How to use Image Trace in Adobe Illustrator 

The Image Trace feature in Adobe Illustrator is a quick way to [convert your image to vector format](https://www.stickermule.com/redraw) for high quality printing at any size.

<YouTubeVideo videoId="AUxtDCyaPFg?rel=0&showinfo=0" />

[Unlike raster images, vector images](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/raster-vs-vector-images) are made up of mathematical paths that allow the design to be scaled infinitely while retaining its quality.

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

*__*Before we begin this very technical article, there is a much easier way for anyone, regardless of skill level, to convert any image to vector and it's called [Redraw by Sticker Mule](https://www.stickermule.com/redraw "convert image to vector online") - and it's just $14!*__



Here’s how to easily convert a raster image into a vector image using the Image Trace tool in Adobe Illustrator:

### Step 1

With the image open in Adobe Illustrator, select *Window* > *Image Trace*

This will bring up the Image Trace panel.

![how to trace an image in illustrator image trace panel](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/619abbac694183e9dc1c3a3b9be10b10097f9fde)

### Step 2

With the image selected, check the *Preview* box. This will give you a live look at your image in vector format. Don’t worry if it doesn’t look great right away – there are more steps to go!

### Step 3

Select the *Mode* drop down menu, and choose the mode that best suits your design.

![color mode options illustrator image trace](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/4633434944619e32569b92ebcfdf7b3ccb29e8c9)

![mode color grayscale black and white options visualized illustrator](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/bdffbcf7fce970bef6bb0945c9eac470e044bb37)

### Step 4

Next, adjust the *Colors*, *Grays*, or *Threshold* slider. This slider will change depending on the mode you select; however the functionality between the 3 sliders remains similar.

*Colors* - Maximum number of colors used for tracing.

*Grays* - Grayscale accuracy from 0 to 100.

*Threshold* - Pixels darker than threshold value are converted to black.

If this is too low, it might make your image too plain. And if this is too high, it could make your image too complex. However, this all depends on your unique image.

![Colors Grays or Threshold slider differences in illustrator image trace](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/d6499caf30e5423c75ed5bc7a6a704dbf3710659)

### Step 5

Toggle the *Advanced* menu down to bring up more options.

![advanced options of image trace in illustrator](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/227adbb1f2baf0d3b0dd8b3c3d456e8bebcd46ae)

### Step 6

Adjust the *Paths* slider.

This sets the number of paths in your design. Fewer paths means a simpler design, but if there are too few of paths it can distort your image or make it appear boxy. Conversely, too many paths can make the edges of your design very rough looking. Again, this all depends on your unique image - so it’s best to find a happy medium.

![how to use the trace paths slider in illustrator image trace](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/e72cc6fbe5a8f0cdff5eeefabde8dbd5054eb047)

### Step 7

Adjust the *Corners* slider.

This controls the amount of corners in your design. Less corners will make the curves of your design more rounded, while more corners will make the curves of your design sharper.

![corners slider meaning and how to use in illustrator trace image](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/2ff4d299985d5edce648f97b932e08a08208f247)

### Step 8

Adjust the *Noise* slider.

The noise slider tells Illustrator to ignore parts of your design that fit within the pixel amount set. A higher amount will result in less noise. This can very useful for eliminating artifacts of your design that aren’t supposed to be there. However, it can also eliminate important parts of your design that are smaller, so as always, find a happy medium that works for your design.

![differences in noise slider threshold in illustrator image trace](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/a71710f369e96889bcd2fe101c3dd5fa1ba6e876)

### Step 9

Click the *Expand* button and save your image as an .ai, .pdf, or .eps file.

Now that you have a vector image, it will look great at any size. You can have it printed as a 1” inch [die cut sticker](https://www.stickermule.com/products/die-cut-stickers)... or an 8 foot [wall graphic](https://www.stickermule.com/products/wall-graphics)!

Simply choose a product and quantity, and upload your file to Sticker Mule as-is. Within a few hours you'll receive a free proof showing you exactly what your design will look like in real life.

### Try Redraw

[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 any image and we'll send you a proof of what your new, vectorized image will look like. You can request changes to the proof for free until you're happy.

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

Learn how to trace an image in illustrator the easy way with a quick video guide to vectorizing images while using Image Trace in Adobe Illustrator!

How to trace an image in Adobe Illustrator the easy way!

Online custom printing service. Specializing in custom stickers, labels, coasters and magnets. Serving companies and individuals around the world.

Sticker Mule

Adobe Illustrator

How to quickly convert your image to vector format for high quality printing at any size using Image Trace in Adobe Illustrator.

How To

How to use Image Trace in Adobe Illustrator

Open Image Trace Panel

With the image open in Adobe Illustrator, select Window > Image Trace

This will bring up the Image Trace panel.

Clip 0

Select The Preview Box

With the image selected, check the Preview box. This will give you a live look at your image in vector format. Don’t worry if it doesn’t look great right away – there are more steps to go!

Clip 1

Select The Mode

Select the Mode drop-down menu, and choose the mode that best suits your design.

Clip 2

Adjust The Colors Slider

Next, adjust the Colors, Grays, or Threshold slider. This slider will change depending on the mode you select, however the functionality between the 3 sliders remains similar.

Colors - Maximum number of colors used for tracing.

Grays - Grayscale accuracy from 0 to 100.

Threshold - Pixels darker than threshold value are converted to black.

If this is too low, it might make your image too plain. And if this is too high, it could make your image too complex. However, this all depends on your unique image.

Clip 3

Open More Options

Toggle the Advanced menu down to bring up more options.

Clip 4

Adjust The Paths

Adjust the Paths slider.

This sets the number of paths in your design. Fewer paths means a simpler design, but if there are too few of paths it can distort your image or make it appear boxy. Conversely, too many paths can make the edges of your design very rough looking. Again, this all depends on your unique image - so it’s best to find a happy medium.

Clip 5

Adjust The Corner Slider

Adjust the Corners slider.

This controls the amount of corners in your design. Less corners will make the curves of your design more rounded, while more corners will make the curves of your design sharper.

Clip 6

Adjust The Noise Slider

Adjust the Noise slider.

The noise slider tells Illustrator to ignore parts of your design that fit within the pixel amount set. A higher amount will result in less noise. This can very useful for eliminating artifacts of your design that aren’t supposed to be there. However, it can also eliminate important parts of your design that are smaller, so as always, find a happy medium that works for your design.

Clip 7

Save The File

Click the Expand button and save your image as an .ai, .pdf, or .eps file.

Now that you have a vector image, it will look great at any size. You can have it printed as a 1” inch die cut sticker... or an 8 foot wall graphic!

Simply choose a product and quantity, and upload your file to Sticker Mule as-is. Within a few hours you'll receive a free proof showing you exactly what your design will look like in real life.

If you're new to sticker design, get started quickly with $10 off your first order. Just sign up by clicking the button below.

Clip 8

A digital image file

Adobe Illustrator Software

A Computer

How to make custom temporary tattoos from a photo

The Sticker Mule array of custom products just got a new addition: [custom temporary tattoos](https://www.stickermule.com/products/temporary-tattoos "custom temporary tattoos")!

![make custom temporary tattoos from photos](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/9616189a-b832-41d0-ae98-97dd7f5ed354)

These newcomers are exactly what the name suggests: tattoos that you get to sport for a couple of days but that, just like an ephemeral Sunday afternoon, will eventually vanish without a trace.

The thing about temporary tattoos: they're a fantastic way to express yourself, with no limits to your creativity — and no commitment to wearing them the rest of your life. 

##Why choose temporary tattoos?

As most millennials will remember, temporary tattoos were big with kids in the '90s, and lately they've found a new burst in popularity — largely [driven by social media and influencer trends](https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/john-yuyi-instagram-artist "social media trends in custom tattoos").

It was time to bring that trend back, as temporary tattoos have plenty of fun applications (no pun intended!). You can use them to:

- Find out __how you would look like with tattoos__ (if you've never got one)
- __Try out a design before you commit__ to getting it inked on your skin forever
- Surprise everyone at work or at a party (and __let them think for a while you got an actual tattoo__)
- Use them as a fun way to incorporate your branding at __parties or events__ — you can even consider swapping party wristbands for party tattoos!
- Copy __tattoos from celebrities__ or movie characters for a bit of cosplay fun (we're partial to the John Wick 'Fortuna Fortis Adiuvat', not gonna lie)
- __Indulge the mean streak in you__ and horrify a purist family member, because why not
- Conversely, if you *are* the purist family member (oops), __let your kids play around with temporary tattoos__ — maybe this will keep them away from the real thing?

But really, the uses you can have for temporary tattoos from photos are limited only to your imagination and to how much fun you're prepared to indulge in.

