History of political stickers, bumper stickers, and campaign buttons

People have been using "slogans" since the beginning of history—that is, pithy, memorable phrases used to rouse crowds to action or gain support for a cause. From battle cries to country mottos, people have always rallied around catchphrases to prove where their loyalties lie. From the ancient Roman motto "Senatus Populusque Romanus" ("The Senate and the People of Rome") to Napoleon Bonaparte's war cry "Vive l'Empereur" ("Long Live the Emperor"),  people—and governments—around the world have historically condensed their causes to just a few words that inspire allegiance and intimidate opponents.

In American society and government, this human tendency towards rallying around a few well-chosen words and phrases has taken a distinct form: that of political slogans. Phrases such as "I like Ike" or "Happy Days are Here Again" had an incalculable effect on the campaigns in which they featured and continue to play a huge role in the public consciousness. Instrumental rallying cries like "No taxation without representation" or "The buck stops here" have proved invaluable to whole political movements. In the modern age, we still rely on slogans and catchphrases—but the ways we choose to display them have changed significantly throughout the years.

## Campaign Buttons
Moving through history, people found that merely repeating a catchphrase or slogan verbally (as in the case of a war cry) was not enough; they wanted to be able to physically display which side of the issue they stood on (and to potentially attract new converts to their cause). Politically, this physical representation first came in the form of buttons—ordinary brass buttons like you might find on any blazer or uniform. These brass buttons served as commemorative tokens for political efforts as early as George Washington's presidency in 1789.

![George Washington Inaugural Button](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.stickermule.com/blog/2016-01-15-the-history-of-political-stickers/george-washington-button.png "George Washington Inaugural Button, 1789")

_George Washington Inaugural Button, 1789_ ([Source](https://historical.ha.com/itm/political/george-washington-inaugural-button-wi-11a-gw-1789-7-in-copper-designated-the-gw-in-oval-center-or-more-commonly-the-/a/333-16001.s))

Perhaps the first real presidential campaign (where opponents made public efforts against one another to win votes from the public) was in 1828 when Andrew Jackson ran against John Quincy Adams. Jackson, who had previously lost the election of 1824, was driven by his defeat to actively and aggressively campaign for voters' attention. Jackson's efforts included parades, events, and lots and lots of memorabilia. Along with snuff boxes, flasks, and various other trinkets, Jackson gave out many campaign medals and buttons in order to remind people of his military successes and seek votes.

![Andrew Jackson Campaign Medal](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.stickermule.com/blog/2016-01-15-the-history-of-political-stickers/andrew-jackson-medal.png "Andrew Jackson Campaign Medal, 1828")

_Andrew Jackson Campaign Medal, 1828 ([Source](http://historical.ha.com/itm/political/tokens-and-medals/andrew-jackson-large-1828-campaign-medal-featuring-jackson-on-horseback/a/6009-48012.s))_

The campaign turned dirty fast, as both candidates set out to discredit one another through rumors and mudslinging. However, Jackson's intense merchandising seems to have been effective, as he defeated Quincy Adams handily. In many ways, this messy campaign set the precedent for all following elections—and in many ways gave rise to the merchandised campaign strategies we see today.

[Campaign buttons](https://www.stickermule.com/uses/campaign-buttons) continued to be a mainstay of political elections, though most only showed an image of the candidate and his name. Images of Lincoln's face on medallions accompanied his run in 1860.

![Abraham Lincoln Campaign Button, 1860](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.stickermule.com/blog/2016-01-15-the-history-of-political-stickers/abraham-lincoln-button.png "Abraham Lincoln Campaign Button, 1860")

_Abraham Lincoln Campaign Button, 1860 ([Source](http://www.loc.gov/resource/ppmsca.19430/))_

Eventually, presidential candidates began placing campaign slogans on buttons rather than just their portraits and a year or phrase. In 1924, Coolidge sought re-election through buttons emblazoned with multiple slogans including "Deeds, not words" and "Keep Cool-idge."

![Calvin Coolidge Campaign Buttons, 1924](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.stickermule.com/blog/2016-01-15-the-history-of-political-stickers/calvin-coolidge-button.jpg "Calvin Coolidge Campaign Buttons, 1924")

_Calvin Coolidge Campaign Buttons, 1924 ([Source](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2195614/Fasen-nating-Campaign-buttons-stick-generations-politics-Abraham-Lincoln-Mitt-Romney.html))_

Printing catchy slogans on campaign buttons quickly became par for the course in politics, with what is perhaps the most famous one appearing in 1952: the unforgettable "I Like Ike" buttons and merchandise that accompanied the political draft and presidential run of Dwight Eisenhower.

