
4. Matte lamination
Many choose a standard glossy finish for their labels or decals but we think the matte lamination looks richer, especially on metallic substrates.
5. Using percentages of color
In Flexo printing, the more ink colors you have, the more expensive your project will be. We have seen incredible designs that use one ink color and percentages of that ink used for tonal effect. Faint background patterns can be achieved with percentages and the decal will look anything but dull.
6.Fonts and Typeface
If you really want to stand apart from the crowd – customize your font.
7. Choose your colors wisely.
Get a Pantone swatch book or borrow one. Color is important and giving your printer a Pantone code number will ensure that everyone is referring to the same color.
More great tips on designing your custom decals or window decals.
For pre-owned and new car dealers, custom auto dealer decals really are a cost-effective branding solution. They provide free advertising and friendly service reminders that inspire repeat business from useful clients for many years to come. They can be found in a variety of alternatives like removable windshield decals or static cling service stickers or far more permanent decals – for example trunk decals, steering wheel emblems, bumper stickers and hubcap decals.
One-piece decals are produced from weatherproof digitally printed vinyls with extremely opaque inks that are appropriate for outdoor use. They can also be positioned within automobile windows have a removable or static cling adhesive that permits for easy removal and replacement. Understanding the proposed perform with the decal – is it a reminder for the driver, or for those exterior the vehicle to see? – will help figure out the most appropriate materials, adhesives and inks to make use of. One-piece decals may have quite easy shapes like circles, ovals or rectangles or they may also be customized reduce around the actual shape with the dealership logo which provides a more personalized and professional appearance.
Cut Vinyl decals are produced inside a comparable manner – usually on an outside grade colored vinyl stock or perhaps a vinyl having a metallic finish and may possibly or may possibly not be printed. Cut vinyl decals are typically silhouette cut around and in between the logo or lettering to ensure that there is nothing however the artwork by itself around the finished item. A slightly tacky or permanent adhesive is typically recommended for this selection of decal as thinner and finer reduce locations or lettering may possibly not remain in place with just a static cling adhesive. Each one-piece decals and cut vinyl decals can be domed having a highly flexible crystal-clear polyurethane as soon as they have been reduce. Doming offers a really premium physical appearance and it is usually the option for hubcap decals, trunk decals and steering wheel emblems too as customized dealership crucial fobs, items or supplies.
If your auto dealership supplies service and maintenance – nothing operates as a service appointment reminder like a customized service sticker. These small removable or static cling windshield stickers may be customized with your logo, address and phone amount and have service dates or mileage reminders written on as required. Car owners usually depend on the service sticker for upkeep schedules or oil changes so they provide one of the best opportunities for repeat enterprise of any car seller decal.
Never underestimate the value of being creative. Time and time again we see small and medium businesses use the same graphics for literally all of their branding. Their reason being that consistency is the key to becoming recognizable. I think that many of these companies are missing out on creative and eye-grabbing opportunities that can be offered by changing things up a bit.
For example, your graphic may look perfect on one product, at a specific size and shape and it may be perfectly legible, conveying all of the pertinent information it needs to while grabbing your audience’s attention. It’s a winner.
Then – your intended use changes, suddenly you need to make the graphic smaller or larger, change the label shape to fit on a new product of a different color so it can sit it on a shelf with a hundred other competing products. Suddenly that original design may not do the job so well.
My point is, every time you need a new label for a new purpose – view it as an opportunity to get specific. Logos can stay the same but supporting graphics, text, fonts and layouts should be flexible.
Know when to say no to fancy effects.
I see this mostly with young or new companies and young or new designers. I will start out by saying that not every graphic designer has had experience with print media. Many have knowledge limited to the online world and web design. The two worlds have much in common but there are some very important practical differences.
Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and other industry graphic tools are loaded with nifty effects that can easily wow a new client. While these fancy effects cost nothing extra for a computer monitor to display, you will see much higher dollar figures as a result of them when it comes time to getting the job printed. As well, effects don’t always translate well onto a two-dimensional substrate.
To be effective, a design should play to the strengths of the intended output – taking into consideration the technology, the substrates, inks and foils available to the industry. Bottom line is, your designer should be able to bring you an awesome design that won’t break the bank.