##Choosing the right photo for your custom tattoo

![choosing the right photo for a custom printed tattoo](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/1508610e-e35b-45b3-9f48-5d4164dc3766)

One thing to keep in mind as you plan your awesome new temporary tattoos: your output is only as good as your input. (Or, as they say, "garbage in, garbage out".)

Here, this means you want to look for high-quality, sharp photos that will print well and look great as a tattoo. If your image has a low resolution or is pixelated, it won't translate well into a printed design — it may look blurry or simply not print clearly enough. 

If you found the perfect photo, but don't have it in a decently-sized file, remember you can leverage our free Upscale service to [increase the resolution of pictures with AI](https://www.stickermule.com/upscale "upscale image ai free").

##Design considerations for temporary tattoos

Keep a few elements in mind when designing your custom temporary tattoos — these will help you get optimal results for your design.

- __Contrast__. A high-contrast image where at least one color pops out from the rest is a great way to craft a compelling and attention-grabbing tattoo.
- __Silhouette__. The more nitid a silhouette you get, the better your tattoo will look on your body. You want it to show clearly, not edges that fade into your skin.
- __Visual hierarchy__. Make sure you plan what parts of the tattoo you want to give more emphasis to, and which ones will be more immediately visible. For that, you can benefit from our free proofing process, which gives you a chance to check out your design before pulling the trigger on your custom tattoo order.
- __Color choices__. There is [plenty to be said about colors](https://www.glamour.com/gallery/cute-watercolor-tattoo-ideas "colorful tattoo ideas") and their impact on your tattoo design. For instance, small tattoos don't do so well with too many colors (as they can blend into each other and lose their sharpness); grey and black can be great for intricate, contrast-replete designs, and so on. One thing to note is that if there are [any white segments in your tattoo, they will print as transparent/see through](https://www.stickermule.com/support/can-you-print-white-ink-on-custom-temporary-tattoos "what happens when you print white ink on custom tattoos").
- __Scale/detail interplay__. More intricate designs tend to do better for larger tattoos, whereas less detail-rich graphics can be printed in a wider variety of sizes.
- __Design elements__. Pay attention to how the different design elements come together to form a nice tattoo. Lines, space, texture, balance, movement — these and other aspects will help in creating a tattoo that truly stands out.

##Using design software to create your tattoo

There is no shortage of options for designing your custom temporary tattoo. If Photoshop is your thing, you can of course craft your design there.

However, in case you're looking for an easier-to-use option, you'll find [Studio by Sticker Mule](https://www.stickermule.com/studio "free online design tool for printing") is a handy tool that should more than meet your requirements. 

Studio is:

- __Browser-based__, meaning you can use it on pretty much any device
- Requires __no downloads__
- Allows you to __order with just a couple clicks__ once you finish your design
- Is free!

##Step-by-step guide on transforming a photo into a tattoo-ready design
![custom tattoo online design tool free](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/78772eaa-f46a-4ae4-8134-98825ba2f9d7)

Depending on the picture in question, it can be easy enough to make it into a design ready for your skin. But regardless of difficulty, the following steps should see you through to your desired goal:

1. To begin with, __clean up your image__. This likely means removing any background that interferes with your design — and here, too, you can benefit from Sticker Mule's very own [background remover tool](https://www.stickermule.com/trace "free background remover").
2. __Adjust the contrast and saturation__. Make sure your design gets to the desired level of sharpness and color intensity.
3. __Upscale your image__. If your image has a low PPI (pixel per inch) ratio, you may want to upscale it using our AI-leveraged tool, [Upscale by Sticker Mule](https://www.stickermule.com/upscale "upscale image for free with ai"). This only takes a minute and can significantly improve your final result.

##Preparing your design for printing

With your image looking just the way you want it, it's time to prepare it for printing. This is a simple enough process:

- Make sure the __file format is an accepted one__. At Sticker Mule, we work with most common formats such as .jpg, .png, and .img.
- Preferably, use [vector artwork](https://www.stickermule.com/support/file-formats "best practices when printing with vector file formats"). If your file is not vector, it should have a PPI ratio of 300 or more
- Make sure your graphic __margins are not too large__
- Submit your design and sit tight — our team will get back to you with a __digital proof showing what your print will look like__

Additionally, you may want to try doing a test print on paper with your home printer before you approve the proof and we start the production process. If, as usual, your home printer isn't working, just chuck it out the window and proceed with your order. You should be fine!

###Creating a design from scratch

While [Studio](https://www.stickermule.com/studio "free online design studio") may be super easy to use for creating tattoos from photos, sometimes it may be hard to get the creative juices flowing if you are designing a brand new design from scratch. In that case, a little-known trick to spudding potential custom tattoo designs is that you can hire professional digital artists to [design custom tattoos for you for as little as $5](https://www.fiverr.com/categories/graphics-design/tattoo-design "hire professional designers for tattoos"). 

Even if you don’t like the final result, the whole process can still be rewarding by helping you fine-tune your idea so you can eventually get an amazing result from what was just a little seed of an idea!

##Applying your custom temporary tattoo
![custom temporary tattoos application](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/7c865f48-b191-4277-903c-cfe12c9a5414)

Now I hear you say, "This is just a temporary tattoo — no brainer!" Well, yes, but keep a couple things in mind to avoid smudging your design, ensure your tattoo keeps looking great on your skin for a little longer, and ensure safety.

- Make sure you __clean the area of application__ beforehand. Consider using a light moisturizer half an hour before you apply your tattoo
- __If you have thick/coarse hair, shave the area__ in question before application
- __Avoid heat, water, or dirt__ in the tattoo area for a couple of minutes after applying
- If you're concerned about potential allergic reactions, __try testing the tattoo on a small patch of skin__ before making the final application. If you're allergic to adhesive, avoid applying to sensitive or broken skin areas

When your temporary tattoo has served its term and it's time to take it off, any of the below methods works fine (and better than soap and water, which we don't recommend):

- Baby oil/olive oil/other analogous oils
- Rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer
- Scotch tape (but if you have thick hair, [you know what to expect](https://youtu.be/6CTSUjT4Xuk?si=yb7a9HVe1zg618xC&t=44 "funny ripping hair scene from 40 year old virgin")!)

##Creative uses for your custom temporary tattoos
![custom fake tattoos from sticker mule](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/ff1940d0-2578-412e-a7a2-360147816c95)

There is no lack of creative ideas for your temp tattoos. Try these personal ideas:

- Give out as swag to promote your own personal brand
- Flaunt at festivals and parties
- Experiment and test your looks before committing to a real tattoo
- Incorporate as part of your cosplay
- Challenge yourself or friends to wear bold tattoos publicly — for a day!
- Have fun with your kids
- …and many more!

And that's not all. Temporary tattoos also have quite a few professional applications, not least of which is their use as branding for business, in giveaways, as part of promotional events or commemorations, and, of course, as merchandise.

##Conclusion

Just as with any of our other main products, [custom temporary tattoos](https://www.stickermule.com/products/temporary-tattoos "custom temporary tattoos") are above all about having fun. Whether as a conversation starter or a way to have a few laughs with friends, temporary tattoos are the perfect way to exercise your creative side a little.

Now is the time to tap into your creativity and explore new avenues for your style. Try our custom temporary tattoos — the quality is on us, and the fun is on you!

<ButtonCta text="Create your own custom tattoos from photos today!" href="https://www.stickermule.com/products/temporary-tattoos" />

 Learn to transform any photo into a custom temporary tattoo with our easy guide. Perfect for personal use or events. Click for full instructions!

Step-by-step campaign marketing guide using custom buttons

Do pin-back buttons win campaigns? Well, if you're looking to gain an edge for your campaign, they just might be the answer!

[Campaign buttons](https://www.stickermule.com/uses/campaign-buttons "custom campaign buttons for politics") are a quirky way to grab people's attention and __they boost voter turnout__. And if you get your messaging right, you might just end up creating an iconic piece of American history.

![i like ike custom campaign button slogan](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/487149d6-4c59-4d42-8bd9-250ab49da208)

Their appeal is easy to understand. Pinback buttons are an easy, but subtle way to convey support for your politician of choice. Often, a person who would rather not flaunt their political allegiances in yard signs or car decals will still be open to the discrete, but firm political messaging that campaign buttons offer.

This, by the way, is key. If you're planning to add pinback buttons to your campaign swag items, it goes without saying you want to focus on your messaging. A campaign button may be a simple enough object, but if done well it is an amalgamation of your entire strategic planning. Let's find out how.

##Step 1: Establishing the foundation: Identifying key issues and messaging

![political canvassing with custom campaign buttons](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/c5cad06e-f26b-4668-8bb0-22b0e6b81457)

Your messaging is only as effective as the issues underlying it. This means to craft a powerful and compelling narrative, you will need a wide grasp of your voters' preferences: what they're happy and unhappy about, what they fear most, what impacts their day-to-day lives and well-being the most.

