Types of Sticker Printing: The 3 Most Popular Outdoor Vinyl Materials for Branding

If you are looking to print custom outdoor stickers, the type of material you choose will generally determine the look and cost of your custom printed outdoor stickers. You need to understand the types of sticker printing materials in order to know exactly what to expect when your work is printed.

In summary, all outdoor stickers are specifically designed for use outdoors and are therefore generally more durable, weather resistant and last longer without fading even where they are exposed to direct rain, sunshine and dust. For this reason, they are best for use on external branding projects including in the making of sign boards, window graphics, event branding as well as vehicle branding.

The fact that these are outdoor stickers does not mean that they cannot be used for interior branding projects. They can and they will last even longer inside without fading because they are shielded from extreme weather conditions and the effect of direct sun and rain.

All outdoor stickers are self adhesive with a paper backing that you need to remove in order to expose the sticky side and apply the sticker to your chosen surface.

There are many types of outdoor sticker materials used by printing companies in Nairobi and in this article; we are going to be looking at the 3 most common types of stickers you can use for your outdoor branding project. These are:  outdoor glossy white stickers, outdoor matte white stickers, and outdoor clear stickers in matt and gloss finish.

Outdoor White Sticker Printing

The most common type is glossy Self Adhesive white Vinyl sticker. This vinyl sticker has a shine on it that makes printed images and text look sharp and vibrant. Most print shops in Nairobi stock gloss sticker material in rolls as most customers will ask for this material.

This same shine makes printing done with glossy stickers unsuitable for outdoor use as sunlight or bright artificial light makes some parts of this printed sticker unreadable. Stickers printed in gloss vinyl also show minor scratches easily. Glossy sticker vinyl comes in a roll of 1.2m width by 50 metres length. Rolls of 1.5 m widths x 50 metres or 100 metres in length also exist but are rarely used.

An alternative to glossy white vinyl is matte Self Adhesive white Vinyl sticker. This sticker looks dull without the shine present on glossy sticker vinyl material. Graphics printed on matte vinyl material are not as sharp and vibrant compared to glossy material printing. However, due to lack of this shine, matte printed stickers are very readable even in bright sunlight and artificial light. Matte vinyl stickers adhere easily to all smooth clean surfaces and are easy to work with. Like Glossy sticker vinyl, matte sticker vinyl comes in a roll of 1.2m width by 50 metres length.

Outdoor Clear/transparent sticker printing

Clear stickers, also known as transparent stickers are self adhesive stickers with a transparent/clear background allowing you to see through the sticker to whatever is behind. So if you have your logo or design printed on clear sticker, you can apply the sticker anywhere you desire and the sticker will take the background colour of wherever you have applied the sticker and therefore you only see the logo /design you printed.

Clear stickers are normally printed using a large format printer and basically, all white sections on your unprinted design will remain unprinted and therefore clear/transparent. The working nature of normal large format printers is that they only print the coloured sections of a design as they do not have white ink.

Clear sticker vinyl just like white sticker comes in a roll of 1.2m width by 50 metres length and is also available in a matte or gloss finish.

Clear stickers are perfect for use where you do not want to see the white background of normal white stickers as they blend seamlessly with whatever surface they are applied on creating a visually appealing effect. They can therefore add a touch of creativity and professionalism to whatever project you are working on.

Advantages of using clear/transparent stickers

Their transparency allows them to be used on a variety of projects without worrying about the white background available when you use white stickers.  You therefore can use them on a wide variety of surfaces including glass, brushed effect aluminium and plastic surfaces and even paper. Your design appears to merge and be one with the background surface.

You can customise the shape of your clear stickers to fit your needs. Clear stickers can be die cut to specific shapes using a plotter or vinyl cutter.

Clear vinyl stickers are waterproof and weatherproof just like white vinyl stickers and therefore, very good for use both internally and externally.  In normal external weather conditions, you can expect clear stickers to last for a long time without fading.

Disadvantages of clear stickers

Hard to print: Accurate colours are generally harder to achieve when printing on clear stickers. Also, when printed clear stickers are applied on coloured surfaces, the printed graphics appear muted in comparison to graphics printed on white vinyl.Costly: Clear sticker prints are generally more expensive in comparison to white stickers. This is mostly because the clear sticker material roll is generally more expensive than white sticker material roll of comparable size and quality.

Uses of clear/transparent stickers

• Clear stickers are perfect for use to print product packaging as they add a decorative touch to the product while also passing on important information about the product. Printed clear labels can also be used on the product itself.
• Transparent clear stickers are very popularly used for window graphics for shops and retail outlets as they can showcase your chosen design while also allowing people to see inside your shop.
• Clear stickers are also used at events to adorn clear acrylic table numbers, place cards and signage with printed flowers and intricate designs.
• Hobbyists also use clear printed stickers to adorn their DIY projects and also personalise their belongings including mirrors and walls and other home accessories.
• Sign makers usually use unprinted clear sticker to laminate prints made from white stickers to make them more weather and scratch resistant. White prints laminated with clear sticker are generally longer lasting outdoors than un-laminated prints. Laminated prints are also more resistant to fading and generally look better visually adding a professional and neater look to your finished project.

Where to Find Sticker Printing Services

You can find sticker printing services including clear sticker printing services from online and local printing companies and print shops. When choosing a sticker printing company, consider the following factors:

• Quality & Customization: the company you choose should be able to produce high clarity prints hat are sharp and clear with enough details and contrast. The company should also be able to print and cut your stickers into your chosen shape and size.
• Cost: The local or online printing company you choose for your sticker printing services should be able to offer you a fair price for their services. Stickers are generally costly, and a sticker printing project can quickly turn costly and go over your budget.
• Timely: Print companies can delay your prints beyond your deadline and therefore consider choosing a company that can meet your deadline.
• Customer Service: Look for a company that has good customer service and a support team that is helpful and listens to your needs. You want the best print company to bring your vision to life.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, understanding the different types of outdoor vinyl materials is crucial for creating effective and durable outdoor stickers. Whether you’re branding your business, promoting an event, or simply adding a personal touch to your belongings, the right material can make all the difference.

By carefully choosing the appropriate material, you can ensure that your outdoor stickers will withstand the elements and make a lasting impression.