## Bumper Stickers
Dwight Eisenhower's campaign also marked the beginning of another long-lasting trend in political slogans: bumper stickers. [Bumper stickers](https://www.stickermule.com/products/bumper-stickers) were first invented after Ford came out with the Model A in 1927, and other companies were scrambling to produce similar cars. While previous models had much smaller bumpers, the large bumpers of the Model A seemed to invite decoration—and so, as simple as that, the bumper sticker was born.

![Ford Model A, 1927](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.stickermule.com/blog/2016-01-15-the-history-of-political-stickers/ford-model-a.jpg "Ford Model A, 1927")

_Ford Model A, 1927 ([Source](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/1928_Model_A_Ford.jpg))_

Eisenhower's campaign bumper stickers—decorated with the famous "I Like Ike" slogan as well as other campaign catchphrases—were among the first in what would become a long string of political bumper stickers (one that continues to this day). Eisenhower would successfully employ the same strategy in his 1956 re-election campaign, and virtually every presidential candidate since has used bumper stickers as a part of their campaigns.

![Eisenhower Re-Election Bumper Sticker, 1956](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.stickermule.com/blog/2016-01-15-the-history-of-political-stickers/ike-and-dick.jpg "Eisenhower Re-Election Bumper Sticker, 1956")

_Eisenhower Re-Election Bumper Sticker, 1956 ([Source](http://www.britannica.com/event/United-States-presidential-election-of-1956/images-videos/Dwight-D-Eisenhower-reelection-bumper-sticker-1956/72256))_

From this straight-forward beginning, bumper stickers evolved to help people convey not just support for political candidates, but also their own personal, overarching political beliefs. Coinciding with the divisive Vietnam War of the late 50s, 60s, and 70s, bumper stickers covered the entire political spectrum, from pacifist sentiments like  "Make Love Not War" to the staunchly patriotic "America: Love it or Leave It."

## Bumper Stickers Today

Since then, [bumper stickers](https://www.stickermule.com/products/bumper-stickers) have proved to be a lasting and effective tool of political rhetoric as well as personal expression, despite the fact that they are often divisive. In fact, bumper stickers were taken to court in 1991 with the case of Baker v. Glover in Alabama. In this case, Wayne Baker fought for his right to keep a bumper sticker on his car despite the fact that it contained a curse word which many people found offensive. The court ruled that bumper stickers are an essential component of freedom of speech. In the ruling, Judge Myron Thompson stated that "for those citizens without wealth or power, a bumper sticker may be one of the few means available to convey a message to a public audience." In the eyes of the U.S. Government, bumper stickers are a perfectly legitimate way to display one's opinion, political or otherwise.

People share their political beliefs freely on the backs of their cars. Every modern presidential campaign is accompanied by numerous bumper stickers, usually designed to appeal to many different target audiences. Sometimes these stickers are official marketing tools of the campaigns, other times they are humorous spin-offs or parodies of political slogans.

![anti bush bumper stickers](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/5acd8a98-19ba-43b8-8527-73c2ac3a0430)
![Anti obama bumper sticker](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.stickermule.com/blog/2016-01-15-the-history-of-political-stickers/nobama-08.jpg "Anti-Bush bumper sticker")

_Anti-Bush and Anti-Obama bumper stickers mimic the designs of the official campaigns. ([Source](https://www.flickr.com/people/92258912@N00) and [Source](http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2082152/posts?page=133))_

To some historical and political analysts, this poses a problem. They've coined a term— "bumper sticker politics" — to describe the way that people will rely on slogans they have read or soundbites they have heard rather than taking the time to research the issues at play themselves. Others are concerned about the way that politicians seem to have become more concerned with branding and marketing than with actual content. 

It seems to many that the bumper sticker-ization of American politics has made it too easy for people to generalize views by narrowing them down to a pithy slogan or eye-catching design. Of course, this isn't a new phenomenon; public opinion has always been formed, at least in some part, through the chanting of catchphrases, slogans, war cries, and mottoes. Bumper stickers didn't cause a new way of thinking about the world—they just gave people a different way of expressing it.

## "I Voted"
Another interesting way that stickers have played into American politics is through the omnipresent "I Voted" stickers that are given out at the voting booths for every election from Town Council Chairman to President of the United States. These stickers first appeared in the 1980s as a way to encourage voting and advertise to potential voters, but with the advent of social media in the early 2000s, these stickers came more and more into the public focus. Today, people immediately post their "I voted" sticker selfie online to sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter mere moments after walking out of the voting booth.