This, of course, is politics 101. But it's still worth emphasizing.

- Getting into the hearts and minds of people is what canvassing is all about:
- Going from door to door
- Getting to know the people who'll be (hopefully) electing you
- Finding out what matters to them.

This is also where you'll want to harness the [power of polling](https://www.pewresearch.org/course/public-opinion-polling-basics/ "power of polling in political campaigns"). Polling is one of the most impactful political institutions brought to us by the last century. It's your best systematic tool for __gauging preferences on a large scale__ and avoiding deadly biases, and __should not be disregarded__ no matter whether you're running for state attorney, councilman, or even a seat in Congress.

###Campaign pin-up buttons in practice

Want to see an example of proper political messaging? Look at Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign. 

Take the issue in everyone's mind — the economy, as the US was in the midst of a recession. Polling amply confirmed that [82% of US voters found the economy to be either fairly or very bad](https://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/03/us/the-1992-campaign-poll-in-poll-voters-are-unhappy-with-all-the-choices.html#:~:text=The%20level%20of%20concern%20about%20the%20economy%20remains%20remarkably%20high%3A%2082%20percent%20say%20it%20is%20either%20%22fairly%20bad%22%20or%20%22very%20bad.%22 "when polling is bad using messaging"). Then take the need to deliver a pithy, convincing message, and remember brevity is the soul of wit. 

Mix all these ingredients and we get the famous slogan: "It's the economy, stupid."

That's the sort of message you aim for. Short, yes. But very, very well-planned.

###Other prominent examples
![gallery of campaign buttons throughout usa history](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/a76b6314-a0a6-45ee-84c2-119fe48cd8e1)

Let's go over a few more historical instances, shall we?

- A message that seeks to inspire: The Obama "Hope and Change" slogan button
- A recovery promise: Reagan's "Let's Make America Great Again", repurposed and made famous by Trump's 2016 campaign
- A bit of humor: Nixon's "They Can't Lick Our Dick" campaign button (Yes, seriously.)
- And finally, a good apolitical example: Wendy's 80s "Where's The Beef?" button

##Step 2: Creating impactful campaign buttons
So campaign buttons are essential to political messaging. Why? A few reasons. 

- They're inexpensive
- Easy to produce
- Easy to wear 
- They are a quiet way to express support

Plus, they're a great little thing to hand out in canvassing, in campaign committee meetings, or to friends and acquaintances. 

Most importantly, they are a neat little mobile packaging of your political campaign: name, logo, voting date, slogan, and party colors. All of these can be combined to make the perfect campaign button.

###Craft a button your grandson will want
![custom buttons that make a grandfather and grandson happy](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/a88a3daa-cdac-460b-a3b5-60479aae9273)

Here's one thing to keep in mind when designing your campaign buttons: people like them because they're durable. Definitely more durable than your average election swag.

I mean, who keeps old election yard signs lying around? Not too many people I know of. Dirty, beaten down, worn off decals don't have that much of a life expectancy either. But a campaign button?

That, my friend, is a collectible. The best ones will pin themselves onto the fabric of American history, and be handed down for generations to come. Some will even make it into [famous museum collections](https://youtu.be/OU-AMdbWbRA "video of famous museum collections"). 

##Step 3: Integrating buttons into canvassing
![custom political campaign buttons](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/145d14f1-38ad-4497-ada8-91926759d7f8)

Campaign buttons can be a great device for your canvassing — and canvassing, as you know, plays a key role in election campaigns. Face-to-face interaction with voters will help you gain insights into their thinking, but it also __makes you a more concrete person to them__, increasing trust and familiarity.

In fact, canvassing is crucial not only for gaining and understanding voters, but as a core component of your __get-out-the-vote strategy__ — that is, convincing your electors to [do the irrational act](https://alumni.berkeley.edu/california-magazine/fall-2012-politics-issue/does-your-vote-really-count-why-act-voting-irrational/ "does an individual vote even matter anymore") of getting up and going to the ballot box for you.

This is why it's fundamental to train your canvassers on:

- Communicating a consistent message
- Active listening
- Compassion for voter’s lived experiences
- Extemporizing to connect with voters

You and your team can benefit from courses such as [this master class on canvassing](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-canvassing-learn-about-the-campaign-technique "masterclass on what canvassing is"), on top of understanding basic voting psychology, voters' biases, and how to talk to voters.

Campaign buttons play well into canvassing, not only as a way for canvassers to identify themselves but also as a small gift to voters.

##Step 4: Enhancing canvassing effectiveness

A few strategies go a long way to making your canvassing more effective. Make sure you provide proper training to new canvassers — above all, they should be familiar with good conversation practices. 

Keep in mind that __canvassing is a campaign all of its own__, so it should have a clear objective — whether that is to acquaint yourself with new voters or to simply get them out to vote (GOTV).

You should also __have a set script for canvassing conversations__, including the line of argument to follow and answers to common voter questions. It's also a good idea to have your volunteers train among themselves, simulating conversations with voters and answering frequent points.

A practiced canvasser will also find ways to go beyond the script to drive home his or her point. 

One way to do that is by sharing a personal story that ties in to the reason why it's important to vote, for example. Another, as mentioned above, is to leave a campaign button that both serves as a physical reminder of the visit — and a call to action, — and draws on the positivity that comes from receiving a gift.

##Step 5: Data-driven canvassing optimization
To ace your canvassing game, you'll need a good plan for the several aspects you'll be tackling, such as:

- __Managing__ your canvassing team
- Providing __field reports__ and collecting insights
- __Scheduling__ events 
- __Building and segmenting__ a contact database

For these and more, it can be a good idea to leverage the power of technology. There are plenty of software CRM targeting specifically this type of political activity, such as [E-Canvasser](http://ecanvasser.com/ "canvassing software for elections") or [Mobilize](https://www.mobilize.us/ "mobilization software for political campagins").

A centralized platform will help keep track of the many different aspects a canvassing operation entails, allowing you to __adjust your strategies based on the collected feedback and data insights__.

In its turn, this feedback can be leveraged towards adapting or reformulating your campaign messaging, as well as refining the messages in your buttons and other campaign swag.

##Step 6: Building social proof with button visibility
There is another way buttons support your campaign, and that is by __building social proof for your campaign__. Social proof — the phenomenon whereby people tend to mimic the behaviors of other members of their social sphere — can be leveraged through __visibility and a sense of sharedness__, and that's where buttons make their mark.

The simple act of wearing a badge, button, logoed t-shirt, or any symbol of some sort, can make a person feel more connected to the cause or institution associated with it. This, in turn, [strengthens the perceived value](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endowment_effect "what is the endowment effect") of their membership and the actions associated with it. Which, in this case, is __going out to vote__.

With this in mind, you can distribute your campaign buttons at meetings or public events and have your canvassers wear them and carry some to give out to other contacts. As seen above, __buttons carry a perception of value__ (a collectible, a nifty little token) that makes them an excellent giveaway for your campaign supporters.

Finally, don't forget the power of the Internet. Make sure your button-distributing campaign is __well-represented on your main social media__: sharing pictures of the buttons and people wearing them will make them seem more desirable and bring further visibility to your campaign.

##Step 7: Microtargeting with customized buttons
![targeting political campaigns with custom buttons](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/afe274b6-73c4-489e-a903-7b71f9fbf7c7)

Want to take the power of your button campaign even further? Consider targeting specific voter demographics and customizing your buttons accordingly.

How this could work is simple:
- Once you have a large enough database on your electorate, you __begin by segmenting according to relevant demographics__ — age bracket, minority groups, commitment to social or environmental causes, gender, and so on. That's something that should be par for the course in any campaign.
- Next, brainstorm with your team and __come up with different button designs that appeal to different demographics__. Ideally, you'll be able to bring to button form the different causes your campaign is committed to, whether that's individual rights or environmentalism. 
- Finally, remember to __style your buttons according to the groups they're targeted for__. Millennials might appreciate a more minimalistic design whereas a baby boomer would like a more classic style. (Never mind Generation X, they're all online.)

To distribute these targeted buttons, __leverage the power of your databases__ (hopefully you are building a good one with the right platform) to determine where to distribute which — whether that's in train station gatherings, town hall meetings, or good old door-to-door knocking.

##Step 8: Continuous strategy evaluation and adjustment
It's hard to get things right the first time, so be sure to give yourself space to experiment with different ideas and adjust as the feedback comes in. 

Remember to be organized with your A/B testing —  that is, testing how two or more sets of parallel ideas work with different groups, and drawing actionable conclusions from the results. This can be used for your general campaign messaging, but also for specificities such as your campaign swag: distribute different batches of buttons and other campaign swag to different canvasser teams, keeping a record on how these are received. This will help you orient going forward.

