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How to create custom sticker sheets using Illustrator

Posted on June 05 2018

How to create custom sticker sheets using Illustrator

The following steps show you how to create your own custom sticker sheet designs using Adobe Illustrator.

A sticker sheet is a sheet containing multiple peel-able stickers on a custom designed background.

1. Download our sticker templates

Download our sticker templates from >> here << and open your chosen size.

2. Importing your Background Artwork

Select the 'Background' layer in your layers palette and either draw your design directly into this layer or copy (CTRL+C) and paste (CTRL+V) previously saved artwork.



Please don't rename existing layers or create additional layers as this will confuse our systems when processing your designs.

All design elements on your 'Background' layer MUST be grouped together before submission to prevent any data loss when we are tiling your stickers.


If your artwork goes right up to the edge of your cut line or if you would like a coloured border, you will need to add at least 1mm of bleed (colour that extends past the cut line) to your designs to prevent any unprinted edges from showing on your finished designs. 

Here is an example of a design with bleed added. The blue line represents the cut line.

3. Importing your Sticker Artwork

Select the 'Sticker Artwork' layer in your layers palette and either draw your design directly into this layer or copy (CTRL+C) and paste (CTRL+V) previously saved artwork.

Artwork on this layer will form the peel-able elements of your sticker sheet.

Please don't rename existing layers or create additional layers as this will confuse our systems when processing your designs.

All design elements on your 'Sticker Artwork' layer MUST be grouped together before submission to prevent any data loss when we are tiling your stickers.


Make sure that the peel-able elements of your sticker artwork sit at least 5mm from the edge of the sheet, represented by the pink line and also leave a gap of at least 5mm between each sticker.

4. Create your cut lines

Create cut lines for your stickers on the 'Cut Line' layer. Red paths with a weight of 0.25pt will do nicely.



Get rid of any unwanted internal cut lines so that you are left with a simple outline around the edge of your sticker.



Please don't rename existing layers or create additional layers as this will confuse our systems when processing your designs.

All design elements on your 'Cut Line' layer MUST be grouped together before submission to prevent any data loss when we are tiling your stickers.

5. Saving and submitting your designs

There are 3 different ways to save and submit your designs...

1. Submit your artwork immediately

If you have already created your designs, you can send them to us using the 'Upload Artwork' button, located on our product pages or by emailing them to ‘info@zapcreatives.com’.

Save all Illustrator files in .Ai format. Here’s how…

Name each of your designs appropriately so that we know which designs you are referring to. Your file names should include 1. your name, 2. design number, 3. chosen product and 4. the date that you placed your order through our website. Here’s an example…

Select all of the designs that you would like to submit, right click and choose SEND TO > COMPRESSED (ZIPPED) FOLDER.



This will create a compressed folder containing all of your designs. Rename this folder so that it contains your name and the date that you placed your order on our website. Like this…

Please add all of your designs into one folder. So, if you purchased charms, stickers and pins, for example, just pop them all in the same, compressed folder and pass it our way.

2. Submit your artwork later

If you have placed your order via our website but your designs aren’t quite ready yet, that’s ok. You have up to 2 weeks to submit your artwork to us, which allows you to take advantage of any special offers that we’re running. 

To submit your designs later, save them with 1. your name, 2. design number, 3. chosen product and 4. your order number. Then email them to ‘info@zapcreatives.com’. 

Save all Illustrator files in .Ai format. Here’s how…

3. Placing a re-order

If you have placed an order in the past and would like to re-order those designs that’s great! We store your artwork for a maximum of 6 months, which saves you the hassle of having to resubmit your designs via email.

To place a re-order, simply place your order online, email us with your previous order number(s) and let us know that you are placing a re-order. 

You may only want to order 1 or 2 designs from your previous order(s). To do this simply quote your old file name(s) and let us know how you would like them to be produced and in what quantities. 

Here’s how to do it… 


Hi Zap!,

I’ve just placed an order #12345 on your website and would like to re-order the following designs from a previous order #12121. Please can I have…

10x [YOURNAME]-DESIGN1-CLEARCHARM-12121
20x [YOURNAME]-DESIGN2-WALNUTKEYRING-12121
10x [YOURNAME]-DESIGN3-ACRYLICPIN-12121

Thanks!

[YOUR NAME] 


If you have any questions about this tutorial or any other aspects of our website and manufacturing processes, please do not hesitate to get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.

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