Where to put stickers on your car? Here's a car decal guide!

Did you know that there’s a way to personalize your vehicle without spending an arm and a leg on a new paint job or foiling? You read that right, and it’s so easy, you can do it yourself (with a little help, of course). Motorcycle and car stickers are a fun, efficient, and stress-free trick to send a message through your automobile. The best part is that there are so many ways you can use it to show off your personality.

Are you ready to put a little pizzazz in your car?

## Think about the vehicle sticker you want

First off, this is not a tattoo where regrets aren’t optional. Still, make sure you’ve basically figured out what you want in your vehicle sticker before making any decisions. Do you want a subtle car sticker or an attention-grabbing motorcycle decal? Do you want it on the bumper or the window? Do you want a funny graphic or a fail-safe mantra? 

Go beyond the usual “bullet hole” or “spider web” design. [Custom vehicle stickers](https://www.stickermule.com/uses/car-decals "custom car stickers") allow you the freedom to get pretty much whatever you want and the endless possibilities will surely ignite your creativity.

## Interesting uses for vehicle stickers

A custom vehicle sticker can send an invaluable message with very little effort. Think it’s just a random accessory for your vehicle? Think again.

### 1. Display your business

Business badges and business names are popular templates in the car sticker industry. Whether you’re using a company car or just presenting loyalty via your personal automobile, decals or stickers are a convenient way to encourage business. Witty or notable vehicle stickers can rouse the oldest marketing tool in the world, word-of-mouth, which remains the best way to endorse a modest enterprise. When done right, affordable stickers can also yield massive return of investment.

Stick your logo on your car door, add your e-commerce website on your rear glass, or put your logo on the windshield—treating your vehicle as a mobile advertisement can help promote your brand anywhere you go.

![putting on a car decal on the rear windshield](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/e85ba21c5134e1eb776e742003b85e5651b63c80)

### 2. Voice out your personal message to the world

[Bumper stickers](https://www.stickermule.com/products/bumper-stickers) were yesterday’s social media status update. These sayings exhibit your life views and broadcast them to whoever sees your car or motorbike. It doesn’t even have to be words. It can be a symbol, an emblem, a joke, or even a cartoon character that speaks to you at this point in your life. If you want to get philosophical, the sticker you choose expresses who you are the moment you apply it. Your vehicle can be sort of a personal diary that way.

![custom car bumper stickers](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/f8d7d43f46990641e3709c996456dc85778beb76)

### 3. Show off what’s close to your heart

Family car stickers are some of the most famous designs. We’ve all seen it: drawings with mom, dad, brother, sister, baby, and Spot. You can’t really fault a classic. The beauty of having a sticker custom-made is that you can go beyond the usual stick figures. 

However, these family stickers have been criticized lately for being threats to security. (For example, a potential identity thief would clearly know the names of the members of your family right away!) So an alternative would be stickers about your hobbies. Do you like football, basketball, or hockey? Maybe you're into cartoons and comic books?

![custom face stickers for car decals](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/27809cb6ef1d9b7de40ad21a69ca69ad177a19a4)

### 4. Hand them out as gifts

Bespoke gifts are always a hit, so you can imagine how well a custom car or motorcycle stickers would go over when you give them away. They can be as intimate as a personal message to your loved ones or as great corporate giveaways. Hey, that’s another way to spread your brand around.

![custom funny car sticker](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/621494a09b863ac8656b551104e72138a25d9b18)

### 5. They’re really versatile

There’s no law that says vehicle stickers have to be used for your automobile alone. Sturdier than your average sticker, these kinds of stickers can be waterproof as well as transferable and can be made with a variety of materials. You can essentially stick them on any similar surface, like metal, plastic, or glass. Put them in your room. Display them at your storefront. Stick them on your mailbox. Spread them on the floor. Did we mention there are endless possibilities?

![custom car sticker lettering transfers](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/4a9020ca88363477fba43fe30f75fcf91f049369)

## Why should you choose stickers to decorate your vehicle?

### 1. Vehicle stickers are inexpensive

Think of stickers as your accessories. They’re those little extras that can really take a look above and beyond. Unlike an overhaul, like a new coat of paint or car wrap, stickers are much more affordable. (Pro tip: Bulk orders are priced even cheaper at Sticker Mule.) Besides, how many ways can you really demonstrate your personality with a shade of color?

### 2. Vehicle stickers are adaptable

Stickers and decals are the way to go if you want to add a personal touch to your ride without the huge commitment of a paint job (remember that time you wanted a nice navy shade but it came out bright blue?). Car stickers can be as subtle as a few inches or as extreme as a hood-sized piece of art. You can cover the entire body of your motorbike or just stick a cutesy one on the back of your side window.

### 3. Vehicle stickers are fast

At Sticker Mule, the turnaround process is as fast as four days — perfect for an auto that needs a quick makeover. Some varieties are transferable (Sticker Mule has [bumper magnets](https://www.stickermule.com/uses/bumper-magnets "custom bumper magnets") available, too), so you can switch them around in case you get tired of them. With stickers, you can express yourself more freely and, because they’re more reasonably priced, you won’t feel too bad when you suddenly want to change them up.

### 4. Vehicle stickers are entertaining

Since when is a paint job ever amusing? Funny car stickers are always a good idea. It can be a smart joke, a clever pun, or even a humorous cartoon. Imagine being stuck in a traffic jam and the only thing to entertain you is the car in front. You see all these cool stickers featuring witty remarks and shrewd drawings. Suddenly, traffic isn’t too bad. Do your part in alleviating traffic-related stress and sticker up.

## Where to put your vehicle stickers 

Placement is everything! Do you want your car sticker to be visible and shouty? Or do you want it to be soft and inconspicuous? Every part of the car or vehicle has its purpose when it comes to being a background for your sticker.

### Windshields

Apart from fun designs, windshields are popular spots for important stickers that send an official, immediate, and direct message: car passes to quickly let you through, company-issued insignias, or notes that signify position or status.

![custom car window clong](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/d5d9762530ba699f879f2230aeb38bd3b21e379b)

### Rear windows

Rear windows are great for stickers that you want to be seen. Everyone looks at the rear windows — from passersbys walking past your parked car to the driver behind you. Just make sure to stick to the tops and corners so as not to obstruct the rearview.

![custom rear window car sticker](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/1cd8ba96dbac033c22d724d2dddce56f59cd3732)

### Doors

The sides of your vehicle yield a lot of space, making them the perfect canvas for large look-at-this car decals that are ideal for advertising and brand promotion. Car doors are also popular because any number or size of stickers you add won’t block your driving view.

![custom car door stickers](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/e63ded760a892c3fab5ad508f8f2fa06db4ab781)

### Windows

Windows are the perfect backdrop for clear stickers that make the colors and shape of your design pop.

![personalized car window stickers](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/6342dbc452b37f968d823a9071687665c886575f)

### Bumper and fenders

Ever a classic, bumpers are the best setup for sending a message that will stick, no pun intended. Bumper stickers are famous for being used in political statements, famous quotes, and timeless sayings.

![custom car bumper stickers](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/f12882301fea71aa79d60a289e2d4c5b05475a18)

### Gas tanks

The gas tank of a car has only enough space for an understated sticker, but a motorcycle, offers the biggest canvas and therefore creates the biggest statement. 

## What to remember about your vehicle stickers

It’s easy to get carried away with the look of your custom car sticker and where you want to put them, but don’t forget the logistics of it. Not all vehicle stickers are created equal, so once you’ve finalized your sticker’s appearance, make sure to tick off this checklist to ensure only the best sticker quality.

### 1. Durable and weather-resistant

Don’t think of your sticker as just a sticker. It’s a message, a piece of your personality and imagination, so make sure it lasts. Bumper stickers, for example, are exposed to the elements. Even front-adhesive window stickers can take a beating from fogging. Make sure your stickers can weather them all. Sticker Mule prints their stickers on premium vinyl that can withstand even the rigor of a dishwasher

Their [bumper stickers](https://www.stickermule.com/products/bumper-stickers), on the other hand, are made with thick, durable vinyl and are covered in a special dirt-proof, dust-proof, sun-proof, and rain-proof laminate. With these extra layers of protection, your bumper sticker may last longer than your car engine. 

### 2. Hassle-free removal

Sure, stickers are easy to put on, but are they easy to remove? The promise of stickers compared to a paint job, for example, is that they’re generally easier to handle—and that goes both ways. Say you’re tired of a sticker or you want to promote something else. You wouldn’t want bits of adhesive on your glass or your paint peeling off. At Sticker Mule, bumper stickers and car stickers come with a removable adhesive that won’t damage your vehicle's paint.

### 3. Do a final check on your design

Your design looks great on the computer screen, but that doesn’t automatically translate well on vinyl. Sticker Mule’s processes ensure that customers can see how their stickers will look prior to printing so that they’re assured only of perfection.

## Stickers or decals?

Many people often refer to stickers and decals interchangeably, and though they share a similar purpose, stickers tend to have an adhesive front or back while decals come in a special paper meant to be transferred to another surface. 

Depending on your design, either type can work for your vehicle. If you want more details so you can make an informed decision, here are some of the available decal types offered at Sticker Mule.

### 1. Transfer stickers

Fully customizable and easy to transfer, these vinyl decals (available in black or white) are suitable for indoor and outdoor use.

### 2. Vinyl lettering

Relaying a message? Vinyl lettering lets you spell out what you want to say

### 3. Front adhesive stickers

Though not completely weatherproof, front adhesive stickers are perfect for clear surfaces. You can stick them on the interior side of your window so they’re offered a semblance of protection.

### 4. Clear stickers

White print is used as a backdrop for your designs to really make the color stand out.

### 5. Die Cut Stickers
Protect your custom design with a thick, durable vinyl that makes it pretty much weatherproof.

## How to stick your vehicle stickers

### 1. Clean the surface

It’s a no-brainer. The grime on a dirty surface will adhere to your sticker, weakening its adhesion. Make sure to clean your vehicle with soap or rubbing alcohol and wait for it to completely dry before doing anything else.

