This document is a brief guide to sticker making, outlining the process from design and illustration to printing. It emphasizes the importance of creating eye-catching artwork and preparing files properly for printers. The guide encourages creativity and highlights that stickers are an effective way to promote messages or artwork.

1. L U N C H - N - L E A R N D E C . 2 0
A Brief Guide to
Sticker Making

2. R E M E M B E R : R A D I C A L C O N D O R
D O N ’ T P L A Y N O S H I T , A N D
N E I T H E R S H O U L D Y O U .
D O N ’ T S U G A R C O A T T H I N G S ,
J U S T T E L L I T H O W I T I S M A N .
Sticker Making at a Glance
– D E S I G N & I L L U S T R A T I O N
– V E C T O R I Z E / P R E P A R A T I O N
– C R E A T E Y O U R D I E - L I N E S
– S E N D T O T H E P R I N T E R S
– S H A R E Y O U R D E S I G N
– R E V I E W
Stickers are awesome! They have the ability to adhere
to various surfaces, and make sure your message (or
graphic) is heard/seen. Stickers are a great way to
promote your business or just have fun. Kids love ‘em,
so why shouldn’t we?

3. Let the Creativity Flow
1 - Hand drawn phase
2 - Get all of your ideas on paper and choose
the best ones
3 - Is this going to be a die cut sticker?
– D E S I G N & I L L U S T R A T I O N
– V E C T O R I Z E / P R E P A R A T I O N
– C R E A T E Y O U R D I E - L I N E S
– S E N D T O T H E P R I N T E R S
– S H A R E Y O U R D E S I G N
– R E V I E W

4. Turn Your Sketch into a
Masterpiece
1 - Take your drawing from rough sketch to
kick-ass graphic using illustrator and
photoshop
2 - You have options when it comes to look
and feel (pen tool vs. image trace)
Pen Tool - Allows you to create super crisp line
and shape
Image Trace - Retains the hand drawn qualities
of the artwork
– D E S I G N & I L L U S T R A T I O N
– V E C T O R I Z E / P R E P A R A T I O N
– C R E A T E Y O U R D I E - L I N E S
– S E N D T O T H E P R I N T E R S
– S H A R E Y O U R D E S I G N
– R E V I E W

5. Examples
VS
C L E A N V E C T O R
I M A G E T R A C E

6. 1 - Can be tricky if your artwork is a raterized
file/photo
2 - A 0.5 point magenta line is typically used to
show the printers where to cut your artwork
3 - Don’t forget the bleed!
(if your design requires one)
E X A M P L E D I E - L I N E S
Create Your Die-Lines
– D E S I G N & I L L U S T R A T I O N
– V E C T O R I Z E / P R E P A R A T I O N
– C R E A T E Y O U R D I E - L I N E S
– S E N D T O T H E P R I N T E R S
– S H A R E Y O U R D E S I G N
– R E V I E W

7. 1 - Be sure to create your vector file using CMYK
(do not send files in RGB)
2 - Consider using Pantones when creating your artwork
Send to the Printers
– D E S I G N & I L L U S T R A T I O N
– V E C T O R I Z E / P R E P A R A T I O N
– C R E A T E Y O U R D I E - L I N E S
– S E N D T O T H E P R I N T E R S
– S H A R E Y O U R D E S I G N
– R E V I E W

8. 1 - Slap your new stickers on EVERYTHING
2 - Stickers are a fairly inexpensive way to
make sure your message/artwork gets the
attention it deserves
Bask in the Glory
– D E S I G N & I L L U S T R A T I O N
– V E C T O R I Z E / P R E P A R A T I O N
– C R E A T E Y O U R D I E - L I N E S
– S E N D T O T H E P R I N T E R S
– S H A R E Y O U R D E S I G N
– R E V I E W

9. Let’s Review
1 - Create something that will catch people’s attention
2 - Turn your sketch into vector artwork
3 - Set up a die line (be kind to your printer)
4 - Send your printer-friendly file
5 - Stick those suckers EVERYWHERE
– D E S I G N & I L L U S T R A T I O N
– V E C T O R I Z E / P R E P A R A T I O N
– C R E A T E Y O U R D I E - L I N E S
– S E N D T O T H E P R I N T E R S
– S H A R E Y O U R D E S I G N
– R E V I E W