As with anything else, the secret to success is observing and adapting, even if that means never getting out of a [constant improvement loop](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OODA_loop "why improving constantly is good").

##Step 9: Integrating buttons with overall campaign strategy
Your campaign buttons are all the better if they tie in with the rest of your campaign strategy. This means you should:

- __Retain messaging consistency__ throughout your campaign swag, online marketing materials, etc. 
- Pair your pin-up button with your campaign's __overall visual themes__
- Seek to __integrate your buttons__ with other parts of your campaign. 

For this last point, think __social media themes, popular moments__ in the campaign, and even __memes that arise during the campaign__ — all of these provide good opportunities to up your campaign badge game. 

Recent case in point: two pins for the 2024 election (see below). One is pro-Trump, one is pro-Biden. Both reflect a good dose of self-aware humor, with one playing on Trump's famous social media presence and the other rolling with the "Dark Brandon" meme that was even embraced by the President himself.

![political campaign buttons from 2024](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/12152ac3-77ac-45fa-a5f2-d536626b6142)

These are just a couple of examples, but the potential for integrating your pin-back buttons with the social media environment is virtually (no pun intended) limitless. You can simply go online, find what light your campaign is being portrayed in, the memes about it, etc., and take your ideas from there. 

Before you know it, you'll have a campaign button worth speaking of!

##Step 10: Post-campaign reflection and learning
Once the campaign is over, it's time to reflect and summarize what you learned from it. That's regardless of the result. Whether a bitter defeat or a resounding victory, this campaign is unlikely to be the last. And in today's fast-shifting environment, drawing the right conclusions can give you the edge you need for the next time around.

There is no lack of tools here, either. You'll want to compare survey data to actual results, gather insights from advisers and campaign collaborators, and — very importantly — keep in touch with your voters and maintain a tight database of the contacts made along the way. 

##Conclusion

Ultimately, the success of political campaigns hinges on a wide variety of factors. Current societal trends, how effective your team is, how effective the opposition is, the value of your campaign promises. And so on.

Some of these things may be outside of your control. But key ones aren't. You can always __improve your strategy, up the vigor of your campaign__, and __boost the enthusiasm__ of your followers. These things are malleable and, to no small extent, willpower-driven.

So be proactive. Think of all the ways you could be improving the way you move your campaign marketing forward. And don't forget to leverage the historically-proven power of campaign buttons to drive your point home, pin it, and make it something to remember.

<ButtonCta text="Start winning campaigns with custom buttons!" href="https://www.stickermule.com/uses/campaign-buttons" />



Discover the ultimate guide to leveraging custom buttons in your political campaign. Essential reading for anyone aiming to secure victory. Learn how now!

How to resize images for print

When you are looking to print a graphic — perhaps as a [sticker](https://www.stickermule.com/custom-stickers "custom stickers") or [custom t-shirt](https://www.stickermule.com/products/custom-t-shirts "custom shirt printing") — one of the first things to do will be to resize it to the proper dimensions. But you'll also need to make sure it retains good resolution. Without proper resolution, it's just not possible to get a quality-looking product. No bueno.

![how to resize images for printing tutorial](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/b2cb39b9-c12b-49b8-97af-803a2c8816a0)

Resizing a large image into a small one is a fairly simple process that most image editors will cover, including Photoshop and many different online-based image apps. But what to do if you're stuck with a low-quality file that you want to enhance? If you can't find a higher-resolution version of it, one way out would be to [upscale](https://www.stickermule.com/upscale "free image upscale resolution") it. Below, we'll look at how you can do a basic resizing in the first case, and how, if your file is undersized or low quality, Upscale by Sticker Mule helps you get it ready for printing.

##Understanding image resolution for printing

Here perhaps we should recap just what [image resolution](https://guides.lib.umich.edu/c.php?g=282942&p=1885350 "what is image resolution") is. In a few words, it represents how much detail your image has, and hence how much it can be expanded. For digital files, that is usually represented in pixels (short for "picture elements"). The higher your picture's PPI (pixel per inch) ratio, the more you'll be able to expand it.

For printing, a different measurement is commonly used: DPI, or dots per inch — the amount of dots and spaces a printer produces within each inch of printed material. Higher DPIs mean a higher quality look on your printouts. Typical print sizes are 300 DPI for content such as leaflets, stickers, and labels, and 150 DPI for larger printouts such as posters and wall graphics, where the viewer will stand farther away from the print.

##Resizing images with Photoshop

If all you need to do is resize your picture because it's too large to fit your editing canvas or the file is too heavy to upload, you'll find it an easy enough procedure:

1. Open your image file on Photoshop
2. Click Image > Image size. A dialog box will open.
3. Adjust the image's dimensions in pixels on the width and height fields, or simply enter a percentage of the current size.
4. If you prefer to use a measurement other than pixels, you can also do so in the same dialog box — inches, centimeters or millimeters, among other options.

![resize image inside photoshop](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/a2da07f6-8b6a-44a5-886b-9176d0366728)

What if you want to resize your picture while retaining the original one, with the original resolution? That's easy, too — just use the export function:

1. With your file open on Photoshop, click File > Export.
2. Adjust your new file's dimensions (pixels or percentages).
3. Select the format for the new image you are creating (JPEG, PNG, etc.) and click OK.
4. And that's it — now you'll have created a second, smaller file for your current use case, while at the same time keeping the original one safe and sound.

![exporting resized images in photoshop](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/afdb2746-9850-4a67-91b1-84a65d076dcc)

##Using free tools to resize your images

If you don't have a Photoshop account or your laptop starts sounding like a malfunctioning rocket when you try to run it (we've all been there, trust me), you can try using one of a myriad of free online tools. Here are a couple of them.

###Image Resizer
![resize image online for free in seconds](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/e53b7379-7a9f-4db6-bf2a-21b2786ba281)

Image Resizer is a nifty and easy to use tool. Just open their [homepage](https://imageresizer.com/ "free online image resizer"), upload the image you want to resize and enter the new dimensions. Once again, you can do it either in percentage terms or by entering the new size directly in pixels — just make sure you keep the original width/height ratio intact.

Once that is done, click __Resize image__ and, after a few seconds, you'll be presented with a ready-to-download, resized version of your file. You'll also be able to re-edit it, convert it to PDF, or compress it to a .ZIP file.

###Adobe Resizer
![adobe online free image resizer](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/3ac8fe03-2f1d-4979-bd28-177cfa75a4a9)

You don't need to have Photoshop to benefit from an Adobe resizing service — that's just what their online resizing service is for. To use the free Adobe image resizer:

1. Go to the [Adobe Free Image Resizer](https://www.adobe.com/express/feature/image/resize "adobe free online image resize") page.
2. Click __Upload your photo__.
3. Select the file in question on your computer.
4. Once the file is uploaded, enter its new dimensions and click __Resize__.
5. Your file will soon be ready for download. Before downloading, you'll also be able to choose new dimensions for your file according to standard sizes such as Instagram story, landscape, portrait, and square.

As resizing is a fairly simple operation, any of the above options should be enough for your needs. Both Image Resizer and the Adobe solution are free and don't require creating an account. However, we found that the Image Resizer is best for slower-working devices.

Finally, remember the solution to your resizing needs may be literally in the palm of your hands. Most modern Android and iOS smartphones come with image editing software that works great for simpler operations such as resizing, so you can likely generate your new image file on the go, no problem.

##Enhancing image size without losing quality with Upscale by Sticker Mule

What if you need to resize an image upwards — that is, your file is too small for your printing needs? Run it through any of the above options, and you'll find yourself looking at a larger, but pixelated and low-resolution image. In fact, the Adobe tool will sometimes tell you straight off that your image is too small for the selected size.

So yes, for enhancing your image size you'll need something a little more advanced than any old picture resizer. Allow us to present our very own solution: [Upscale](https://www.stickermule.com/upscale "free image upscaler"), by Sticker Mule.

###What does Upscale do?
![free upscale image without losing resolution online](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/cada1386-c4c1-406e-acd9-005a808f7043)

Upscale leverages the power of AI algorithms to increase the number of pixels in your image. As it expands your image, it also fills in the missing pixels, avoiding the granulated look you would get otherwise.

Upscale is completely free to use. It also boasts a pretty simple and intuitive interface. Try it out yourself:

1. Go to the [Upscale main page](https://www.stickermule.com/upscale "free image resizer without losing quality with AI")
2. Upload your image (or images, as you can also run a bulk upscaling)
3. Select the type of image — photo or artwork —, or, if unsure which to choose, leave it in __Auto__
4. Select the desired upscaling scale — 2x, 4x or even 8x.
5. Click __Start processing__ and hold on tight. Upscaling one or two images should be fast enough, but if you're doing that with a whole bunch of them, you might want to check the __Email me when complete__ box and go about your business. Just don't close your browser tab!
6. When your files are ready, you'll be shown their new size in pixels, in comparison to the original one. Now click the download button and you're all set. 
7. [Optional]. If you want to order your prints directly from our website, simply select the desired product, below your upscaling results — stickers, coasters, labels, keychains, or anything else from our store. Enter the quantity and size and order in one click. It's as simple as that!