### 2. Choose your location

While car and motorcycle stickers aren’t as permanent, it’s still preferred to know where exactly you want to put them. Your window? Sure, but what about the angle? How far away should it be from the edge? Try positioning your sticker without removing the backing. You can even hold it in place with tape so you can review how it looks from various angles.

### 3. Don’t be hasty

Being overly speedy will make you prone to mistakes. With your sticker in place, take out the paper backing bit by bit and touch only the edge so as not to tamper with the sticker’s adhesiveness. Carefully press the sticker on the surface as you peel it off the backing. Smoothen everything as you go along, ensuring no folds and air bubbles. Make sure to finish neatly by trimming off any excess margins that don’t stick on any surface. 

## How to order custom vehicle stickers

Customization seems like a lot of work, but it’s really not. At Sticker Mule, it’s an efficient but careful three-way process.

### Step 1: Make your design

Go crazy and let your creative juices flow. This is the first step of customization: composing what you want and exactly how you want it. Luckily, we've made the process a bit easier at Sticker Mule with our Studio design tool. Just head on over to the [bumper sticker](https://www.stickermule.com/studio/templates/stickers/bumper-stickers "custom bumper sticker templates") or [other sticker templates](https://www.stickermule.com/studio/templates/stickers "different shape sticker templates") section and pick a design that works for you and get started designing!

### Step 2: Go to the Sticker Mule website and start the order process

Once you have a design, just choose what kind of [custom sticker](https://www.stickermule.com/custom-stickers "custom stickers") you want and decide on a size (custom sizing is also available). If budget is a concern, the prices are helpfully published as well to aid you in your decision-making. The next page lets you upload your artwork, specify the quantity, and that’s essentially it.

### Step 3: Check the proofs

Make sure that the stickers will come out exactly as you envisioned them. You get to see proofs of your design before your stickers are printed so you can make adjustments on the sizes, lines, and colors. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed by the results.

<ButtonCta text="Create your own custom car stickers today!" size="large" variant="secondary" align="center" href="https://www.stickermule.com/uses/car-decals" />

Rear-window or bumper sticker? Find out some useful tips and tricks on how to put stickers on your car. Finding the perfect location for you car stickers doesn't need to be tricky! 

40 cool sticker ideas that are trending in 2023

[Custom stickers](https://www.stickermule.com/custom-stickers "print custom stickers") can be used for just about anything — from fun uses (plastering your pet's head all over your belongings!) to serious ones (showcasing political affiliations or "baby on board" stickers). If you're low on inspiration for your next batch of stickers, check out our latest list of sticker ideas to jumpstart your creativity. 

![cool custom sticker ideas](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/9071a532-3503-470c-83c5-a9fb351ea1bc)

__1. Sustainability and eco-friendliness symbols__

If you already do your part for the planet, consider inspiring others with a nature-friendly design. "Green" sticker ideas include:

- A recycling symbol
- A "Save the Bees" design
- A "Save the Amazon" sticker

__2. National parks and travel destinations__

![custom travel stickers](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/9c64be77-5818-4583-b729-8e9cf35da7b9)

Adventure is a popular theme for [car stickers](https://www.stickermule.com/uses/car-decals "custom car stickers"), but you can also show your love for travel on just about anything — including your favorite suitcase! 

- Yosemite National Park logo
- Eiffel Tower illustration
- "Adventure is a state of mind" (Alastair Humphreys quote)

__3. Holographic and iridescent stickers__

We already talked a little about the [big holographic trend in design](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/8-graphic-design-trends-getting-popular-in-2023) lately. So why not try out some new [holographic sticker](https://www.stickermule.com/products/holographic-stickers "custom holographic shiny stickers") ideas? Here are a few for you:

- Holographic unicorn
- Iridescent geometric pattern

__4. Retro and vintage aesthetics__

Harness the spirit of the 90s — or whatever decade is your favorite — with emblematic graphics for the period. A couple of ideas:

- Cassette tape illustration
- Vintage VW van design

__5. Space exploration and galaxy themes__

![custom space stickers](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/3093413e-e5b9-409f-aec6-50c6bfce992c)

Always popular with Whovians, Trekkies, Star Wars fans, and sci-fi appreciators in general, this is a theme as infinite as space itself — and your imagination. Try these ideas for a start:

- Mars rover sticker
- Astronaut floating in space
- TARDIS in a wormhole

__6. Music and band logos__

Share your love for your favorite band and get a good conversation starter to boot! 

- Rolling Stones tongue and lips logo
- Nirvana smiley face
- ...and just about any other symbol you like!

__7. Inspirational quotes and affirmations__

Cheesy commonplace or valuable life advice? An inspiring quote can be perfect for a bumper car sticker or wall graphic depending on your viewpoint. Think of things like:

- "Whatever you are, be a good one" bumper sticker
- "What if they're wrong and you're right" wall graphic

__8. Popular TV show and movie characters__

Rather than buying overpriced merchandise, make your own fandom swag — starting with stickers. Try all-time beloved characters like: 

- Baby Yoda in The Mandalorian
- Eleven, from Stranger Things

__9. Mental health awareness and self-care reminders__

With our modern epidemic of clinical anxiety and depression, it's never a bad idea to share a message of positivity and encouragement — for yourself and others. A couple of ideas:

- "It's Okay Not to Be Okay"
- "Worry is a choice." — Gavin de Becker
- "Breathe" with a calming waves design

__10. Virtual reality and augmented reality themes__

![virtual reality stickers](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/3d6b7728-14dd-4bed-b21b-2a3a333cd5f3)

Are you all about the metaverse? Show it on your custom stickers with things like:

- VR headset illustration
- AR interactive game scene

__11. Internet and meme culture references__

It's memeing time! Put your favorite meme on display in a sticky fashion. Ideas:

- "This is fine" dog meme
- "Two Buttons" meme template (with your text of choice)

__12. Climate change activism and environmental slogans__

Put on display a little bit of your ferociously pro-Earth side with a sticker such as:

- "There is No Planet B"
- "Protect Our Oceans" (with a turtle design)

__13. Abstract and geometric patterns__

These can always be a good way to add a little bit of color and customization to your belongings. Go with:

- Colorful mandala pattern
- Hexagonal honeycomb design
- or anything else that strikes your fancy!

__14. Futuristic and sci-fi designs__

For those with a geeky penchant. Try: 

- Cyberpunk cityscape graphic
- Robot head illustration
- "Don't Tell Me About Life" Marvin sticker

__15. Pop art and bold typography__

To make your design pop, opt for ideas like:

- Lichtenstein-inspired comic strip
- Warhol-style banana sticker

__16. Celestial bodies, moon phases, and zodiac signs__

Whether you're an amateur astronomer, a bit of an astrologer, or simply appreciate celestial-themed designs, you can't go wrong with these ideas: 

- Crescent moon and stars
- Favorite constellation sticker
- Zodiac sign illustration

__17. Kawaii and cute characters__

![kawaii anime stickers](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/151bcd17-6a5a-4163-86e9-5fae09c8e460)

Inject a dose of cuteness into your life with your favorite Kawaii figures! 

- Kawaii cactus character
- Cute sushi roll with a smiley face

__18. Video game icons and characters__

Gaming can be a big part of your life and your personality. So show a little love for your favorite video game characters and icons by putting them in custom stickers! Try:

- Mario from Super Mario Bros.
- Link from The Legend of Zelda
- Any other favorite character!

__19. Minimalist and line art portraits__

Line art is trendy and fun — just the right relaxed vibe for a car or water flask sticker. Minimalist sticker ideas:

- One-line face drawing
- Minimalist Frida Kahlo portrait

__20. Social media platform logos and icons__

You can mix these with your username or use them alone.

- Instagram logo
- Your Reddit avatar sticker
- YouTube play symbol

__21. Animal and pet illustrations__

We're a pet generation and we know it. Celebrate the awesomeness of our best canine and feline friends in your stickers:

- Sleeping cat sticker
- Playful dog design
- Custom [dog photo sticker](https://www.stickermule.com/uses/dog-stickers "custom dog photo sticker")

__22. Inclusive and diverse representations__

If you're all about inclusiveness and tolerance, inspire others to coexist peacefully with a well-displayed sticker. Think:

- "Live and let live" quote
- Jewish-Christian-Muslim unity flag
- "The more variety, the better society" quote sticker

__23. Hobbies and craft icons__

Show the world your passion. Sticker ideas for hobbies and crafts include:

- Camera icon for photography
- Paintbrush and palette for painting
- Chess knight on chess squares
- Football

__24. Minimalistic plant and botanical designs__

Got a bit of a green thumb? Make stickers to match! Here are a couple of sticker ideas for the plant lover in you:

- Monstera leaf silhouette
- Succulent plant illustration
- "Home Is Where My Plants Are" flower pot sticker

__25. Food and drink illustrations__

![custom food symbol pictures](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/fbec78c6-6331-4c25-bed6-27aee0150a29)

You say foodie, I say gourmet. You say appreciator, I say bon vivant! Let your love for food and the good life inspire your next design.

