how to create transparent stickers using photoshop · how to create transparent stickers using...

How to create TransparentStickers using PhotoshopThe following steps show you how to create your own custom shaped transparent vinyl sticker designs.

Need help with your designs? Contact us with any questions or use our design service and let us do the work for you.

1. Download our sticker templates

Download our sticker templates and open your chosen size from www.zapcreatives.com/templates

of 7www.zapcreatives.com | +44 (01642) 244422 | [email protected]

2. Importing your Artwork

Create or import your artwork on the 'Artwork' layer. Make sure your artwork fits inside of the template. Please do not flip your artwork.

3a. Creating a white base layer

As you have chosen to print your stickers onto our transparent vinyl, you will need to create a white base layer which will be placed UNDER any areas of your design that you would like to appear opaque.

We like to give our customers control of their own white base layer, which allows them to create different trans-parency effects. Any printed areas without a white base layer will appear transparent.


To create your white base layer simply hold down the 'CTRL' key and click on the thumbnail of your 'Artwork' layer. This will select all of the elements of your artwork layer.

Contract your selection by 1 pixel using SELECT > MODIFY > CONTRACT and enter the value of 1 in the pop up 'Contract Selection' window.

Contracting your white layer by 1 pixel will prevent any areas of white from showing around the edge of your stickers.

Make sure your 'White' layer is active and go to EDIT > FILL (Shift & F5) and select the 'Color' option from the first drop down menu. Choose 100% Cyan as your colour (C:100 M:0 Y:0 K:0)


Click 'OK' and 'OK' again. You should now have a Cyan silhouette of your original artwork, placed on the 'White' layer.

Be aware that contracting your selection can have an effect on the pixels selected. Always zoom in on areas with fine details such as strands of hair or small point text and check that you are happy with the results.

Please remember that we always recommend ordering samples before committing to large print runs, so that you can check that you are happy with the result. Mistakes cannot be rectified once your stickers have been printed.


3b. TransparenciesThe 'White' layer can also be used to create areas where you don't want an opaque white base. This effect can be used to create transparencies (printed and unprinted areas with no white base layer).

To create a transparent area, simply delete any areas of your white layer that you don't want.

There are several effects that can be achieved by doing this...

Transparent print - Coloured ink with no white base layer.

Opaque print - Coloured ink on top of a full white base layer.

Opaque print - Coloured ink on top of a partial white base layer.


Opaque white print - Printing with white ink only

4. Creating your Cut Lines

Show us where you would like your stickers to be cut by creating a silhouette on your 'Cut Area' layer.

An easy way to create a silhouette is to duplicate your stickerartwork onto the ‘Cut Area’ layer.

Select the 'Lock Transparent Pixels' icon.

Open the fill command window (SHIFT + F5) and fill with 100% black. Fill in any areas that you DON'T want cutting out.


If your artwork goes right up to the edge of your cutline, make sure you add at least 1mm (approx. 4px) of bleed to your designs to prevent any unprinted vinyl from showing around the edges of your finished stickers.

5. Saving your designs

That's it, you're done! Save your design in .psd format as follows... Your name, your order number, your sticker style, your design number...

'YOURNAME-123456-clearstickers-1of3.psd'


how to create transparent stickers using photoshop · how to create transparent stickers using...

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