As a caveat, remember even the best apps have their limitations, and Upscale is no exception. If the original file is minuscule and barely has a fistful of pixels to show, you should adjust your expectations for the result accordingly. 

Overall, though, we are convinced you'll be more than happy with Upscale's image-enhancing magic.

##Conclusion

Resizing and redimensioning are key steps if you want to ensure the best possible results for your [custom printed products](https://www.stickermule.com/ "online printing"). And happily, as you can see from the above examples, it's also a pretty straightforward process. So give the above browser-based options a go and see what works best for your use case — you'll soon have a properly sized version of your graphic, ready to print.

<ButtonCta text="Start trying Upscale by Sticker Mule. It's free and easy to use!" href="https://www.stickermule.com/upscale" />


Learn to resize images for print like a pro! Explore how to use Photoshop, free online tools, and Upscale to get the best print quality for all your marketing needs.

How to remove the background from your logo

Whether you are a professional designer or happen to dabble in image editing from time to time, you've probably needed to edit a logo at some point or another.

Maybe you needed to repurpose a graphic, or maybe the job was simply to fine-tune a logo. Whatever the specifics, you've also likely had to remove a logo background at some point — and that isn't always an easy task. Depending on the complexities of the logo, detaching it from the graphic background can range from a bit of a headache to a well-nigh impossible and time-consuming undertaking.

![free background remover AI app](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/fba7428d-0154-42fa-9a00-a08cd8b99c77)

[Trace](https://www.stickermule.com/trace "free online background remover app") is here to help ease that task — remove the logo background, remove your headache, clear that furrow on your brow, and leave you with a neat and happy logo file that you can use anywhere.

It's all free and very intuitive, so let's show you how to make the most of Trace.

##What is Sticker Mule's Trace?

[Trace](https://www.stickermule.com/trace "remove background from image for free") is a browser-based image background remover. That means you can use it without installing any software, whether on your laptop, phone, or tablet.

To remove the background from your image, Trace leverages AI technology that recognizes the central object or theme in your picture and instantly detaches it from the rest.

You can use Trace to remove the background from a photograph (and convert it into a [custom sticker](https://www.stickermule.com/custom-stickers "custom stickers online")) or with your logos and other professional graphics. The main thing is that Trace, while carefully developed and highly effective, is also a fundamentally accessible and easy-to-use tool. 

Plus, it's 100% free, whether you use it for 1 or 100 files.

##Benefits of removing the background from your logo

There are quite a few scenarios where you might want to cleanly detach your logo from its background. A few instances might be:

- __You don't have access to the original logo file__ and need to extract it from a website or from another file (in that case you might also want to use [Upscale](https://www.stickermule.com/upscale "improve the resolution of any image for free with AI") for a higher-definition graphic.)
- __You want to use your logo on top of other marketing materials__, such as a website banner or even a [wall decal](https://www.stickermule.com/products/wall-graphics "custom wall decals and stickers"), but without an unseemly white margin spoiling your looks.
- __You need your logo as a watermark__, whether for a business presentation or a PDF user guide.

And, of course, there's no end of possibilities to use your logo as branding. Take packaging, for instance. You can add your logo to everyday and seemingly unimportant items such as [packaging tape](https://www.stickermule.com/products/packaging-tape "custom packing tape"). There are few better ways to increase brand awareness and client retention at such a low cost.

Another example? Social media. A [2022 Renderforest Survey](https://www.renderforest.com/blog/brand-statistics "brand statistics study") shows that 75% of consumers think a brand's logo is its most identifiable symbol. If you want social media recognition, featuring your logo front and center across your media stack is a must.

There's no such thing as overexposing your logo, so it's a good idea to make sure you have a readily available logo file (with no pixelated background parts attached!)

##Using Sticker Mule's Trace — Step by step

If you've decided to give Trace a go for your logo project, that was the main step you needed to learn about. The rest is super straightforward:

1. Head over to [Trace](https://www.stickermule.com/trace "free image background remover") and log in to your Sticker Mule account. If you don't have one, registering is just a couple of clicks (use your email or connect with your Google account.)
2. Click '__Choose file__' or drag and drop your graphic to the central area on the page. You can upload pretty much any image format, including JPG, PNG, SVG, PDF, WEBP, and so on.
3. After a few seconds, you'll be redirected to a 'Trace complete' page. And that's it! Download your newly minted, background-less logo, or send it directly to print with one of our custom products.
4. [Optional] If you want to continue editing your logo, one click on the '__Customize__' button will take you to our [Studio](https://www.stickermule.com/studio "free online design software tool") tool, where you can further improve your logo or even add a new background to it altogether.

Here's an example of a quick Trace conversion. As you can see, the graphic was neatly separated from its background:

![remove background from photo for free for a logo](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/c6a8fa39-7258-452b-b8e3-7a5282c930e8)

##Tips for best results

What can you do to ensure Trace outputs the best possible version of your logo? There are a couple of things to have in mind:

- __Upload a graphic with the highest possible definition__. The sharper your initial graphic, the better your output will be, so make sure the uploaded image has a good pixel ratio.
- __Consider enhancing your image before running it through Trace__. You can easily do that with [Upscale](https://www.stickermule.com/upscale "ai upscale image"), as mentioned above.
- __Further refine your Traced logo with Studio__. Another great image-editing Sticker Mule tool is [Studio](https://www.stickermule.com/studio "design online for free"), also free, browser-based, and super intuitive. Use it to enhance your logo further or give it a new background, if needed.

##Applications for background-free logos

Let's recap once more some of the many brand-recognition uses for your transparent background logo:

- Adding your logo to [custom packaging](https://www.stickermule.com/custom-packaging "custom packaging printing"), such as packaging tape, mailers, or [stand-up pouches](https://www.stickermule.com/products/stand-up-pouches "custom printed stand up pouches")
- Superimposing your logo onto website banners, headers, or avatars
- Printing your logo on [custom stickers](https://www.stickermule.com/custom-stickers "custom sticker") for giveaways
- Making [custom branded t-shirts](https://www.stickermule.com/products/custom-t-shirts "custom t-shirts for brands") for your employees or branded merch
- Watermarking presentations, website pages, product use instructions, and other company content
- Using your logo as a social media avatar
- Creating new versions of your logo with other colors
- …and plenty of other applications. 

##To sum up

Logos are the essence of branding — they are and should be everywhere. If you agree with us, it's time to generate your own background-free logo file. Do that and you'll be well on your way to giving your customers the coveted branded experience.

<ButtonCta text="Try removing your logo background with Trace now!" href="https://www.stickermule.com/trace" />



Learn a simple way to create professional logos by removing the background from any image with our background remover tool called Trace! Simply upload any image or photo and watch the background instantly vanish before your eyes...it's like AI magic!

Enhance images for free with Upscale by Sticker Mule

If you work with images, you know how much quality matters. Our digital world relies on pictures every step of the way. As internet communication becomes increasingly image-based, our high-definition device screens demand more and more [high-resolution content](https://www.stickermule.com/upscale "ai upscale image") to match. 

This brings us to a big new change in the world of image editing: the use of AI. From prompt generators giving wings to your fantasy (and creating some [pretty nightmare-inducing hands](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Why-does-AI-art-screw-up-hands-and-fingers-2230501 "ai art hands enhancement")) to new editors helping you clear out other pesky tourists from your vacation memories, machine-learning algorithms are changing how we work with pictures. But AI is also helping us fine-tune, filter, and improve the resolution of our photos — which is just where [Upscale](https://www.stickermule.com/upscale "free upscale image or photo with ai") comes in.

![ai upscale image for free](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/a7188c0b-6a0b-4d64-828e-5bb233406ee7)

## What is Upscale?

You've got just the picture you need, but… it's tiny. Try to print it and you get a result more pixelated than a 90's arcade game. What can you do?

Well, this is the type of situation Upscale is here to help you with. With a few clicks, and little to no waiting time, Upscale will render your resolution image into an improved, high-quality one. 

The best part you already know: it's free.

## How does Upscale work?
It's simple. Or is it? Upscale uses machine-learning algorithms to increase and complement the number of pixels in your image, generating a sharper, higher-resolution version of your original upload.

Think of it not as zooming in, but as an [automatic filling in of the missing pixels](https://www.stickermule.com/support/how-does-upscale-increase-image-resolution "how upscale increases image resolution for free"). You know, basic AI magic.