- "Good food, fine wine" text with a bottle of wine graphic
- Steaming cup of coffee design
- Tacos illustration

__26. Hand-drawn and watercolor designs__

A penchant for the graphic arts should never go unattended. And stickers are the perfect way to channel it! Go with: 

- Watercolor mountain landscape
- Hand-drawn feathers pattern
- Boat at sea drawing

__27. Tech gadgets and devices__

Are you an utter, complete, confirmed, incorrigible techie? Then you just have to show that on your stickers. Try:

- Oh For Fox Sake sticker with the Mozilla Firefox
- "Don't Worry, I'm From Tech Support" funny cat sticker
- "Have You Tried Switching It Off And On Again?" laptop sticker

__28. DIY and maker culture symbols__

DIYers are a select, but growing community. Help other members of the clan recognize you by adding a custom DIY sticker to your belongings. Here are a few ideas to get you started: 

- Sewing machine illustration
- 3D printer design
- I S2 DIY sticker

__29. Optical illusions and 3D designs__

Just have some fun with weird shapes and optical illusion graphics. Any of these can be a good conversation starter:

- Penrose triangle sticker
- Impossible staircase design
- Optical illusion elephant

__30. Cryptocurrency and blockchain icons__

![doge coin custom stickers](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/d9e8308f-17ea-4bac-9b96-462920cf9c3a)

DeFi is the mot du jour, isn't it? If you're on the crypto bandwagon and proud of it, show your passion for everything decentralized with car or laptop stickers featuring:

- The Bitcoin logo
- The Ethereum emblem
- A Doge

__31. Upcycling and zero-waste themes__

Are you hyper-waste-conscious? Then don't waste the opportunity to share the message on your favorite stickers. Ideas:

- "Choose to Reuse" text
- Mason jar with a reusable straw

__32. Yoga, meditation, and mindfulness imagery__

Spiritually inclined? In touch with your true self? Or simply inspired by ancient Eastern wisdom? Remind yourself that all is Maya — and make the reminder stick! Here are a few ideas:

- Lotus pose silhouette
- Om symbol
- Buddha statue sticker

__33. Fitness and workout motivation__

Not just for fitness coaches, these stickers can mix a little fun with a little inspiration in a memorable way. Couple of ideas for you:

- Dumbbell illustration with "I feel stronger already" text
- "Sweat is Just Fat Crying" quote with funny graphic

__34. Sports team logos and mascots__

![sports logo stickers](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/0730d157-12e2-4ef2-8d0d-84ae9473d9ad)

Showcase your affiliations in the world of sports! 

- New York Yankees logo
- Chicago Bulls mascot

__35. Activism slogans__

If you're fighting the good fight with your deeds, why not do it with your words too? Stickers are the perfect channel for that. Proclaim your dedication to your preferred favorite social causes with things like:

- "Build Back Better" car sticker
- "Come and take it" window decal

__36. Superheroes and comic book characters__

The Man of Steel, the Caped Crusader, or any other superhero can be a big source of inspiration — and a fun way to remind yourself of your heroic potential. Try something like:

- Spider-Man pointing graphic
- Wonder Woman emblem
- Batman with "My Superpower: I'm Rich" text

__37. Street art and graffiti-inspired designs__

Street art can be a big source of design inspiration — some companies even have logos made after them. So try your hand at that with:

- Banksy-inspired stencil art
- Colorful graffiti tag

__38. Mythical creatures and fantasy themes__

![custom mythical creatures fantasy stickers](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/70e39dab-fcb9-4361-bd18-4166c4a3566d)

Add a touch of fantasy to your [laptop](https://www.stickermule.com/uses/laptop-stickers), phone, or water flask. Ideas are plentiful:

- Dragon illustration
- Mermaid silhouette
- Gollum "My Precious" sticker

__39. Cultural and heritage symbols__

Whether it's your true ancestry or a heritage symbol you'd be proud to be a part of, the world of heraldry and ancient symbolism has plenty to offer. You could start with:

- Celtic knot design
- Hamsa hand symbol

__40. Personalized and customizable name stickers__

Create decorated name stickers — your name or someone else's. Get creative with our [online Studio app](https://www.stickermule.com/studio) and flaunt that name! Try:

- Name with a floral background
- Name in a script font with a geometric pattern

## And there you have it

That's 40 ideas to get you started in (or help you further explore) the fun world of stickers. We hope you'll find one that inspires you to create your own custom stickers — and have them printed on Sticker Mule. 

So what are you waiting for? List your favorite ones and get to work designin' and printin'!

<ButtonCta text="Start making custom stickers today!" href="https://www.stickermule.com/custom-stickers" />


Stickers can be cool or cute but also great for promoting brands and causes. Here are some popular sticker ideas for 2023 to help make cool stickers!

Ready to print checklist with sticker sizes for printing

If you’re a designer, chances are you spend a lot of time in the digital realm. And while you might be the best pixel pusher around, the rules change when it comes to print design. Here’s a checklist of everything you need to do to make sure your design is perfectly print-ready.

## Dimensions: At least 300 PPI
If you’re working with vector artwork, you can go ahead and check this off. If you’re working with raster artwork, you’ll want to make sure it is at least 300 PPI (pixels per inch). You can increase the resolution of any artwork file automatically with [Upscale](https://www.stickermule.com/upscale).

If you plan on using a logo, text, or illustration for print, we recommend tracking down a vector (or high resolution) version of the artwork if possible. If you need help, we recommend checking out our vectorization service: [Redraw](https://www.stickermule.com/redraw).

![raster-to-vector](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/7084286daa27ce03bbfdab7bfd1a6836fcedde98)

To measure your artwork’s PPI, divide the width of your artwork’s dimensions by the width of your desired print size. For example, if your artwork was 600 pixels wide and you planned to have it printed 3 inches wide, you’d only have 200 PPI. This would result in a low quality print and may cause your artwork to look pixelated. In this case, it would be best to either recreate your design at a higher resolution or go for a smaller print.

To figure out the maximum size your artwork should be printed at, divide the dimensions of your artwork by 300. For example, if your artwork was 600 x 450 pixels, the maximum size would be 2" x 1.5".

(Note: DPI *or Dots Per Inch* refers to the resolution settings of the printer, while PPI refers to the resolution of the artwork. Occasionally these two terms get mixed up.)

For example, if you want to [print stickers](https://www.stickermule.com/ "print stickers online"), the following dimensions are some popular sizes and resolutions that should be good for stickers;

- 2" x 1" (Min = 600 x 300 pixels) (Good = 1200 x 600 pixels)
- 2" x 2" (Min = 600 x 600 pixels) (Good = 1200 x 1200 pixels)
- 4" x 2" (Min = 1200 x 600 pixels) (Good = 2400 x 1200 pixels)
- 4" x 4" (Min = 1200 x 1200 pixels) (Good = 2400 x 2400 pixels)

----


## Color Mode: CMYK
Digital screens use a combination of red, green, and blue light (RGB) to form different colors, while printers use a combination of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black ink (CMYK) to form different colors.

![rgb-vs-cmyk](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/5afdee4db5bfc9c8f1d2e0283687cf1e496118d6)

You can convert your colors from RGB to CMYK (or vice versa) in most applications by simply changing the color mode. Most online design tools like [Studio](https://www.stickermule.com/studio "free online design tool image editor") or [Canva](https://www.canva.com/ "canva online design tool"), you can skip this since they convert all orders to CMYK files.

However, while RGB can display a very wide color gamut for screen viewing, the same bright, vibrant colors may not be achieved in the more limited CMYK color space available for printing.

When designing something for print only, it is best to start in CMYK color mode, or at least be aware that some RGB colors might look different when printed.

----

## Units: Inches
Designing with inches (instead of pixels) will help you in a few ways. First, it’ll help you figure out the exact dimensions of your print without having to do any math. But more importantly, it will help you indicate any cut lines or bleeds in a way that is compliant with most print shops’ requirements.

For example, Sticker Mule’s [transfer stickers](https://www.stickermule.com/products/transfer-stickers) require that any solid parts of your design be at least 0.07" thick. Working with inches makes this possible to measure.

----

## Cut lines
Cut lines tell the print shop where to cut your print.

![cut-line](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/dfe4f5f0959a990b8fd79a76d60707e8d5f9a560)

Some print products, such as [die cut stickers](https://www.stickermule.com/products/die-cut-stickers), can be cut into any shape. At Sticker Mule we will automatically figure out your cut lines for you if none are indicated. By default, this is usually a uniform offset of the shape of your artwork.

[Indicating your own cut lines](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/how-to-create-a-sticker-cut-line) will give you full control over how your print is cut and can often speed up the proofing process. Cut lines should be indicated with a 1pt stroke.

----

## Bleeds
A bleed is anything being printed that extends beyond the cut lines. Bleeds are necessary whenever you want something to extend beyond the trim edge, leaving no white margin. 

At Sticker Mule, this is another thing we will add for you automatically as needed if possible. However, if you have something that is especially complex that you would like to be printed “full bleed” (to the edge of the print), then you will need to make sure it extends at least 1/16" past the cut lines.

----

## Outline text
This is a pretty basic rule when it comes to design, but it is often overlooked. Since there’s no way to ensure that a print shop will have all the fonts you use in your design, it’s best to make sure any text used is converted to outlines.

<WistiaVideo videoId="ke3fvba7fj" />

In Adobe Illustrator you can do this by selecting the text then selecting *Type > Create Outlines*.

----

With these items complete, your file should be perfectly print-ready. It’s usually best to save the file in its native format (Illustrator, Photoshop, Sketch), in case you need to revisit it later. Most print shops (including Sticker Mule) will accept artwork in their native formats.

As mentioned before, certain colors will often look different between digital and print – there’s no way around this. 

Once you've perfected the print file, why don't you try printing some stickers in different shapes and sizes today at Sticker Mule!

<ButtonCta text="Order custom stickers online" href="https://www.stickermule.com/custom-stickers" />


Stickers come in different sizes and dimensions, so we've compiled a checklist to make sure your studio, canva, and procreate canvas file is ready for printing.

Why we love shipping with our own custom printed mailers

As you know, we here at Sticker Mule love some good [custom stickers](https://www.stickermule.com/custom-stickers) — but not only! While we take pride in every single one of our products, today we want to tell you how shipping with our own [custom printed mailers](https://www.stickermule.com/products/poly-mailers) makes us especially proud.

![custom printed shipping mailers](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/62eb39d1-d9bf-461b-b7cb-aa563ab15d34)

Lightweight, but incredibly sturdy, these babies are great for shipping anything from books to t-shirts. They're a time-saving solution, making it a breeze to bulk-ship your merchandise with elegance and care.

In fact, if you've ever bought anything from Sticker Mule, you probably know exactly what we're talking about. Because, yes, we invariably ship with our very own custom printed poly mailers! That's how confident we are in their quality and durability.

