--- title: Stickers best practices shortDescription: Prepare high-resolution artwork for kiss-cut, die-cut, and holographic stickers with these design and file prep guidelines. articleType: Reference primaryTopic: sticker-best-practices categories: - Products tags: - product-design - file-preparation - print-on-demand - merchandise - kiss-cut-stickers - sticker-sheets - holographic-sticker-sheet - die-cut-stickers - artwork-guidelines - 300-dpi - srgb-color-profile tasks: - prepare sticker artwork for printing - design kiss-cut sticker - set correct resolution and color profile - define cut lines for sticker shape - design die-cut sticker artwork - format design with transparent background terms: - stickers - kiss cut - sticker sheet - merch design - artwork requirements - 300 DPI - PNG - JPEG - transparent background - waterproof stickers - print on demand - sRGB - die-cut sticker - vinyl decal - kiss-cut vs die-cut labels: - product-design - file-preparation - printing-and-materials contextString: Available on all Fourthwall plans. Applies to creators with products in their catalog. breadcrumbPath: "Create and sell products > Best Practices" relatedModules: - name: catalog-product-all route: /admin/products/all - name: products-list route: /admin/dashboard/products/all/ - name: collections-list route: /admin/dashboard/products/collections/ - name: catalog-product-discover route: /admin/products - name: catalog-product-favorites route: /admin/products/favorites last_updated: '2026-05-17' path: create-and-sell-products/best-practices/stickers-best-practices --- # Stickers best practices Fourthwall offers four on-demand sticker products: Kiss-Cut Stickers, Die-Cut Stickers, Kiss-Cut Sticker Sheets, and Kiss-Cut Holographic Sticker Sheets. All four are created and managed directly in [**Designer**](https://my-shop.fourthwall.com/admin/products?redirect). This article covers artwork specifications, cut type differences, and design tips for each product. ## Sticker types available Fourthwall offers four on-demand sticker options: - **Kiss-Cut Stickers.** Single stickers cut around the artwork's outline without cutting through the backing paper. Available in multiple sizes. The finished sticker sits on a rectangular backing that peels away. - **Die-Cut Stickers.** Single stickers cut to the exact shape of the artwork, with no extra backing material. Priced from $3.78 to $5.96 depending on size. - **Kiss-Cut Sticker Sheets.** A sheet with multiple stickers of various sizes and an optional custom background. Template size: 5.83 in. x 8.27 in. - **Kiss-Cut Holographic Sticker Sheets.** Same dimensions as standard sticker sheets (5.83 in. x 8.27 in.), but printed on a reflective iridescent substrate that creates a rainbow shimmer effect. ## What "kiss cut" and "die cut" mean Kiss cut and die cut describe how the sticker blade moves through the material. **Kiss cut** means the blade cuts the sticker material but leaves the backing paper intact. The sticker remains on a rectangular backing sheet. Kiss-cut products include individual kiss-cut stickers, sticker sheets, and holographic sticker sheets. **Die cut** means the blade cuts through both the sticker material and the backing, following the exact outline of the artwork. The result is a sticker shaped entirely to the design with no extra backing around it. For kiss-cut stickers, using the full printable area is recommended. For die-cut stickers, the artwork outline must be clean and smooth because the cut follows that exact shape. ## File preparation guidelines These requirements apply to all Fourthwall sticker products. - **Resolution.** Use at least 300 Dots per inch (DPI). Lower resolution produces blurry prints. - **File format.** PNG is recommended for designs with transparent or cut-out areas. JPEG works for full-background designs. - **Color profile.** Create files in the sRGB color profile. This ensures printed colors match what you see on screen. - **Cut lines.** For kiss-cut stickers, ensure there is a distinct visual boundary between the design and the background so the cut line is clear. - **Small details.** Tiny shapes or text may not cut cleanly. Enlarge fine lines or small objects slightly. Leave at least 0.25 in. (0.64 cm) between separate elements. - **Backgrounds.** The sticker base is white on standard stickers and holographic on holo sheets. Transparent areas in your artwork print as white on standard stickers and reveal the holographic pattern on holo sheets. There is no true clear sticker option. - **Fill the printable area.** Your design should extend to all edges of the printable area. Empty or unused space is trimmed during production, which can make the final sticker smaller than the listed size. For a 3x3 in. sticker, the artwork should fully cover the 3x3 in. print area. - **Sticker sheet spacing.** Avoid placing sticker designs too close to background artwork. Overlapping designs may print as one merged element. Additional tips for best results: - Remove stray pixels or artifacts. Anything visible in the file will print and cut. - For shapes with hollow areas (like a donut), make those parts transparent in your PNG file and leave at least 0.25 in. / 0.64 cm of border space around them. - Preview your sticker layout before finalizing to confirm cut lines align correctly. - Stickers are durable and waterproof, suitable for laptops, bottles, and notebooks. Avoid dishwashers or extended outdoor exposure. ## Die-cut sticker design guidelines Die-cut stickers are cut to the exact outline of the artwork, so the shape of the design defines the shape of the finished sticker. - **Use a PNG with a transparent background.