But if you're worrying about complicated software, don't. Upscale is the definition of user-friendly: no downloads, installations, or technical knowledge required. Just upload your file, click a button, wait a sec, and download your newly-minted, upgraded image.

## Practical applications
Upscale comes in handy for just about any instance where you want to turn a low-quality image into a high-resolution one.

Need a printout with your business logo, but the graphic is too small? Upscale it and order your prints straight from our website.

Have the perfect sticker design, but the pixels are showing? Tip the Upscale in your favor!

[Dog photo too small for your custom t-shirt](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/how-to-print-your-dog-on-a-shirt-a-step-by-step-guide "how to put a dog photo on a custom t-shirt")? You know what to do.

## How to Upscale your image — A step-by-step guide

1. Go to the [Upscale page](https://www.stickermule.com/upscale "free photo resolution increase by ai") and login. (If you don't have an account, it only takes a couple clicks to create one with your Google account or email.)

2. Click 'Choose files' and select the file you want to enhance. If you have several files you want to improve, don't sweat it — you can add them all at once.

3. Upscale will automatically start enhancing your image by 2x. Hold tight! This will usually take just a few seconds, but depending on the amount of files and the size of the redimensioning, it could require a few minutes. 

4. Once processing is complete, you'll then see the original dimensions of your pictures, as well as the projected dimensions after the upscale. You can then select to upscale increase the resolution further (4x or 8x) if needed. 

5. Your upscale is ready! Download your file(s) or select one of our custom products to send your upgraded image directly to print.

## Tips and best practices
Upscaling is a simple process, but you'll get the best results if you keep a couple of things in mind. 

First of all, well, don't expect miracles. Your image will be improved either way, but if the original is too far gone down the pixelation black hole, there's only so much AI can do for you. Beep bop, sorry.

With that in mind, make sure you get started with the best version of your graphic available. You know — better input, better output.

Finally, as Dirty Harry would say, [a man's got to know his limitations](https://www.stickermule.com/support/file-size-limits-in-upscale "file size requirements for ai upscale images free"), and for Upscale that means your maximum upload size is 5MB per file, with a maximum pic size of 3000 x 3000 pixels. Which is likely several times more than you need, so no worries.

### Before and after example 

Take this small photo of a room filled with cute animals. It's only 300x300px large but it's being expanded to fill your screen. 

![small unenhanced image](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/bcdc8bb6-fc52-4307-8a13-1af97d2ae38c) 

Pretty bad, eh?

Now here's the same image, run through [Upscale](https://www.stickermule.com/upscale "free online photo resolution increaser"), that has a new 1200x1200 resolution. Doesn't that look better and less pixely? 

![upscaled image to increase resolution](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/b421f94c-6559-4692-85da-514649b43a73)

## To cap off

Just a few years ago, upgrading your image resolution would usually mean no end of trouble, time, and frustration tinkering around with a variety of software. 

Now, a few clicks will do it. No software downloads. And, with Upscale, it's free. Not something everyone can say.

Progress? Technology? Call it what you like — I call it beautiful.

<ButtonCta text="Check out Upscale by Sticker Mule and see for yourself!" href="https://www.stickermule.com/upscale" />



Tired of low resolution photos? Learn how to enhance and increase the resolution of images for free with Upscale by Sticker Mule! 

Custom stand up pouches are here to help you stand out!

At Sticker Mule, we're constantly developing new and exciting products to help you customize your business as well as your day-to-day life. Now, meet the latest addition to our custom packaging product line: [custom stand up pouches](https://www.stickermule.com/products/stand-up-pouches "custom stand-up pouches")!

![custom stand up pouches for tea](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/a80357df-19a6-4b4e-9254-7ee9c9b12d08)

## The rise of custom packaging
E-commerce sales have been on a [steep ride for the past several years](https://www.statista.com/statistics/379046/worldwide-retail-e-commerce-sales/ "ecommerce sales per year"), bringing big changes in the way both businesses and consumers approach packaging.

Now it's all about custom packaging.

You know how it is — they say you never get a second chance to make a first impression. And when your buyer's first physical impression of your product is picking it up in the mail (as opposed to handling it in a brick-and-mortar store), it pays to go that extra mile and deliver the goods in style. 

It's simple, really: quality custom packaging equals a better customer experience and helps drive brand recognition and client retention — studies have shown that as many as [72% of consumers are influenced by the product's packaging](https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/news-polls/Most-Americans-Say-That-the-Design-of-a-Products-Packaging-Often-Influences-Their-Purchase-Decisions "polls about ecommerce product packaging"). 

Would you miss a perfect opportunity to feature your logo, brand colors, or company slogan as you ship and deliver your products? 

One look at some of the world's most renowned brands is enough to drive home the point. From the iconic iPhone packaging to the colorful McDonald's Happy Meal box and the memorably spartan Amazon logoed wrappings, the value of a branded experience is not lost on companies playing the big game.

##Introducing Sticker Mule’s custom printed stand up pouches

Sticker Mule's custom-printed stand-up pouches are the perfect way to deliver food products—anything from nut mixes to tea leaves, coffee beans, or what have you.

Also, yes, they're [FDA-approved](https://www.stickermule.com/support/are-stand-up-pouches-food-safe "FDA approved custom stand up pouches for food and coffee") — and customer-approved! After all, who doesn't love the practicality of a reusable, resealable, zip-lock pouch?

But foodstuff is just one of their many applications. Stand up pouches are incredibly versatile, and are quickly becoming indispensable for a slew of different industries: they're used for personal care and cosmetic items, small electronic accessories, and pharmaceuticals, to mention just a few use cases.

<WistiaVideo videoId="vwxag5hk0l" />

Our [custom stand up pouches](https://www.stickermule.com/products/stand-up-pouches "custom printed stand-up pouches") are a simple, reliable, and user-friendly way to package your products. 

Made of sturdy polyethylene material, they are easily heat-sealed and provide perfect impermeability, keeping out moisture and any foreign substances. Once opened, they keep their contents fresh thanks to the resealable zip closure.

On top of being a great way to store foodstuff or other items (thanks to the bottom gusset keeping them upright), our standup pouches can be easily customized with any design you choose, on both sides. Like our other products, they can be printed in full color and with full bleed — it's all up to your creative choices.

##What makes stand up pouches outstanding?

Custom stand up pouches are practical — lightweight, easy to fit anywhere, and perfect for repeated use. 
They can even be more environmentally friendly, as making them generates [fewer greenhouse gas emissions and spends less water](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/07/09/they-finally-built-better-ketchup-bottle-soon-its-going-be-everywhere/ "stand up pouches are more environmentally friendly") than comparable traditional packaging alternatives such as cans or jars.

They increase your brand recognition and improve your customers' unboxing experience with their modern, trendy look. Yes, they stand up and stand out.

In short, stand up pouches hit that sweet spot where convenience and style meet, all while delivering your brand name, along with your products, to your customer's shelves and tables.

It's no wonder, then, that the global stand-up pouch market is projected to reach a massive $20-billion-dollar value by 2026, nearly double its 2018 worth.

##Design your own stand up pouch today with Sticker Mule!

Designing your own branded stand up pouches has never been easier, and can be done on our [free Studio tool](https://www.stickermule.com/studio "free online design tool") in a few steps:

1. If you don't have a custom design ready, head over to our [stand up pouch templates page](https://www.stickermule.com/studio/templates/packaging/stand-up-pouches "custom stand up pouches templates for printing") and pick one for a starting point.

2. Customize the template with your text colors, logos, and any other graphics of your choice — the drag-n-drop interface makes it easy to add and tinker with all the elements in your design.

3. Once you're happy with the results, you can download your design or click on 'Order prints', on the top right corner, to start your order.

4. Select your desired size. We recommend our smaller 5" x 6" if you're ordering a sample — it's slightly more consumer-friendly than our larger, 7.75" x 10" pouch, and can fit a wide variety of use cases. Here you can also opt to include a punch hole to the stand up pouch.

5. Click 'Add to cart' and then check out. In 4 hours or less, you'll hear back from us with a proof showing exactly what your stand up pouch will look like once printed. If there's something you'd like to change, you can ask for revisions to the proof for free — we're happy to do them for you and resubmit your proof.

Otherwise, confirm your order and your brand new stand up pouches will soon be on their way to you.

Ready to seal the deal? 

<ButtonCta text="Make your own custom stand up pouches today!" href="https://www.stickermule.com/products/stand-up-pouches" />


Meet our custom stand-up pouches, where practicality meets style. Equipped with a resealable zipper and a self-standing gusset, these full-color printed pouches are ideal for coffee, snack, or anything else that needs to stay fresh!