### Why you should be printing custom mailers for your business

It's not just us. We just try and lead by example, because we think custom mailers are a great idea for just about any business out there.

Wanna know why? Here's why.

__1. It increases your brand recognition__

As you probably know, [brand recognition](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/brand-recognition.asp) (or brand awareness) has long been one of the cornerstones of good marketing. The formula is simple: the more people recognize your brand, the more they trust you. The more they trust you, the more they buy from you. 

And guess what: with custom mailers, you remind your buyers of your brand even before they open the package.  

So, add your logo to your design. How hard can it be? (Hint: not very hard.) Then print it out in the oh-so-nice-and-crispy shape of stylish custom printed mailers. 

Wonderful, isn't it? Now every shipment you make is more than just that — it's also extra brand recognition, at no extra cost.

__2. It's a quick way to display your brand style and ethos__

Fancy and creative or down to earth and minimalistic — a custom mailer design is a great opportunity to tell the savvy buyer, at a glance, what you're all about. It can [give them a glimpse of your values](https://www.brandingmag.com/annie-button/how-packaging-design-can-pack-and-reflect-brand-values/) and who you are as a company.

Besides being a great way to showcase some of your company's buying points, your mailers can also be matched to your target audience. 

Younger demographic? Consider opting for simpler lines and fonts for that "effortlessly cool" hipster look. For a more mature public, solid shapes and colors may be the way to go. And for a hand-crafted, artistic-oriented product, fanciful, out-of-the-box, and even extravagant colors, shapes, and lines can clearly point to your artistic aspirations. 

If you're starved for inspiration, be sure to check out [some trendy style ideas we wrote about here](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/8-graphic-design-trends-getting-popular-in-2023).

__3. It's cost effective — very__

Honestly, there's just no end to the perks. Our custom printed mailers are actually super affordable, and may just turn out to be cheaper than your current shipping method of choice — especially if you buy the [custom mailers in bulk](https://www.stickermule.com/products/poly-mailers), which you can do at Sticker Mule (and save up to 76%!)

### Why we ship with our own custom mailers at Sticker Mule

As we were saying, we make it a point to ship with our own Sticker Mule-branded mailers. That's not only for the reasons stated above — although it's certainly cost-effective for us (ha!) and it does a good job of marketing our brand. 

No, our commitment to using our own custom mailers as we send out packages all over the world is important for other reasons: 

- It ensures our merchandise is kept safe and protected no matter how far the destination 
- It's a way to test our own product against all kinds of climates and situations 
- It shows just how confident we are in their quality and reliability. 
- It communicates to our clients that we stand by our products.  
- It gives customers a sample of a new product to buy! 

"It's not about the money, it's about sending a message."

Or maybe it is about money. It's the packaging way of putting our money where our mouth is.

### We keep improving

For us, it's vital to be constantly moving forward. Constant improvement and innovation are part of our culture, and using our own products helps us with that.

Based on customer feedback, we can make improvements to your user experience and make sure we fully meet customer needs and expectations.

In fact, that's just how we recently came up with [full bleed printing](https://www.stickermule.com/support/full-bleed). Deploying our own custom mailers is a really neat way to work research and development into the otherwise mundane task of shipping.

### Conclusion

Order from the Sticker Mule shop and you'll get a prompt reminder that we believe in what we do. And we trust you'll agree with us that our custom mailers really are as good as we market them.

Shipping with our poly mailers helps you trust us. It helps us innovate. And it drives us to improve our product even further.

Trust, innovation, improvement. This, even more than stickers, is what we're all about.

If you've never bought from Sticker Mule before, why not start now? Come and join our community of happy customers with [$10 off your first purchase](https://www.stickermule.com/unlock?ref_id=4898292701%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stickermule.com%2Funlock%3Fref_id%3D4898292701)!

<ButtonCta text="Get $10 off your first order!" href="https://www.stickermule.com/unlock?ref_id=4898292701%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stickermule.com%2Funlock%3Fref_id%3D4898292701" />



We take great pride in being able to ship with our own custom printed mailers. It makes us better and keeps our products on the cutting edge of shipping experience.

Free photo enlargers online: How well do they work?

[Photo enlargers](https://www.stickermule.com/upscale) are software designed to help you increase the resolution of photographs or other image files. There are a variety of free and paid versions on the market nowadays. Below we'll take a look at some of the options out there and how you can benefit from them.

![upscale images for free](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/ef7c670b-523a-445a-a786-2bf50b9304c0)

## Common use cases for photo enlargers

Let's get started by taking a look at some of the most common use cases for photo enlargers.

**1. Improving low-resolution photographs**

Sometimes that perfect portrait-worthy picture is just too blurred or pixelated for a decent printout. Enter the photo enhancer: with state-of-the-art AI tech, the software can upscale your photo into a high-resolution, sharp picture that you'll proudly send straight to print.

**2. Preparing images for large prints or posters**

OK, so perhaps your image is a modern high definition pic — just not *that* high definition. If you need to have it printed in a large-size format (perhaps for a wall poster?), it's again the photo enlarger's time to shine. Apps such as Upscale will accurately render high-resolution graphics for posters and other large printout uses.

**3. Enhancing digital art and illustrations**

It's not all about old photographs; if you have a cool illustration or digital picture that's sadly not in vector format and unusable as it is, time to enhance it with a photo enlarger. From the simplest clipart to the most sophisticated modern art, image upscalers can take on pretty much any challenging graphic — and produce a superior, HD version of it.

**4. Social media and online marketing**

Images are the first thing we notice; our brain is attuned to them. And that's exactly why having high-definition images is so important for online marketing. When you have the perfect picture for a post, but it's only available in smartphone-compatible size, it's once again time to unsheathe your upscaling software of choice.

In an alternative timeline, your post would have been an eye-watering pixelated mess; here, it's a glossy paragon of professional graphic design.

**5. Restoring old or damaged photos**

Maybe you lost the original and only have a social media compressed version; maybe it's just an analog, pre-Digital Era pic. Regardless, you need it in a bigger size or it'll be useless. Once more, the free photo enlarger is your friend and can take your blurry old photo look like to iPhone quality in a blink.

Online photo enlargers are getting so good at reviving historical pictures that, yes, you guessed it — it's even [generating controversy](https://www.wired.co.uk/article/history-colourisation-controversy) from indignant historians.

## Key factors for evaluating photo enlargers

How do you pick a photo enlarger for your use case? There are a few criteria to keep in mind.

__A. Image quality__

Well, duh! As the main point of the photo enlarging process, your first question is: Does the photo enlarging app deliver on its overall HD quality promise? If the question is no, you're probably better served looking elsewhere; if yes, move on to the next point.

__B. Resolution and detail preservation__

Many apps will seemingly produce a high-quality picture within seconds of your inputting the low-definition one. Upon closer inspection, though, you may notice the result was achieved at the cost of important details. Paradoxically, the resulting image may look like it's better quality but be less rich than the original one.

__C. Noise reduction__

How does the app handle noise? Photo enlargers that are incapable of turning noise-filled, old-looking pictures into sharp, digital-era ones are probably not worth your time, to begin with.

__D. File format support__

The photo enlarger should be able to output all of the most common digital image formats, such as jpg, png, gif and bmp.

__E. User-friendly interface__

However complex a software's internal processes, its exterior — the user interface — should be simple and easy to navigate for even the least experienced of us. So that's definitely another factor to look for in your free photo enlarger of choice.

__F. Processing speed__

Is the upscaling online software able to process your pictures fast, preferably for this century — here's another key question to ask. Because, really, who's got time to sit around and look at a progress bar in this day and age?

__G. Price and value__

If the app is free, does it offer real value or a subpar service that will take you nowhere? And if it's not a free photo enlarger, is its quality really worth the price? Often, the only way to find out is by testing it out; for that, test out your free software first and take advantage of free trials for the paid ones whenever possible.

_______________

## Top free online photo enlargers: A comparison

Now that we know what to look for in an online picture enlarger, let's take a look at some of the main choices out there and what they've got to offer.

### 1) Upscale by Sticker Mule

![free ai image upscale by sticker mule](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/ab951402-b6c8-4a5a-a330-7f53e24e88bd)

[Upscale by Sticker Mule](https://www.stickermule.com/upscale "free ai image upscaler") is one of the top free online photo enlargers. Available entirely on a browser version (no downloads needed) in an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, the software taps into artificial intelligence to upscale your images, adding missing pixels and enhancing the overall image quality.

Improving image quality up to 8x the original size, Upscale is a great solution for blurry, pixelated, or small-size photographs, logos, digital art, and other graphics.

Upscale can be used 100% free of charge.

Visit __[stickermule.com/upscale](https://www.stickermule.com/upscale "ai image upscaler free")__

### 2) Let's Enhance

![lets enhance](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/ce68c50b-5f18-44d6-b2a3-31d8e476b147)

Let's Enhance offers a powerful, AI-based API to enhance, brighten, and sharpen images — hundreds at a time. It's a great solution for things like logos and product photos and has the capacity to enhance images up to 16x the original size.

Although it's one of the best solutions available out there, Let's Enhance is only available with a paid subscription, after the user has worked through their initial demo credits.

Visit __letsenhance.io__

### 3) Bigjpg

![bigjpg photo enlarger](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/73f8cd1d-5ec1-4d85-ae05-7c4ab8e7e947)

Bigpjg is a powerful image enlarger that leverages deep neural networks (DNN) to remove noise and improve image resolution — either online, on the browser, or through dedicated apps for Windows, iOS, and Android.

Bigjpg works on a freemium model: free users enjoy more basic features, with limits on the size of uploaded images, whereas premium users can enhance larger images at greater speeds.

Visit __bigjpg.com__

### 4) Deep Image

![deep image photo enlarger](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/60563f60-b5da-4105-a381-27fe0b30f830)

DeepImage allows you to remove image noise and serration, sharpen overall quality, correct colors, and remove backgrounds, among other options. It's a comprehensive and feature-rich software that can be used by graphic designers, professional photographers, and for a variety of business use cases.