** The transparent area defines where the cut line falls. Any non-transparent pixels become part of the sticker shape. - **Keep the artwork outline clean and smooth.** Jagged edges, stray pixels, or overly complex outlines can produce rough or uneven cuts. Simplify fine details along the outer edge. - **Respect the safe zone.** Leave at least 0.125 in. (0.32 cm) between important design elements and the outer edge. This prevents content from being trimmed during production. - **The rectangular border is the maximum print boundary, not the cut line.** The cut follows the artwork outline, not the rectangle. Fill the design area and let the transparent background define the shape. - **Avoid thin protrusions and narrow connectors.** Very thin arms, tails, or connectors may not survive the cut cleanly. Thicken delicate extensions to at least 0.25 in. (0.64 cm) wide. - **Same resolution and color requirements as kiss-cut.** Use at least 300 DPI and the sRGB color profile. Die-cut stickers work best with bold, simple outlines. If a design has a lot of fine detail around the edges, a kiss-cut sticker may be a better fit since the rectangular backing protects delicate shapes. ## Holographic sticker sheet design considerations The kiss-cut holographic sticker sheet uses a reflective, iridescent substrate instead of plain white paper. This creates a rainbow shimmer effect that shifts as the sticker is tilted. - **Transparent areas reveal the holographic pattern.** Any part of the artwork without ink lets the holographic substrate show through. Leaving intentional transparent sections lets the rainbow shimmer appear where you want it. - **Colors look different on holographic material.** The reflective base can shift how colors appear, especially lighter tones. Bold, high-contrast designs tend to look best. Test with a sample order before launching. - **White ink is not printed.** White areas in the design will appear transparent on the holographic sheet, letting the iridescent pattern show through. Add a colored outline or border if a solid white element is needed. - **Dark backgrounds work well.** Dark or saturated colors contrast well against the holographic shimmer. - **Same template size as standard sticker sheets.** The holographic sheet uses the same dimensions (5.83 in. x 8.27 in.) and the same layout tools in Designer. Because the holographic substrate is reflective, artwork previews on screen will not perfectly represent the final printed result. Order a sample before going live to see how the design interacts with the holographic finish. ## Frequently asked questions ### Are the stickers waterproof? Yes. Fourthwall stickers are made of durable, waterproof, scratch-resistant vinyl. They hold up well on bottles, laptops, and other smooth surfaces. They are intended for indoor or light outdoor use. Extended exposure to sunlight or rain may affect their lifespan. ### Can I use a transparent background? You can upload designs with transparent areas using PNG files, but the sticker base is white on standard stickers and holographic on holo sheets. True clear stickers are not available. Transparent sections in the artwork show as white on standard stickers or reveal the holographic pattern on holo sheets. ### Can I use white in my design? Yes, but white elements can blend into the white sticker base on standard stickers. Add a colored outline or background to make them visible. On holographic sheets, white areas become transparent and reveal the holographic pattern. ### Can I have multiple designs on one sticker sheet? Yes. Both standard and holographic sticker sheets support multiple stickers of various sizes plus an optional custom background. Leave at least 0.25 in. (0.64 cm) between cut lines. ### Are there size or file limits? Sticker files should be at least 300 DPI and saved as PNG or JPEG. For both standard and holographic sticker sheets, use the provided template size of 5.83 in. x 8.27 in. ### What is a holographic sticker sheet? A holographic sticker sheet is a kiss-cut sticker sheet printed on a reflective, iridescent substrate. The material creates a rainbow shimmer that shifts when viewed from different angles. Where the artwork has transparent areas, the holographic pattern shows through. You create holographic sticker sheet products directly in Designer using the same layout tools as standard sticker sheets. ### How is the holographic sticker sheet different from the standard sticker sheet? Both sheet types use the same template size (5.83 in. x 8.27 in.) and support multiple kiss-cut stickers with custom backgrounds. The difference is the base material: standard sheets use white paper and holographic sheets use a reflective iridescent substrate. Transparent areas reveal a rainbow shimmer on holo sheets rather than plain white. Colors may also appear slightly different on the reflective surface, so ordering a sample first is recommended. ### Does Fourthwall offer die-cut stickers? Yes. Fourthwall offers die-cut stickers in the product catalog, priced from $3.78 to $5.96 depending on size. Die-cut stickers are cut to the exact outline of the artwork with no extra backing material. Upload a PNG with a transparent background so the cut line follows the artwork's shape. For design tips, see the die-cut sticker design guidelines section above. ### Are Fourthwall stickers the same as vinyl decals? Yes, effectively. Fourthwall stickers are made of durable, waterproof vinyl, so there is no meaningful difference between them and what some sellers call vinyl decals. Fourthwall does not sell a separate vinyl decal product. If a supporter asks about vinyl decals, they can purchase any sticker from your shop since the material is the same.