![I Voted sticker](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.stickermule.com/blog/2016-01-15-the-history-of-political-stickers/i-voted-sticker.jpg "I Voted sticker")

_"I Voted" sticker ([Source](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-shayne/sticker-shock_b_6076508.html))_

As with most phenomena, some people are excited about this trend while others view it as a harbinger of society's downfall... In a 2014 article titled ["Why I Hate 'I Voted' Stickers"](http://nypost.com/2014/11/05/why-i-hate-i-voted-stickers/), the NY Post's Kirsten Fleming talks about the way these stickers have come to represent a "smug, self-congratulatory ethos" when it comes to something that should be the obligatory duty of a citizen anyway." On the other side of the argument,  Derek Thomson argues that "that the sticker "binds people together in solidarity and reminds others to join the group" in a 2012 article for The Atlantic titled ["Why the 'I Voted' Sticker Matters."](http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/11/why-the-i-voted-sticker-matters/264628/) One thing is certain—elections are hard to ignore or forget when everyone you see on the street (or on your Instagram feed) sports these American flag-emblazoned little crests.

## Stickers Throughout American History
Who knew that something as small and seemingly harmless as a button or sticker could have such a huge effect on an entire country? While we spend a lot of time talking and arguing about politics, we rarely give thought to the small things that shape our society. However, [buttons](https://www.stickermule.com/custom-buttons) and stickers have become as important and influential to our political system as war cries were to ancient societies. They've become something we rally around and display proudly—and something that probably influences us far more than we realize when we're not paying attention.

![Logos for 2016 Presidential candidates ](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.stickermule.com/blog/2016-01-15-the-history-of-political-stickers/logos-presidential.jpg "Logos for 2016 Presidential candidates")

_Logos for 2016 Presidential candidates ([Source](http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/03/politics/2016-logos/))_

There are countless ways to promote your favorite campaign, candidate, or cause using [custom stickers](https://www.stickermule.com/custom-stickers "print custom stickers") and [campaign buttons](https://www.stickermule.com/uses/campaign-buttons "custom campaign buttons"). Check out different ways Sticker Mule can help you get out the vote.

<ButtonCta text="Create your own campaign buttons today!" href="https://www.stickermule.com/uses/campaign-buttons" />


Join us as we explore the history behind different famous political slogans & stickers, political bumper stickers ,and campaign buttons.

Stickers that sparkle ✨ Glitter stickers are now available!

While some people don’t like the number 13, we're super excited to have fulfilled our customers' needs for 13 amazing years. Sticker Mule was formed to be the best way to [print stickers](https://www.stickermule.com/) online and is now one of the world’s leaders in all online printing. It's been a fun ride, and that's what we're all about: good old-fashioned fun.

I mean, what could be more fun than making custom stickers as a business? And not just. Posters, decals, labels, packaging tape, keychains — our product line is constantly expanding. 

And guess what, now there's even more fun on the horizon with our newest product: [custom glitter stickers](https://www.stickermule.com/products/glitter-stickers "custom printed glitter stickers")!

<YouTubeVideo videoId="WYQQZKZRoSg" />

These sprightly little fellas are the sticker equivalent of popping a confetti cannon at a lively party — they tone up the fun-o-meter a couple of notches and make everyone smile. 

Want to be part of our product launch? Then let's find out what our glitter stickers are all about.

### Why glitter stickers?

![why choose custom glitter stickers that sparkle](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/30be1093-1266-4643-8360-69679b6e7d2d)

Over the past decade, sticker marketing became a thing when businesses began trying different, more cost-effective ways to advertise. Inexpensive and easily shareable, stickers were the perfect solution. Now businesses all over the world add free logos or brand stickers to their custom orders as a way to form a positive connection with buyers and help them spread the word.

As for glitter, it hardly needs an introduction. Earlier associated with glam rock and fashion subcultures, glitter has since gone mainstream, and for good reason. It's a great way to add a sparkle of friendliness to just about any product or brand.

Glitter stickers are a surefire way to make your custom art, brand logo, or even pet picture shine. Slap them on a car or laptop and watch how they capture every ray of light — and quite a few smiles too.

### Benefits of custom glitter stickers

![vinyl glitter stickers of a mule with unicorn](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/022580ea-f351-454c-b70c-1d23656e3c62)

One of the best things about our glitter stickers is how incredibly customizable they are. You can order them in all shapes and sizes; we print them circle, rectangle, and square, as well as just about any die-cut format. With our very thorough (and very free!) proofing process, you get to edit your art and printing specifications until your stickers sparkle just the way you want them.