DeepImage gives users access to a trial version, but strictly speaking it's not free, as images generated by free accounts are watermarked and not fit for printing or professional use in general.

Visit __deep-image.ai__

### 5) ResizeImage

![resize image to enlarge photos](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/1f666049-6dd0-42f1-b8ae-7bb6b697e064)

ResizeImage is a handy, free tool for cropping, resizing, and compressing images. Although it is technically not an image enlarger, as it cannot increase image size without losing resolution, ResizeImage is a helpful, free, and easy-to-use online tool for image editing.

Visit __[ResizeImage.net](http://ResizeImage.net)__

## Comparison summary

There are pros and cons to every software above, but there are also overall winners.

Upscale by Sticker Mule is the only truly free image enhancer able to produce sharp, high-definition graphics and photographs. It compares positively to ResizeImage.net, which is also free, but doesn't have the ability to retain resolution while enlarging images.

On the other hand, for professional users willing to pay for a wider array of options, both BigJpg and Let's Enhance are powerful solutions and can handle multiple, large-size image uploads with fast processing and accurate image enlargement.

Ultimately, your choice of image enlarger will hinge on your needs — whether you require an upscaling platform for mass uploads, with plenty of other image-editing features, or need only high-quality a free photo enlarger for one or a few pictures at a time. For the latter, [Upscale by Sticker Mule](https://www.stickermule.com/upscale "free image enlarger without losing quality") is our recommendation.

## How Upscale by Sticker Mule stands out

Upscale can generate premium-level enhanced images for free, which in itself makes it stand out from other similar options. Its advantages include:

* **Advanced AI-powered enlargement technology:**  Upscale's AI algorithms find and recreate missing pixels, making it possible to increase images up to 8x the original resolution.
* **Superior image quality:** Unlike some free image enhancement apps, Upscale accurately enhances blurry or low-res images to print-worthy definition.
* **Fast processing times:**  Even bulk uploads are processed fast on Upscale's browser interface; for single images, the processing time usually takes only a few moments.
* **Seamless and free integration with Sticker Mule products:**  With a few clicks, you can edit your newly-enhanced image on Studio and integrate it with a logo or product design; another click will send it directly to production as a custom sticker, label, t-shirt, or other Sticker Mule product.


## Tips for using free photo enlargers

Free photo enlargers are pretty intuitive, but it's worth keeping a few things in mind as you set out to improve your photographs:

### 1. Start with the highest quality image possible

The better the input, the better the output. Even though AI-based image enlargers can do wonders, their magic will always work best on larger-size, higher-quality images.

So, before you start uploading, make sure you are working with the best version available for your image.

### 2. Choose the appropriate enlargement ratio

You may not need to go all the way to 8x or 16x the original size if you're only planning to use your enhanced image for a social media post or small printable. But if your graphic is meant for a printed poster, wall sticker, or another large-size device, it may be good to avail yourself of the highest enlargement ratio available.

### 3. Use additional editing software like Photoshop for further enhancements

Free photo enhancers like Studio can take you a long way toward your ultimate goal, but sometimes it's worth having an extra tool to add a few finishing touches and regulate things like brightness, object sharpness, and contrast. So consider using apps like Photoshop (or free apps like our own Studio) to leave your image just the way you want.

### 4. Save images in the right format for your needs

Once you download your finished product, remember to pick the right format. For instance, JPGs are best for finished social media posts, whereas a BMP or PNG might be better for further editing your graphic.

________________

## Conclusion

Free online photo enlargers can be the perfect way to upgrade your images into high-resolution printables without the hassle of downloading more expensive and time-consuming software. All you need is a relatively fast internet, a browser (could be your phone's), and a couple of spare minutes.

Among the many choices available, Upscale by Sticker Mule is one of the best. It's fast, it's free, and it outputs high-quality images that are good for professional use — all while working on an extremely intuitive and easy-to-use interface.

Have an image you want to upgrade? [Try Upscale now](https://www.stickermule.com/upscale "enlarge images without losing quality for free online") and tweet us about your experience @stickermule. The Mule always loves hearing from you!

<ButtonCta text="Try Upscale for free now!" href="https://www.stickermule.com/upscale" />

We compare 5 free online photo enlargers and see how well they enlarge photos online. Read more to find out the results and some neat tricks to boot!

Convert any image to vector - 6 ways to vectorize an image

[Converting images to a vector](https://www.stickermule.com/redraw) is a skill that any designer needs to know. The good thing about this is that there are plenty of tools and tutorials online that will teach you exactly what you need to know! (Thank you, technology!) 

Vector images is a common file type that designers and advertisers need to master. After all, this is the preferred format for billboards and other types of ads. 

There are a lot of ways to convert flat images into vectors. Here are a few ways of doing it.

## What is a vector image?

To better understand what a vector file is, it is important to learn the 2 basic categories of a digital image: raster [graphics and vector graphics](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/raster-vs-vector-images). 

You may already be familiar with a flat or raster graphic. These graphics are .jpg (Joint Photographic Experts Group), or .png (Portable Network Graphics) file types. Notice that when you zoom in a .jpg or .png image, you’ll see that the image becomes blurry and you start seeing little square dots. These dots are called pixels. This is the basic foundation of a raster graphic: flat little dots that form the full picture. 

On the other hand, a vector graphic is made up of mathematical formulas rather than flat, fixed, and solid colored pixels. The formulas create the points, paths, lines, curves, shapes, and colors that you see in a vector image. 

The most important attribute of a vector image is that it is infinitely scalable without compromising the quality of the image. No matter how close you zoom in, or how big you scale a vector image, it will remain smooth. The resolution will also remain high! Some common file formats of vector files are .ai (Adobe Illustrator), .eps (Encapsulated PostScript), and .svg (Scalable Vector Graphic).

### Where are vector images used?

Vector images are used in branding and printing. Most logos, icons, and other graphics that you see displayed on websites online are vector images. Most print jobs you have seen might also have been vector images before printing. 

### What can you do with vector images?

Because vector files are resolution independent, they are great for large scale printing like banners, signs, and other large format jobs. Vector files are also great for smaller prints like business cards, packaging, and stickers because even the tiniest details are guaranteed to be sharp and clear.

It is generally a good idea to keep graphic assets as vector files because of its smaller file size compared to a raster image. You can also update and edit vector files with ease as well as export it into any other file type you need anytime.

## What are tools that can convert an image to a vector?

There is a variety of software, both offline and online, that have the ability to export vectors. Some popular professional software are Adobe Illustrator and CorelDRAW. There are also open source and free software like Inkscape and Vectr.

Alternatively, there are a lot of free vector conversion websites where you can upload your image and convert them to a vector image. The downside of using free and automatic conversion tools like them is that __you will not get an accurate image__. Some include watermarks, while some simply do not produce high resolution vectors.

Here are our favorite ways to accomplish the task but still have a great result

### 1) Let someone else vectorize the image for cheap online
Here’s our pro tip: [Redraw from Sticker Mule](https://www.stickermule.com/redraw) converts and upgrades any image to a high resolution, vector graphic. 

[![change jpg png to vector image online with redraw](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/c530e97b-9443-49b2-a8bd-6f47bab5aef6)](https://www.stickermule.com/redraw "Redraw by Sticker Mule - Change any image to a vector")

Redraw eliminates the hassle of tracing, coloring, finetuning, and exporting. Though you may need to shell out a few bucks, Redraw guarantees that it will convert any image into a high-quality vector image that is infinitely scalable! And after that, your new poster, sticker, or billboard will be ready in no time!

### 2) How do you convert .jpg to vector manually?

Well, if you insist on trying to learn the basics of converting vectors manually, you will need graphic design software such as Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW, or Inkscape. Some softwares have a smart tool that helps in automating the process, but not all of them do this. However, there are ways to accurately, albeit manually, convert flat images into vectors. 

1. Using the software of your choice, open your flat image.
2. Create a new layer on top of the image.
3. Using the pen tool, trace your image to create paths and shapes.
4. Use the color picker to accurately fill in the shapes with the colors of your image.
5. Delete or hide the raster image that you traced.
6. On the File drop down menu, select Export, and choose SVG.

### 3) Convert a pdf to vector manually

Converting pdf to vector is similar to the steps described above but it’s easier! Some pdf files preserve the text and have the shapes already defined within the pdf. Luckily, these may have been preserved for editing.

1. Right click on your pdf, and select open in Adobe Illustrator or any software that you are using.
2. Using the selection tool, select the shapes, graphics, images, and text you want to convert.
3. From the Type menu, select create outlines. This converts all the text to paths and shapes.
4. On the File drop down menu, select Export, and choose SVG.

### 4) Convert images to vector in Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator’s image trace feature is one of the quick ways to convert a flat image into a vector image. Here are the steps:

1. Open a new document in Adobe Illustrator.
2. On the menu bar, click on File, and then Place. Find the image you are converting into a vector, then click on the Place button.

![vector-AI-1](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/67accfe9b6b30f5cabf7975f19376500b6665a45)

3. With the image selected using the selection tool, select Image Trace on the Window drop down menu. This will bring up the image trace panel. Make sure to tick the Preview checkbox.
4. On the mode drop down menu, you’ll be able to pick between 3 modes: Colors, Grays, and Threshold. Your selection will activate sliders that have similar functionalities. Select the color mode if you are converting a colored image.

![Convert image to vector step 2](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/fe4f245346e64626e149170050fa5832b1aee80f)

5. Toggle the Advanced menu to activate more fine tuning options. 
6. Adjust the Paths slider to set the number of paths in your design. Fewer paths work for designs that are smoother and simpler, and more paths work for more complicated designs. Adjust according to your image’s complexity.

![Convert image to vector step 3](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/0a91c833e90483e2cf5a6f57cd131671f7acb309)

7. Adjust the Corners slider to control the amount of corners on your design. High corners will make the corners of your design sharper, and low corners for more rounded corners.
8. Adjust the Noise slider to add or eliminate details of your design. Too low on the slider might eliminate details that are important, and too high might add unnecessary details back. Find a good spot that closely depicts your design.
9. Once you think you’re in a good spot, click on Object on the menu bar, and then Expand. You will now see that your image has been successfully converted into paths. 

