SUPPLYING ARTWORK TO US

If you have your own artwork, it should ideally be emailed to us as:  

Spot Colour Designs: originated artwork file saved as .eps or .pdf is preferred (fully vectorised, with text saved to outline to preserve fonts) colours selected as pantone references.

Full Colour Designs: originated artwork file saved as .eps or .pdf with all colours selected as CYMK (or we can use image files, providing they are saved to high resolution).

Bleed off: If your design bleeds off the sticker please allow minimum 2mm bleed which will be cut off during the trimming process.

Large Files?  For files too large to email, please contact us and we’ll advise how to send the file online (we recommend sending via "sendthisfile" website which is free of charge)

No Artwork?  If you do not have your own artwork or sticker layout, we can prepare this for you at no extra charge (providing your design is straight forward and you supply any logos in the correct format).  In some cases you may not have a vector version of your logo available.  If this is the case, design dependant, we can offer a re-create for you as vector-graphic for a small charge. If in doubt feel free to send over what you do have and we will happily advise you.

Proofing  We always email finalised artwork for approval prior to print production (which is a .pdf viewing file).

INKS & COLOUR MIXING

Inks  Our screen-print inks are fully light fast and waterproof.  This makes our stickers ideal for outdoor all-weather and water-sport use.

Spot colour printing  Our inks are mixed to solid colours using the pantone matching system. If you do not have specific pantone references colours in your design, we can match these closely as possible to your CMYK colour or can mix ink to match a swatch of colour posted to us.

Full colour process (screen printed)  The CMYK colours are separated at film stage to 4 screens, and each colour is printed in layers using a series of very small dots applied at different angles.  The finished result of the four layered colours is full colour.

Full colour process (digital printed)  Printed directly from computer software to sticker, using CYMK inks.

Special Inks  Can be used for screen printing.  These include metalic pantone colours (such as silver and gold).  Flourescent inks (extra charge incurred).  Glow in the Dark (extra charge incurred).

Inks used for double sided stickers When printing double sided stickers, after the reserve side colours are complete, we print opaque white, followed by a silver blocker, then another opaque white, before printing the second side. This prevents show-through between the two sides.

STICKER MATERIAL GUIDE

Below are our most popular material choices:

Permanent Self-Adhesive Vinyl Very durable adhesive coating. Ideal for long term use on windows, or outdoor use.  As long as the surface you are applying your stickers to is dry, clean and smooth on application, they can easily last more than 10 years (even stays put underwater on dive tanks, surfboards etc).

Removable Self-Adhesive Vinyl Durable low-tack adhesive coating.  Similar to permanent self-adhesive vinyl, but can be removed easier than permanent if removed within 6 months of application.  This is the most popular for shop window stickers and car rear window stickers.

Static Cling Vinyl For use on the inside of glass, easy to remove as it has no adhesive coating.  Suitable for clean, dry, dust free glass surfaces/windows. Popular choice for parking permit stickers, short term campaigns and promotions.   These stickers can be removed or repositioned with ease without leaving any sticky residue.  Also known as self cling vinyl.

High Tack Self-adhesive Vinyl Ideal for stickers that need to go onto irregular surfaces requiring high adhesion, including polypropylenes.    Due to its aggressive adhesion, this material is great where you need your stickers to be very difficult to remove.

Self-adhesive paper Popular for large volumes of on-roll stickers.  We can apply matt or semi-gloss varnish so your stickers have a professional finish.

Still unsure? we're always happy to advise you.

FINISHING

As individuals Rectangle and square stickers are guillotined to size as individuals.  Circles, ovals and any other shapes are die-cut or zund-cut to shape as individuals.

On sheets Stickers supplied on sheets are kiss-cut using a die-cut kiss cutter on a platen.  If we don't have the size and shape kiss-cutter in stock for your design, we can quote to manufacture a new cutter.

On rolls Stickers supplied on rolls are kiss-cut using a die-cut kiss cutter.  If we do not have the size and shape on-roll cutter in stock for your design, we can quote to manufacture a new on-roll cutter.  The quantity of stickers per roll will vary depending on a variety of factors (including size, shape and total quantity ordered).  We manufacture the most cost effective quantity per roll, normally starting at 1,000 stickers per roll.  We are happy to manufacture lower quantities per roll, but this will be refelcted in the price quoted - please specify at quote stage.

What is the most cost effective way to manufacture stickers? Unless you specify the finish you require, we will always advise and quote for the most cost effective way to supply your stickers.  There are many factors that have to be taken into account to advise which is the most cost effective supply method for your specficification.

Guillotining, Die-cutting and zund-cutting We have a wide selection of stock-sized cutters for circles, ovals and radius corners.  Our screen printed stickers that are square or rectangle are cut down to size on an industrial guillotine. We also manufacture cutters for almost any size and shape (or for small print runs we can laser-cut your stickers).