Also, they are Sticker Mule stickers, and if you've been with us for some time, you know that means quality. 

Printed in durable vinyl, our glitter stickers are made to stand the test of weather and water, sunlight and smog, dust, and detergent. They really kind of just stick around, looking as sparkly and new as ever.

All this means that if you want to harness the scintillating visibility and recognition that glitter stickers bring to your brand, there really is no limit to all the creative ways you can use them. Indoors or out.

### How to order your custom glitter stickers

![glitter stickers printing website checkout](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/c8134f73-7070-4ced-a574-e729442f3fe0)

Ordering with Sticker Mule is easy. We understand buying online can be something of a hassle, so we've made sure to simplify our ordering process to its bare essence. You don't even need to create an account, although doing so only takes a minute and allows you to share your sticker art or save it for future reorders.

So it's all very simple. 

1. Select the amount and size of your stickers. 

2. Upload your art and add any printing instructions you have.

3. Check out! It takes only a moment, and you won't be charged yet.

4. Within a few hours, you'll get an email showing just what your stickers will look like printed. Now is the time to request changes to the design (all free) — or give us the green light.

Pretty neat, huh? And believe us, our discounts are pretty neat too. They come in several types:

- __Discounts on order number__: The more you buy, the less you pay per sticker — up to a whopping 87%!

- __Discounts on sticker size__: If you ordered a 5x5'' sticker, but your design turns out to take up 4x4.5'', your price is automatically adjusted to reflect that. And believe us, the difference adds up, especially for larger orders.

- __Discounts on multiple items__: The more individual artworks, sizes, or products you add to your cart, the bigger the discount. 

And of course, we run weekly promotions where our loyal clients get some of the sweetest sticker deals out there. Feel free to go right ahead and subscribe to never miss out on those!

### Customers are already raving about custom glitter stickers

> “Everyone is raving over the quality of the stickers!--- And slapping them on their cars too LOL! I highly recommend to anyone that wants a sticker that holds up to the weather etc. The glitter actually does have a bit of a rainbow affect in certain light.” 
> - Rachel G

check out this review

> “I am so happy with how the glitter stickers turned out that I almost cried!”
> - Heather

or this review too

> “My favorite sticker creation thus far! This is my fourth sticker creation using sticker mule and the glitter stickers are my favorite. the glitter background to my artwork were the finishing touch to make this design pop. I absolutely love everything about this sticker! Thank you sticker mule for all your awesome and affordable deals!”
> -Kandice

### Capping it all off

You can see why we're excited about our latest product launch, and we hope you are too. [Custom sticker glitters](https://www.stickermule.com/products/glitter-stickers "glitter stickers") are a perfect way to promote your brand and give a joyful iridescent rainbow to any design or artwork you love, and we suspect at this point you have at least one design in mind you're just dying to make glittery.

So go right ahead, and order your [custom stickers](https://www.stickermule.com/custom-stickers "custom stickers") now. Get them in a few days with free shipping and enjoy the glittering enthusiasm of Sticker Mule!

<ButtonCta text="Order custom glitter stickers today!" href="https://www.stickermule.com/products/glitter-stickers" />



Sticker Mule is launching custom glitter stickers that sure do sparkle nicely! Find out inside how and why glitter stickers can help elevate your marketing efforts.

How to design business cards with Studio

Learn how to create your own business card design using [Studio](https://www.stickermule.com/studio) – the free online design tool from Sticker Mule.

<YouTubeVideo videoId="3NsH0vA0TY4" />

##Free online business card maker

With Studio by Sticker Mule, designing your own business card takes minutes. Let's create one for a personal trainer. While we can choose to design our business cards from scratch, Studio offers an ever-expanding library of free templates. So we'll start there. We can [find business card templates under branding](https://www.stickermule.com/studio/templates/branding). Already, we're seeing some designs that would work well for a personal trainer. Let's go with this one.

Now that we're in the Studio editor, we can make any necessary changes to the design. To start, let's swap out the text. This business card will be for Herman Mule. And for the title, we'll use a personal trainer. Let's change the phone number and the gym Herman will be operating out of is Hard N Heavy. Let's change the social handle too. Now, this is already looking great and we could stop right here, but let's really make it our own by customizing it.