![Convert image to vector step 4](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/87d764f509e605169d9f185bc531efb2d0b537a0)

You have now successfully converted your image into a vector! It can now be scaled infinitely. You can save your new vector image into an svg file type by exporting it into an .svg file

### 5) Convert images to vector in Photoshop

Since Photoshop was created specifically for photos and raster images, vector images converted using Photoshop will not be infinitely scalable. You will still end up with a vector file type that has a raster image embedded in it. 

However, you will still be able to convert a .jpg or .png file into a vector file like an .svg using Photoshop.

1. Open your image in Photoshop.

![Convert to Vector in Photoshop Step 1 ](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/48507d6873d3a44e229226fc56406bac9ebbc608)

2. Go to File, Export, and then Export As.

![vector-PS-2](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/893bb647915db1a1076b857e6f6aca302ad7d16d)

3. Choose SVG file type.

![Convert to vector in Photoshop step 3](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/75dc09109fd0bec1b22fbfb4310165643e46ee20)

4. Click export.

Remember that although you have a vector file, the raster image is just embedded in it. Your image will not be infinitely scalable and will still have visible pixels when you are scaling up or down.

### 6) Convert your images to vector for free

There are a lot of websites that convert flat images to vectors for free. Some of them go as far as giving the user the ability to input the number of color output, as well as designating a color palette. A couple of the best examples are pngtosvg.com or [adobe convert to svg](https://www.adobe.com/express/feature/image/convert/png-to-svg "convert png to svg"). 

The downside to this is that aside from the webpage being heavy because of numerous ads that pop up all over the site, the output creates imperfect and crooked lines. (And be careful with clicking on those ads too! Sometimes, they may lead you to malicious, virus-ridden websites! Yikes!) 

The converted vector also creates unnecessary extra shapes. You would still need to download and edit the vector image using software to finetune and clean up the vector.

### Converting images to vector: Tips from a designer

Here are some tips on converting a flat image into a vector:

- Converting images into vectors works well for images that are simple, clear, and have minimal colors.
- When manually tracing, zoom in as close as possible so that you are able to follow the lines with better accuracy.
- Use the color picker tool when filling in paths and shapes.
- If the software that you are using has advanced automatic tracing tools, take advantage of it! You will only spend time fine tuning the result
- If you’re not a pro designer, then doing this process manually may not yield the best results. It’s better to take advantage of online tools like Sticker Mule’s Redraw to get that perfect finish! 

## How do you convert an image to a vector without losing quality?

If you have a flat image that you want to convert into a high resolution vector image, consider using Redraw. It will upgrade any image to a high resolution, infinitely scalable, vector graphic. 

With [Redraw](https://www.stickermule.com/redraw), you will be able to increase the quality of any image, regardless of how complicated it is. With Redraw’s flat rate pricing of $14, you will not have to worry about having the right software, manually tracing, and fine tuning your image. You will get to review an online proof to see what your redraw will look like before you pay. You will receive an infinitely scalable, high-resolution vector image without all the hassle!

<ButtonCta text="Try Redraw for $14" size="large" variant="secondary" align="center" href="https://www.stickermule.com/redraw" />

6 free and paid ways to convert png, jpg, or any other flattened image into a vector. Get the high quality image you've been looking for with vectorization by Redraw!

10 cool ways to use custom lapel pins

Some people I know swear [custom lapel pins](https://www.stickermule.com/products/custom-pins) are a perfect, if unconventional, marketing tool — a nifty way to showcase events, increase recognition, and just get your brand out and about with a refreshing mix of elegance and good old shameless marketing.

![customizable lapel pins](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/ee999a16-a0f4-43e4-8f0f-8f873472952d)

And seeing as pins — or, as boomers may prefer, brooches — are [making a comeback](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/24/style/lady-gaga-brooch-brooches-pins-gucci-schiaparelli.html), we thought we'd go over a few uses for them. So, without further ado, here are 10 of the best use cases for custom lapel pins.

### Brand promotion

Pins are great for your marketing packs, as package inserts, and simply as a little extra tool for your publicity repertoire. You can create custom lapel pins with your logo or mascot to build loyalty and reward employees or customers, who will in turn serve as vectors for raising your brand awareness. A nice win-win.

And remember: make them neat enough and you'll have people literally pin-ing for them!

### Fundraising

It's not unheard of for nonprofits and charitable organizations to sell custom lapel pins as a way to raise funds and awareness. Organizations and political movements have used pins as the instrument for campaigns for generations, as further evidenced by the [previous year’s State of the Union](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/state-of-the-union-pins-crayons-1870-buttons-symbols-worn-by-congress/ "state of the union custom lapel pins") address.

### Corporate events

Custom lapel pins are sometimes given away at conferences, trade shows, or networking events. This helps keep your brand in people's minds and can be the pretext for some pretty neat creations. Just check out this [gauntlet pin from the 2018 San Diego Comic Con](https://www.sideshow.com/blog/heres-how-to-get-the-exclusive-pins-from-sideshow-and-court-of-the-dead-at-comic-con-2018/). If that ain't cool, what is?

### Commemorative purposes

Big milestone for your business? Whether for your company's anniversary, a key product launch, or the retirement of a beloved team member, custom lapel pins can be a special way to honor special moments, fostering pride, unity, and identity within your company.

### Awards and recognition

Use custom lapel pins to reward employees for their hard work, dedication, and achievements — in fact, you could do worse than integrate this type of reward into [your company culture](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/how-to-make-company-culture-stick). 

For non-profits, too, lapel pins are a thoughtful way to show how much you appreciate the time and effort of volunteers and donors. And yes, not even the humble pin escapes becoming an [object of controversy](https://www.postguam.com/forum/editorial/private-sector-nonprofit-front-liners-took-risks-deserve-more-than-a-pin) as to whether or not it's a proper way to say thank you. That's the 21st century for you.

### Sports teams

Proud of your team? Puff your chest out and flaunt that pin! Pins can be designed to represent team logos, mascots, or special events. They're a nice way to celebrate the team spirit and camaraderie that bond players, coaches, and fans around a single entity.

![custom lapel pins for clubs](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/938aa89f-4400-48c3-b433-ce3f0a13fc7e)

### Clubs and associations

You don't need to be a freemason with an All-Seeing Eye medallion to want a better way of displaying your affiliations. Custom lapel pins (or, again, brooches!) have been a traditional way for members of clubs, societies, and professional organizations to identify each other and showcase their membership.

### Collectibles

Of course! Ultimately, custom lapel pins are simply cool little objects to have, and many people love collecting and trading them. For some, they're a hobby in itself, for others they're [part of a larger (and expensive-r) addiction](https://www.shopdisney.eu/disney-store-star-wars-pin-set-466043761351.html), and for other people they're simply a nice little touristy souvenir to take home from trips around the world.

### Social and political causes

This is no doubt a classic use for custom lapel pins: expressing support for your pet social or political causes. But while wearing candidate buttons on your lapel was already done way back in the day, it was not until the rise of online shopping and the increase in the popularity of memorabilia shops that [buttons went into high demand](https://www.ohiohistory.org/collection-of-political-buttons-from-president-barack-obamas-2008-campaign/). 

Nowadays, nothing's easier than creating your own custom button for just about any cause close to your heart. You can do it yourself online — check out our [custom buttons](https://www.stickermule.com/custom-buttons) page as a nice place to start.

### Personalized gifts

I don't know about you, but for me getting a personalized lapel pin as a small gift from a friend is particularly heartwarming. (And it's only happened the one time, so please remember me with your next batch.) 

If you're planning on giving custom lapel pins as a gift, well… there's no lack of design ideas out there. Incorporate a person's name (or face), initials, a special message, a symbol, or even a classic movie scene for a unique and certainly memorable birthday, anniversary, or graduation gift.

### And there you have it

Pins are so much fun that some people literally go to [health-damaging lengths](https://thehardtimes.net/culture/local-mans-excessive-enamel-pin-collection-leading-cause-knee-pain-coolness/) to wear and flaunt them. And while we definitely don't recommend adding 80 pounds' worth of pins to your daily garments, the humble pin can be an exquisite — and highly effective — extra touch to your marketing game.

So there you have it, Sticker Mule's top ten custom lapel pin use cases. And those are just off the top of our collective Mule head — we're sure they'll be just the beginning of your pin-tastic acrylic adventures!

<ButtonCta text="Start making your own custom lapel pins today!" href="https://www.stickermule.com/products/custom-pins" />

Custom lapel pins are a great way to make a statement to anyone you come across. Find out some cool unique ways to use custom lapel pins in this post!

How to design mailers

[Poly mailers](https://www.stickermule.com/products/poly-mailers "Custom poly mailers") and [bubble mailers](https://www.stickermule.com/products/bubble-mailers) are great options for shipping physical goods. They're lightweight, weather-proof and great for showing off the personality of your brand.

But your packaging is only as good as your design. Here are some tips for designing custom mailers.

![full bleed custom mailers](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/898974f2-df46-4d4c-86a2-c99a9b913d24)

In this tutorial, we’ll be using Adobe Illustrator as well as online design tools like [Studio](https://www.stickermule.com/studio) – to help make our custom mailers as reality!

##Design the mailers for free online with Studio
![design full bleed bubble or poly mailers in studio for free](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/750aca0d-ef1c-4aee-9272-bb47a3ea9492)
Sticker Mule's [Studio](https://www.stickermule.com/studio) is an innovative and user-friendly platform that brings your creative vision to life! With this cutting-edge design solution, you can effortlessly craft custom full-bleed mailers to elevate your brand's identity and captivate your target audience. Whether you're promoting an event, launching a product, or simply looking to make a bold statement, Studio provides the perfect canvas for your masterpiece. Dive into a world of limitless possibilities as you explore an array of stunning templates, vibrant color palettes, and seamless design capabilities that make creating eye-catching mailers a breeze.