How to print your dog on a shirt

Who doesn’t love a good ol’ [custom t-shirt](https://www.stickermule.com/products/custom-t-shirts "custom t-shirts printing")? Since this simple garment rose to become the most popular piece of clothing in modern civilization, we've never stopped looking for ways to make it stand out — [far-fetched designs, bright colors, and unique graphics](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/the-evolution-of-t-shirts-a-decade-by-decade-style-trend-journey "t-shirt history through each decade"). The main thing is the pursuit of individuality, of a custom look.

![custom t-shirt with your dog photo](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/003eb0ca-1a2b-47d4-b93e-14e983d5d6ef)

Our love of uniqueness is so great, in fact, that it seems to extend to our very canine companions. 

## Like person, like pet

Remember [the opening scene in The 101 Dalmatians](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulsjuiFO2J0) where a bored Pongo watches as women stroll up and down the street — each with a dog very similar to herself? Well, it turns out there is some scientific truth to this humorous observation. [People do actually pick dogs that resemble them](https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20151111-why-do-dogs-look-like-their-owners). Subconsciously, we project something of our own unique features onto our dog friends.

![custom t-shirts of your dog photo](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/c76a1387-12d7-4043-8e10-884634db6039)

Yes, go ahead and look at your pet, look at yourself in the mirror. Now once you accept the unquestionable, uncanny similarity, what's next? 

The answer is obvious: Join your enthusiasm for custom tees with your appreciation for your loyal companion! Add your dog's mugshot to your next t-shirt and proudly flaunt it for the world to see.

###Step 1) Find a cool photo of your dog

That should go without saying, but it's still worth emphasizing — it's the most important step. So take your time and go through the hundreds of pet pictures we know you have on your camera roll, and make sure you really get the pick of the litter. 

For a great, natural shot, you want a photograph that checks all these boxes:

- Has great natural lighting 
- Your dog is the focal point 
- It captures a memorable pose or look 

If it's one of those hilarious, one-in-a-thousand moments, then all the better!

###Step 2) Use Trace to remove the background

![free background remover tool](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/1a016d42-9b29-47d0-a0cd-d3e6787b1bc4)

[Trace](https://www.stickermule.com/trace "free background remover tool") is one of the most popular tools in the Sticker Mule editing toolbox and for good reason. You upload your picture, click a satisfyingly orange button and, before your dog can bark twice, you've got yourself an outline of the main subject of your picture.

Another click and your picture is downloaded and ready for printing.

###Step 3) Further improve your photo with Redraw (optional)

If you want to make sure you get the best quality for your picture before printing, then [Redraw](https://www.stickermule.com/redraw "vectorize an image") is here for you. It'll convert your file into a real HD-like vector picture to be printed at absolutely any size you choose.

Again, it's all a simple extra step:

- Upload your newly downloaded photo to [Redraw](https://www.stickermule.com/redraw "image to vector") (use drag-n-drop to save some extra time, as we all know those dog reels aren't going to watch themselves) 
- Check out 
- Make yourself comfortable (dog-video time!) and wait for the shiny, super-HD vector file we'll send you in a while. 

###Step 4) Order your custom t-shirts via Sticker Mule

![print custom t-shirts at sticker mule](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/2835e0a4-8379-43e3-b8e5-1692ee0caaaf)

Now all that's left is to go to our [custom t-shirts page](https://www.stickermule.com/products/custom-t-shirts "custom t-shirts online"), select the size and quantity for your order, the t-shirt color, and upload your new dog picture. You can also add any specific instructions you may have for the printing.

After you check out, we'll get back to you with a free online proof showing exactly what your dog t-shirt is going to look like. At this point, you can either request changes or just go right ahead and confirm the order.

###Step 5) Share with the world!
Once you approve your designs, your t-shirt will start production, but you'll also now have a chance to share your brand new dog t-shirt design on your public profile page! 

To share your design on your Sticker Mule profile, just follow these steps;

1) Click on the "Share a design" link on your order confirmation page (see below)

![share designs on sticker mule](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/38b79bec-be9a-4ea4-bdab-5e9e54feffba)

2) This will take you to your, reorder page. From here, hover over any past order and then click on "Share"

3) This is where you can select if you want to share your design with a secret link or publically on your profile page

![share dog photo t-shirt design](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/0208b5c8-2b2a-4a78-9b1a-519ac3218d28)

This neat feature allows you to share your awesome new dog t-shirt with the whole Sticker Mule community or privately with whomever you want to share a link with!

Need to share your dog with even more people!? Well then, it's time for a new social media post — preferably one on [Stimulus](https://www.stimulus.com/ "stimulus the happy social network giveaways"), the Happy Social Network! Just don't forget to tag us @stickermule so we can go check the results of your handiwork and give you a good ol' thumbs-up!

<ButtonCta text="Start creating custom t-shirts of your dog!" href="https://www.stickermule.com/products/custom-t-shirts" />

Here's a quick guide on how to print a custom t-shirt of your dog. Learn tips & tricks on how to make your dog shirt really stand out!

How to print your dog on a shirt: A step-by-step guide

Upgrade your signage with custom acrylic signs from Sticker Mule!

Signage has an important place in business, in events, in stores, galleries, and offices. Its main function is to provide indications and to advertise, but more and more it's also being used as part of companies' branding efforts — orienting, while at the same time promoting your brand's visual style. It's at that intersection of utility and design where [custom acrylic signs](https://www.stickermule.com/products/acrylic-signs "custom acrylic signs for business") really shine.

![custom acrylic signs for businesses](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/9127425d-0c95-4015-bcd7-70a40581145d)

Today, we'll show you how and why you might want to upgrade your signage with custom acrylic signs from Sticker Mule.

##First off: Why acrylic signs?

"We need to replace this acrylic sign — it's too old," said no one ever. Acrylic signs are famously durable — but that's just one of their many qualities. Modern look? Check. Professional aesthetic? You got it. Practical installation? Acrylic's your friend.

Acrylic never looks cheap, like plastic. It's [sturdier than most glass options](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poly(methyl_methacrylate\)), and certainly has a more business-like appeal when contrasted to metal or wood alternatives.

As an added bonus, an acrylic sign makes for a great melee weapon if you ever need to Jason-Bourne your way out of your office. We've all been there, haven't we?

##Introducing Sticker Mule's acrylic signs

[Sticker Mule's acrylic signs](https://www.stickermule.com/products/acrylic-signs "clear business signs") make it easy to display your custom designs on a clear and quality acrylic canvas. Ordering is as easy as entering your desired sizing, uploading your design, and confirming your order.

Alternatively, you can also choose from a range of standard sizes (6″ × 6″, 12″ × 12″, 18″ × 24″, 24″ × 24″, and 36″ × 48″), as well as benefit from our [stack of design tools](https://www.stickermule.com/tools) and [our seamless proofing process](https://www.stickermule.com/support/can-i-see-a-proof-before-ordering).

![wall hanging business signs made from acrylic](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/6648e1a1-d7c9-4acb-a124-c35215797759)

##Benefits of choosing Sticker Mule

Quality products and first-rate pricing deals are only part of the reason for Sticker Mule's popularity.

Central to our culture is a devotion to our customers, and that includes super fast and reliable support. We address your questions and provide quick resolutions to any issues that might come up. Our service includes providing an unlimited number of free online proofs before you order and working with you to make sure you get the best version of your product.

Add to that other factors that set us apart from the competition —  free worldwide shipping, progressive bulk discounts that can see you save up to 67% on your order, and low-quantity orders starting from just 1 acrylic sign, and you begin to see why people love buying at Sticker Mule.

##Acrylic signs are ideal for business owners and event planners

Shaping a consistent and recognizable brand identity is no easy task, but it is an essential one for business owners and event planners to get ahead in a crowded, competitive, and dynamic market.

Key in forming your brand identity is the use of custom merchandise and supplies — and that's where [signage can play an important role](https://smallbusiness.chron.com/importance-signage-business-3348.html). Well-placed acrylic signs carrying your brand name, logo, and color themes can go a long way toward familiarizing the public with your brand —and [familiarity, as you well know, is half of marketing](https://newristics.com/heuristics-biases/familiarity-effect).

And if we're talking about events — especially more upscale ones, from [wedding welcome signs](https://junebugweddings.com/wedding-blog/7-wedding-signs-you-need/) to the schedule for a big product launch day, — there's nothing that conveys confident professionalism and competence quite as much as a well-designed acrylic sign.

![cool business signs](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/21bf9ed6-ee76-4b41-8fb3-1f063358c9e0)

##How to order your custom acrylic sign from Sticker Mule

We've said it before: Ordering at Sticker Mule is a breeze. But just in case you don't believe us, here are the steps you can follow to soon be the proud owner of your own custom acrylic sign:

1\. Go to [our acrylic signs page](https://www.stickermule.com/products/acrylic-signs). Pick quantity and size (either predetermined or your custom specs), then press "Continue".