We can select all the elements and change every instance of blue to a different color. For Hard N Heavy let's go with a deep red. Perfect. Next, let's change the font Arvo seems like it would work well with our gym name, Hard N Heavy. Lastly, let's go into the asset sidebar and see if there's a final way we can customize this design. The emojis and other graphics don't feel like a good fit here, but a line would help to separate the top and bottom portions of the design. Let's use this basic line. We'll move it into place, extend it across the entire design, make it red, and increase the thickness of it. Maybe we could also nudge this kettlebell down so it looks like it's resting on our new line. Great.

Let's select preview to get one last good look at our business card. Looking good, Herman. Once we're happy, we can either download it as one of several formats or select print to place an order. And that's all it takes to make your very own [business card](https://www.stickermule.com/uses/business-card-magnets). We hope you enjoyed this video, and that with Studio, your next design project takes less time and less money. Take care.

<ButtonCta text="Try Studio for Free" href="https://www.stickermule.com/studio" />

Create your own business card design using Studio – the free online design tool from Sticker Mule.

Free business card maker to design business cards online

Make images bigger without losing quality with Upscale

[Upscale](https://www.stickermule.com/upscale) is a free [tool](https://www.stickermule.com/tools) that makes images bigger without losing quality, instantly.

<YouTubeVideo videoId="MnlxadIeVKQ?rel=0" />

Just upload your image and within a few seconds, you’ll be able to download your upgraded larger image. Or you can use your new artwork to order custom stickers and more with a single click.

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




### Why we made Upscale

Some images are small. They're not bad, they're just small. You can save an image to a bigger size, but this just makes each pixel bigger – and you end up with a pixelated, distorted image.

It’s even more problematic if you try to print a low-resolution image ([we recommend artwork be at least 300 ppi](https://www.stickermule.com/support/artwork-ppi)).

Luckily, Upscale makes it easy for anyone to improve the size and resolution of their artwork. Using AI, Upscale creates brand new pixels, allowing your image to be 2x the size with 4x the pixels of the original image.

![make image bigger](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/fdc1721c2cf40d5acff214da986d3a34f8892909)

![make any image bigger without losing quality](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/dfe0e8d36794c08d5193f3772fafbacbe5f15942)

![free tool to make image bigger](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/e1de5023b5e1a0c62adc6ac4fd47134e8f4fdf1b)

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


Want to make an image bigger? Upscale is a free online tool that allows you to make any image bigger without losing quality for free!

How to convert PNG to SVG

Scalable vector graphics or SVGs are made from mathematical paths, allowing them to be scaled infinitely without losing clarity. This makes SVGs and other [vector formats](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/raster-vs-vector-images) superior to PNGs and other raster formats, which are limited by the number of pixels they contain.

To convert PNGs to SVGs, there are a few ways to get this accomplished. You can convert PNGs to SVGs manually through design programs or you can [use an online service like Redraw](https://www.stickermule.com/redraw "convert png to vector online") to create a real vector file from a non-vector image. But whatever you do, be weary of free online services that promise to do it for free in seconds. These services will just change the format of the file without drawing the vector paths that make vectors so valuable.

To help guide you on the journey to get the best possible vector file result, let's go over each method to converting png to svg in a bit more detail.

### Use a vector design app
You can recreate your image in vector format from scratch using an app like [Adobe Illustrator](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/how-to-design-stickers). Recreating artwork takes some design skill, especially for more complex artwork.

![illustrator ui for vectorizing a png image](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/f8e4d8fb61be22f11b5bec2afe27cbdf8643a608)

Once you are done you can export your image as an SVG.

### Use an auto-vectorization tool
Illustrator has an [Image Trace tool](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/how-to-use-image-trace-in-adobe-illustrator), that converts any raster to vector with just a few clicks. The results from this tool (and others like it) vary widely depending on the complexity of your artwork.

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

*Note: there are many tools that technically convert your artwork from PNG to SVG, but just change the file extension – not the artwork itself. You'll need to look elsewhere to obtain a true vector version of your artwork.*

### Use a vectorization service
[Redraw](https://www.stickermule.com/redraw) is a service that upgrades any image into a vector format for a flat rate of $14, regardless of the complexity.

<YouTubeVideo videoId="nr7tGu9yKh4?modestbranding=1&rel=0" />

Upload your PNG, checkout, and within hours you’ll receive an online proof showing your vector graphic will look. You can request changes to the proof for free until you’re happy (or cancel if you’re not happy).

Upon approval, you’ll be able to download the artwork in its new SVG format.

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

Converting PNGs to SVGs doesn't need to be hard and complicated. Find out how to convert any PNG into a SVG with this guide!

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! 

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.

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!

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.

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