To get started using Studio to design custom mailers;

1. Head on over to Studio's [poly mailer category](https://www.stickermule.com/studio/templates/packaging/poly-mailers "free online templates for poly mailer bags") of free online templates

2. Decide on a template to use

3. Press "start designing"

4. Customize the mailer online for free

5. Press "Order print" on the top right corner to get your custom mailers printed and delivered to you!

That's all it takes! Try it today to see how simple it is to design your own custom mailers with Studio.

## Design mailers in Illustrator
<YouTubeVideo videoId="_setqIszzCc?rel=0" />

### Download a mailer template

First, we need to download the appropriate template. This will ensure that our artwork not only is set up to the correct size, but that nothing gets cropped off by the poly mailer's white border.

[Click here for poly mailer templates.](https://www.stickermule.com/template/poly-mailers)

[Click here for bubble mailer templates.](https://www.stickermule.com/template/bubble-mailers)

[Bubble mailers](https://www.stickermule.com/products/bubble-mailers) offer more insulation and protection than standard [poly mailers](https://www.stickermule.com/products/poly-mailers), but the design process for each is the same.

### Designing your mailers

In this tutorial, I'll be using the smallest sized mailers. Once our template is downloaded, we can open up Adobe Illustrator. In this demonstration, we will be creating a horizontal design. Because of this, our first step will be to rotate the template. Start by going to the artboard tool, making sure your art board is selected and then changing the layout to horizontal.

Next, we need to rotate the actual template. So unlock the instructions layer, select everything. And then while holding shift, rotate the template. Be sure to relock the instructions layer afterwards so that you don't place your artwork in the wrong place. If you're also working with a horizontal design, be sure to make note of which side you want the opening of the mailer to be on. In our case, it'll be on the right. Now with everything set up, we can begin laying out our design.

![how-to-design-mailers-01](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/1dbf623a374d73274695e69f4a537379ba6336c8)

Ours will feature a character, a logo, some text, and a pattern. So to begin, we're going to bring in a few brand elements and put them on the artwork layer. Something you may notice right away is that designs get cropped if they fall outside of the gray box. This represents the printable area. Since poly mailers are printed with a white border, use this as a guide to make sure that nothing important gets cut off. It's also worth noting that the gray box itself won't be printed. So keep it in mind as you're designing that everything behind your artwork will be white.

First, we're going to create a blue rectangle-like shape along the bottom of the mailer. This will hold our logo and our pattern, and it's going to follow the white border that the poly mailer gives us. An easy way to do this is to create a rectangle, then use the direct selection tool to move just one of the anchor points lower. This is what we're after. Let's give it a light blue fill using one of our brand colors.

![how-to-design-mailers-02](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/c476ede9420235e9dd69075a26e824fef04d950f)

Next we'll place our robot character so that it looks like he's standing on this shape. By right clicking and going to a range, we can bring him to the front. He may be a bit too large, so we'll just bring him down a touch as well. And we'll just nudge him over to the side of it and get him right where we want him. Notice how the left side of this character is being lined up right along the border of the printable area, but not going past it. This is to make sure that the character lines up with our wedge shape at the bottom, but isn't cropped off by the white border.

![how-to-design-mailers-03](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/cad8c0525c58ad43a665b74f46e626b10a4ea07d)

Now let's place the logo. So we'll again, arrange it and bring it to the front. And we're going to give it a white film. Now, we want to position it in the bottom right corner, but first we're going to shrink it a bit and line it up with the bottom of our character's feet. We may want to add some more space around the logo later on, but for now, this works. Next, we're going to include some text. This is a great opportunity to inject some personality into the design. Ask yourself, "What would be a fun message for your customers to read?" For the CourierBot brand, we're going to play around with this idea of robots delivering packages to people. Now for CourierBot, we already have a font selected and that's Proxima Soft, extra bold. And since this is clearly too small, we're going to bump it up to 50. Now we'll add in some line breaks and set the letting to something a bit smaller. Perfect.

![how-to-design-mailers-04](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/fe96e0c75ff29cc48bc8801a427c7a3b831c88c4)

Once we have the text arranged how we'd like it, we're going to add some brand colors to it. So for the majority of the text, we'll be using the brown, but we're going to select a couple of keywords and add additional colors. It only seems suited to have cold robot hands as blue and warm human heart as red. Just like that.

![how-to-design-mailers-05](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/0d3d7b2a8cb2c769b2127f91b6a9e4b329e81bf0)

We're also very carefully going to place the block of text right in the corner of the printable area. That way it should line up with our rectangle shape at the bottom. We're not finished yet, but this is a good place to double check that we're happy with the placement of all of our elements. One way to do this is to create a rectangle that's the size of the entire printable area, and then give it a white fill. Now, if we place this rectangle behind the rest of our artwork, we're going to get an idea of what the final printed mailer is going to look like. In the case of our design here, we're just going to make a couple slight adjustments to give some more breathing room to some of the elements and to make sure they're lined up exactly as we'd like.

![how-to-design-mailers-06](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/9242b8449779c42ad81c5eaa8214caeaef4335b4)

Now that we're happy, we can remove that rectangle. It's important that any texts be outlined before sending off to print. Since we're happy with the current layout of ours, it's a good time to do that. Just right click the text and select create outlines. The final step we're going to take in this design is adding a pattern to our light blue shape. This will take some finessing, so we're going to speed through most of it.

![how-to-design-mailers-07](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/7517dcf5e03ec847f5d546104c3e4fd1c0625293)

Once our design is complete, all we need to do is rotate everything back to the original orientation. So grab the art board tool, unlock the instructions layer, switch the orientation back to portrait and then rotate all of our artwork once again. Now let's save our hard work and we're ready to send our design off to print.

### Feeling stuck for ideas?

Here are some other layouts that were great as mailers. Hopefully, they can help inspire your own.

![how-to-design-mailers-08](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/09d4e0e49e68d61dd70503a1aa0f4d9a67e2f155)

If you don't want to have an obvious white border on your mailer, consider placing it on a white background like we've done here.

![how-to-design-mailers-09](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/c11759eb1eff2a60b53e376c2448115b78e0bf94)

Or if you don't want it to matter which angle your package is viewed from, consider a pattern approach, like this.

When in doubt, you can always submit your design as is to Sticker Mule and receive a proof of what it's going to look like. If something doesn't seem right, just request a change and we'll be happy to make it for you.

### Order your own custom mailers

<ButtonCta text="Try custom mailers for $9" size="large" variant="secondary"  align="center" href="https://www.stickermule.com/products/poly-mailer-samples" />

Here are some tips for designing custom mailers and making your packaging stand out.

How to make stickers that sell well online

## Why make stickers?

![why make custom stickers](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/6376b910-e223-441a-9cf1-fce0301b8db5)

I think we can all agree on one thing: [custom stickers](https://www.stickermule.com/custom-stickers "custom printed stickers") are fun. Fun to collect as children, fun to use on our cars and accessories as adults, and fun to give away. And to receive. 

But besides the collectibles, the face stickers, the pet stickers, the football club stickers we plaster around in our homes and belongings — how do we get real-life use and value from stickers?


By selling them, obviously. We know that's why you're here.
 

Whether setting up a [sticker shop on Etsy](https://www.etsy.com/market/sticker_shop), selling office supplies, or simply using stickers as a brand-booster of sorts, you'll find the humble-looking sticker to be a popular item with the potential for some truly stellar ROI.

### Other uses for stickers

It's useful to remember, too, that stickers are a five-star marketing device. Handed out to potential customers, [delivered with product packages](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/how-to-create-package-inserts-that-work), distributed in giveaways, or used as an extra touch to your wrapping game, stickers can be the thing that sets you apart from the pack.


In fact, play your cards right and your clients will be literally sticking your brand to their cars, laptops, water flasks, and whatnot. Just ask Apple.

## How to make stickers

Now, making stickers ain't hard, but you should know what you're doing and yeah, definitely pay attention to a few pesky details.

### Step 1 - Blueprint your sticker

First up — design. If you want to print a sticker, you probably have a good idea of what you want it to look like. You may even have your art or company logo readily available in image format. But can you convert that into a proper printable design?

  

For that, you've basically got two options:

  

- __Design from scratch__: Use Adobe Illustrator to put together your design. Better yet, use Studio — our online, download-free, and money-free design tool. 
- __Use a template__: Inspiration not abundant? We blame the weather. Regardless, Studio has a vast array of design templates for you to use and abuse at will. 
  

And well, yes, there is that third option — hire a fancy graphic designer to put together your nifty, shiny design. Or a non-fancy, underpaid, overworked, doomed-to-poverty designer. 

  

Sorry, that got a little existential.

#### Bonus tip: Design with the times

Here's a little extra idea for selling stickers: Tap into recent events, upcoming holidays, or even pop culture moments for some guaranteed best-sellers. 

  

Even if you only plan to use your custom stickers for brand recognition, adding holiday themes for a little variety in that stickery mix is always something your customers will appreciate.

### Step 2 - Decide on printing — home or online?

Ah, yes, the old question.

### Printing at home

Depending on what kind of printer you have at home or in your office or shop, you may want to consider printing and preparing your stickers yourself.

  

__Pros__: It's cheaper for small quantities and you get your stickers right away.

__Cons__: Your stickers won't last as long, quality will be inferior, and you [risk depleting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ego_depletion) your every-dwindling patience supplies in case your printer acts up.

  

And trust us, your printer will act up.

### Printing online
![print stickers online at stickermule](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/49695e32-b3a2-436e-af00-bd6c305fd7b7)

For most cases, and especially if you're looking to print quality stickers in large quantities to sell, you may find [printing online](https://www.stickermule.com/ "print stickers") is the best option.

  

__Pros__: You save time, save money on larger orders, and — of course — get great quality and versatility (hey, that's what we do for a living!).