2\. Upload your artwork with a couple clicks (or using the drag-n-drop function).

3\. Sit tight. Soon you'll be emailed a proof showing you exactly what your acrylic sign will look like once it's ready.

4\. Either request changes to your proof or approve and check out.

And that's it! With production in a few days and free, fast shipping, it won't be long before you're caressing your own acrylic sign and whispering, "My own… my precious!"

##Types of acrylic signs

Acrylic signs are naturally versatile and lend themselves to a variety of business uses. Typical acrylic signs include:

-   __Acrylic sign boards__: Coming in a variety of sizes, with both single or double-sided printing, acrylic sign boards are easily customizable with logos and graphics, and are a great means of providing information or creating business signage.
-   __Acrylic business signs__: These are designed for commercial establishments, and are most often storefront, window, or directional wall signs. They can display your business name, logo, and other info, and are sometimes paired with LED lights for greater visibility.
-   __Acrylic wedding signs__: Welcome signs, seating charts, and directions. Acrylic wedding signs bring elegance and clarity to your decor and can be easily personalized with names and wedding details.
-   __Acrylic wall signs__: Mount them indoors or outdoors, suspended with standoffs or fixed with hardware. A mix of durable and weather-resistant material with a sleek look and feel, acrylic wall signs can be a simple way to make your work environment look at once more sophisticated and put-together.

##Customization options

There's no lack of ways you can customize your acrylic signs. With Sticker Mule, you'll find it easy to play with an infinite number of colors, fonts, sizing, and graphic combinations.

And don't forget: You can make the most of our [free acrylic sign templates](https://www.stickermule.com/templates/acrylic-signs) to easily and speedily create your very own designs.

##Upgrade your signage today!

Whether for the office, for your storefront, for your art gallery, beauty salon, or any other establishment you run, you'll find that our custom [acrylic signs](https://www.stickermule.com/products/acrylic-signs "custom acrylic business signs") are a sure way to refine and improve your signage game. So why not try them today?

<ButtonCta text="Create your custom acrylic sign today!" href="https://www.stickermule.com/products/acrylic-signs" />






First impressions are important! Displaying customized acrylic signs in front of businesses, events, and even weddings instantly sets an elegant and modern vibe. Try designing one today!

How to design custom t-shirts from scratch

There are few things as fun as literally wearing your own creation. This is perhaps why [custom t-shirts](https://www.stickermule.com/products/custom-t-shirts "custom t-shirts") have become so popular over the past few years — they're a way to showcase your creativity, have fun with new designs, and easily dress in a unique way.

![woman wearing gray custom t-shirt from sticker mule](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/b62d9766-23d8-4e3c-8df9-bda597865bf2)

It's perhaps no surprise, in fact, that the global market for custom-made clothes has been on a meteoric rise — worth $51.8 billion in 2021, it's [projected to reach no less than $131.6 billion by 2030](https://www.businessresearchinsights.com/market-reports/custom-made-clothes-market-101188 "custom t-shirt and clothing market trends"). It's no secret: people want to dress custom.

##Designing your custom t-shirts

There are plenty of ways to design your own t-shirts, but few, if any, are better than Studio.

###What is Studio? 

Essentially, it's a canvas for your creativity — a browser-based, user-friendly platform for devising your own designs and creating your own custom-made products.

Unlike other, more complicated apps, [Studio](https://www.stickermule.com/studio "free online design tool with free templates") removes all the hurdles from your creative process, at the same time providing an ample library of templates as a starting point for your creative endeavors. 

##How to use Studio

To work with [Studio](https://www.stickermule.com/studio "free online design tool"), all you need is a browser and an internet connection. In fact, you can even create from your smartphone. Let's take a look at how that process works.

###1. Choose a template

![custom t-shirts free templates](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/66e723bc-d2e4-48d0-b857-735f0ffe24f6)

Studio comes with a [vast library of free t-shirt templates](https://www.stickermule.com/studio/templates/t-shirts "free custom t-shirts templates"). Whether you are designing a t-shirt for a sports team, for your company, or just for good old fun, you'll likely find a Studio template that's just the right starting point for your needs.

And don't worry about spending time thumbing through templates either; just select the category you have in mind and browse the top templates for that particular subject.

###2. Edit your template

![editing a custom shirt template online free](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/bc722438-7cb7-4047-87cc-3294b37c1d74)

Even if your template is nothing more than a blank canvas, editing is as easy as adding new text or drawing elements, dragging them into place, adding color… it's all done in a few clicks (or taps, if you're on your phone). 
While you're at it, keep in mind a few key points to ensure your design looks well put together and appealing, including:

- The right combination of colors. It's not about how many colors you work into your design, but the extent to which they match. You can do some research on how different colors complement each other, for starters, and play with several combinations as you go.

- Text is often the first thing that gets noticed in a design, so use fonts that match the vibe you're going for. We [wrote a bit on the subject of fonts](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/what-is-the-easiest-font-to-read-on-posters-and-flyers "best fonts to use for t-shirts and poster printing") before, but it is a topic worth exploring in depth, as it can make or break your visual style.

- Placement. How harmonious the different elements in your overall design look — that's also key to your success. You can find out a little more about the rules of design composition and layout [here](https://99designs.com/blog/tips/design-composition-and-layout/ "tips on design composition").

###3. Print it out

Once you're happy with your design, you can download it or send it straight to print with Sticker Mule. All you have to do is choose your t-shirt size, quantity, and order. Before your t-shirt is produced, you'll get a free sample proof showing you what it'll look like with your design — if need be, you can request further changes before giving the green light for the printing process. 

Once you complete your order, your t-shirts will be coming to you in just a few days!

##Printing your custom t-shirt

Did you know you can print your own custom t-shirt at home and at little cost to yourself? That's one of the options we'll explore below.

###DIY printing

If you're a fan of doing things yourself, why not try DIY t-shirt printing? It's easy, doesn't take long, and yields fairly good results for more casual use cases. 

Take a look at [this tutorial](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1QSgRSzoFY "create your own t-shirt at home tutorial") and you'll see you don't even have to invest in complicated equipment to print your own t-shirts (although you can get professional results if you're willing to fork out around $1300 as an initial investment for a shirt-printing machine!)

To print your own custom design onto a t-shirt at home, all you need are a regular printer, an iron and ironing board, a blank t-shirt, and some transfer paper.

The steps are simple, too:

1. Print your design onto a sheet of transfer paper
2. Lay out your t-shirt onto the ironing board and place the transfer area over the area you want your design to be printed on
3. Carefully iron over the design a few times, making sure you smooth out the whole of the design.
4. Remove the backing on your transfer paper and glory in your newly-printed t-shirt!

That's the gist of it, anyway.
 
##Going the professional route

![custom t-shirts of cats and pets](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/9edbff82-a284-4b5a-a805-c8704fbe4859)

DIY printing is a fun way to personalize your tees at a low cost, but it may not be for everyone. For starters, the quality of the design will inevitably turn out to be inferior to the design on a professionally printed t-shirt — the shapes will be less crisp and nitid, and the design is likely to wear off faster. 

On top of that, it's a time-consuming process. If you want your design stamped on a large number of t-shirts, you'll find yourself spending hours ironing stuff back and forth. Maybe not the best investment for your time.

###Online printing services

With that in mind, there's a simpler alternative: [get your custom t-shirts printed out for you](https://www.stickermule.com/products/custom-t-shirts "custom t-shirts printing") by a professional printing service like yours truly, Sticker Mule.

It'll save you headaches and the potential disappointment of making a mess of your design — and ruining a t-shirt. And that inevitably happens on a long enough timeline of printing your own stuff.

In fact, if you intend to print your design on a large number of t-shirts, you may find ordering your tees from an online service can be a lot more cost-effective. Just check out the mouth-watering bulk discounts we offer on [custom t-shirts](https://www.stickermule.com/products/custom-t-shirts "custom shirts printing") — order enough and you can find yourself paying less than $10 for professionally printed, high-quality, 100% cotton t-shirts.

Order now and enjoy holding your crisp, nice new tees a few days from now!

##Conclusion

As you can see, designing your very own t-shirt with Studio is a no-brainer. All it takes is a browser, an internet connection, and a little bit of inspiration — and remember our 2000+ templates are all there to help you with that!
Plus, once you have your design ready, sporting it in quality-printed t-shirts is only a matter of a few clicks and a few days' wait. Your Sticker Mule-made t-shirts will stick around for years.

<ButtonCta text="Browse all the free custom t-shirt templates today!" href="https://www.stickermule.com/studio/templates/t-shirts" />


Your step-by-step guide to designing your own custom t-shirts online for free. When you're happy with the design you can either order them online or print them at home!

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