__Cons__: We may not be fully impartial here, but we can't really think of any cons to online printing. Unless you spent a ton of money on a deluxe printer that you won't get to use. Sorry.

### Step 3 - Pricing your stickers

Whether sold online, at events, or in your physical store, stickers usually cost something around $2-6. The material (vinyl quality), sticker type (static clings, anyone?), and size are all factors to account for. Plus, of course, how much you paid to get them made in the first place

  

A good best practice when selling stickers is to create progressive discounts — larger purchases get lower per-sticker prices.

### Step 4 - Where will you sell your stickers?

Your shiny new stickers are ready to be passed on to happy purchasers everywhere! Time to choose the venue for your sticky commercial activities. 

#### Etsy

Etsy is a favorite for individual designers who are just dipping their toes in the world of e-commerce, but it's also a great marketplace in its own right. Check out our [guide on how to get started with Etsy](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/how-to-sell-on-etsy-a-guide-for-designers) — it might be just the thing for you.

#### eBay

Look for stickers on eBay and you get [over 2 million results](https://www.ebay.com/b/stickers/bn_7024805278). And while that could seem discouraging at first glance, it shouldn't be. Find a good niche for your stickers, provide top-notch customer support and delivery times, and you just may find yourself in eBay's[ TopRated Seller Program](https://www.ebay.com/sellercenter/protections/top-rated-program) — a recipe for success.

#### Amazon

As vast a territory as the rainforest itself, it can be just as hard to find your bit of sunlight on Amazon. Getting ahead of the competition will mean a lot of work with SEO, listings, and ad campaigns, but make it to the top and you'll find the world's biggest online marketplace brings the rewards of a true El Dorado.

  

Amazon can be a fantastic choice if you need another company to take care of fulfillment for you, or if you intend to sell with print-on-demand.

#### Your own website

You might already be doing this if you already have your own online shop; if not, it's always an option to consider as your custom sticker business begins to gain steam. 

  

Besides advantages such as fewer fees (or none), selling on your own website is also seen by many as a mark of success in business and will set you apart as a confirmed merchant of sticker happiness.

  

Finally, keep in mind none of the above options are mutually exclusive. You can get started with just one and end up selling on as many platforms as you can profitably manage.

### Step 5 - Keep making them stickers!

The final step is… keep at it. Create new designs on a regular basis to give previous customers something new to look forward to, as well as to expand your reach and tap into other sticker niches.

  

Finally, don't let initial inconveniences or setbacks discourage you. Keep what works, ditch what doesn't. Be patient, work hard on your designs, allow time to bring you the desired results — and then, be sure, the results will come.

<ButtonCta text="Start making custom stickers today!" href="https://www.stickermule.com/custom-stickers" />

Selling stickers online is a great way to make some extra money. Here are a few tips on how to make stickers that sell really well online!

Packaging your Etsy products: Tips, tricks, and ideas to stand out

What happens after you spend hours perfecting your products, setting up your store, and marketing your products on Etsy?

The coveted sale!

Whether you’re just starting out as an [Etsy](https://www.etsy.com/ "etsy marketplace") seller or you’re a pro with thousands of customers, branding and packaging your products can take your store to the next level, increase customer love and loyalty, and bring in new business through referrals.

For example, if you’ve ever opened an Apple product, you can tell the company puts a lot of thought into their brand and packaging. The design of the boxes carefully contour the products and everything fits perfectly. It’s clean, neat and simple yet feels techy and fancy.

How a product is packaged often leaves a satisfied thought in the buyer's mind that [affects how they see that company](http://marketingzeus.com/article/increase-your-perceived-value-increase-your-sales) in the future, how they talk about it with others and their possible future orders.

> When you make your customers smile even after the sale they are more likely to spend money with you in the future.”

## Impressing your customers

Etsy is the most creative community of homemade sellers online. Your buyers appreciate creativity and talk about the products they find. Few online communities and stores rely so much on word-of-mouth as Etsy does, so it makes sense to take extra measures to delight customers in that way. 

How you brand and package your product is a simple way to ensure future orders and get satisfactory feedback on your sales. Remember, your reviews are key to showing others how great your product is and give others confidence that they’ll have an equally rewarding experience when buying from you. 

This can be done without a huge investment and goes a long way in impressing customers. 

Impressing customers with a great buying experience does not need a huge investment and can be done with a few simple tricks and hacks to your packaging and “unboxing”.

Below we’ll look at how to create or update your branding and packaging to delight your customers and get more sales.

## What is branding & how can you do it well?

![Branded packaging tape example](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/7b1c61ad234fb13e557fe4f7c33adcd9ea7f7ed4)

**What company offers Free 2 Day Shipping to their premium customers?** 

**Amazon**- of course. They’ve gone out of their way to make sure the world knows that if you sign up as a Prime customer, you’ll always get 2 day shipping. 

They’ve branded themselves well (with a little help of their iconic [custom packaging tape](https://www.stickermule.com/products/packaging-tape "custom shipping tape")) as the go to place for online shopping that doesn’t take forever to get in hand. Whenever their customers go online to look for a product, they know to check Amazon because they already get awesome shipping. 

You can do something similar with your store. [Custom packaging](https://www.stickermule.com/custom-packaging "custom packaging") helps people think of for a certain product or service when a particular problem comes to mind. 

Every time your business interacts with the buyer, or gets in front of them (with one of your purchases) you have the opportunity to help them remember you for next time. 

So you want to make sure they are: 

1. Enjoying the emails, packaging and buying process with your business.
2. Making a connection with you and your store that they’ll remember later.

## 6 simple ways to improve packaging for Etsy sales 

![Branded salt scrub packaging](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/dfe751a707a8bc3d560c6b56689bf2c05c8de5e4)

1. **Wrap or bag your products before placing them in a shipping container.** When you take extra care to double package like this, your buyers will see that you take pride in your work. 
2. **Dress it up.** Decorate with [stickers](https://www.stickermule.com/custom-stickers "custom stickers"), stamps, ribbons, ties, drawings, tags, or other small embellishments that show you’ve taken extra time to care about their orders. 
3. **Use eco friendly products.** Buyers are becoming more aware of their carbon footprints, and especially appreciate sellers that understand this. Use paper instead of plastic and reusables (like cloth bags) when you can. 
4. **Keep it safe.** While remembering to be eco friendly, take extra care when you are packaging fragile items. 
5. **Keep it secure.** While some products aren’t fragile, they might still be damaged in shipping- ripped paper, untied bows, wrinkled, etc. Always go beyond what you need to, to make sure you ensure a quality experience for your customer. 
6. **Surprise them.** People love to get surprises. You can include little gifts as a thank you, without breaking the bank. A popular way to do this is to include something related to your brand, so that it works for multiple purposes.

## 6 tips for branding your Etsy products

![Packaging box with branded stickers](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/3f995e8da431bcc157e29ee0cf172dbb3e2a523a)

1. **Have a professional logo and official business name.** People need something to recognize. Choose a name and logo that accurately depicts your business. You can get creative too with a logo shape that represents what you’re selling.
2. **Use your company name and logo in all of your communications.** Consistency is key! Your customers will appreciate the simplicity and predictability when you use your company name and logo in your emails, on invoices, in shipping and on receipts. 
3. **Place your logo or brand name on all items.** Use your logo in strategic ways by branding your box as it travels across the country, attach close your tissue paper inside, or to fix instructions to your products such as packaging, item tags, price tags and directions. 
4. **Give the gift with branding.** A simple way to delight your buyers is to include a small gift. This could be [stickers](https://www.stickermule.com/custom-stickers "custom stickers"), bags, stationery, or a promotional item.

Here is a tweet of a consumer talking about how she loves getting stickers in her orders:

!["Getting stickers with my order makes me your customer forever"](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/4afde1dd320c0104306be6fb35004d7b367ee701)

And, in this article by Shopify, they discuss how [using small gifts and packaging inserts help your brand to meet or exceed expectations](https://www.shopify.com/blog/18989252-5-ways-to-use-packaging-inserts-to-increase-customer-loyalty-and-revenue) with your customers.

5. **Stay on theme.** Keep your colors, graphics, and style on theme. A simple style will present a professional brand that consumers are more likely to trust and will make it easier for them to identify and recall your store when you send promotional emails or ask for a review.
6. **Decorate the outside.** especially in bigger cities, this is really common for companies to put their logos and brand names on the outside of the box, make sure it’s easy to understand what your company offers from the logo/name, so it works as an advertisement for you.

Here’s a great article by Everything Etsy where they share some [creative packaging ideas](http://www.everythingetsy.com/2014/02/16-packaging-ideas-etsy-sellers/) or popular Etsy shops. 

## Getting started With stickers & labels for branding & packaging

![Branded beard oil packaging](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/4569c5e62eeca92471a4193c9d4a1c8f6c9b1aa1)

**Decide what you need, by asking yourself:**

* Where can I use labels for my products? This is a good question if you sell products that come in bottles or jars. 
* Do I want stickers for my packaging? This is an especially good option if you are shipping to large cities. 
* Would my customers enjoy stickers of my logo or brand? 
* Do I want to include stickers for every order or just orders over a certain amount? 
* How many labels or stickers will I need for a few months of orders?

**Get your design**- If you don’t already have a logo or design for your Etsy business, there are a lot of design tools you can use. Check out our free design tool, [Studio](https://www.stickermule.com/studio). 

**Place your order**- When you have your design ready and you know how many labels and stickers you want to order, you can choose the type of [label](https://www.stickermule.com/custom-labels "custom labels") or [sticker](https://www.stickermule.com/custom-stickers "stickers online") you want and upload your design. 

## Conclusion
By branding your Etsy products and shop, your buyers will see you as a professional and legitimate store that appreciates their customers and strives to impress them. Go ahead and use some of the tips we’ve shared above, like decorating, or being creative with your packaging and shipping. 

<ButtonCta text="Start making custom packaging for Etsy" href="https://www.stickermule.com/custom-packaging" />

Learn how to improve packaging your etsy products to increase future sales with these neat ideas.

Posts by Sticker Mule