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zines:stickers [2025/07/27 23:12] – scumsuck | zines:stickers [2025/07/28 01:58] (current) – [How I Print + Cut Stickers] scumsuck | ||
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+ | ====== How I Print + Cut Stickers ====== | ||
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+ | ===== Gallery ===== | ||
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+ | zines: | ||
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+ | </ | ||
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=====Script===== | =====Script===== | ||
Supplies I use: | Supplies I use: | ||
- | Cutter: Silhouette Portrait 3 | + | * Cutter: Silhouette Portrait 3 |
- | Printer: Canon iP8720 | + | |
- | Sticker Paper: | + | |
- | Koala brand | + | |
- | Cutting Mat: | + | |
- | ArtCute | + | |
- | Program: | + | |
- | Silhouette Studio | + | |
- | Optional: | + | |
- | Washi Tape | + | |
- | Laminate | + | |
- | Scraper | + | |
- | What’s the difference between “kiss cut” and “die cut”? | + | **What’s the difference between “kiss cut” and “die cut”?** |
Sticker paper has two layers: | Sticker paper has two layers: | ||
+ | |||
1. The top layer that you print on and is sticky on the back. | 1. The top layer that you print on and is sticky on the back. | ||
+ | |||
2. The shiny backing paper that you discard after peeling. | 2. The shiny backing paper that you discard after peeling. | ||
- | Kiss cut: | + | |
- | the sticker is cut through the top layer of paper only, leaving background or backing paper around the sticker. | + | //Kiss cut:// |
- | “Die cut”: | + | the sticker is cut through the top layer of paper only, leaving background or backing paper around the sticker. |
+ | |||
+ | //Die cut:// | ||
the sticker is cut all the way out, through the top layer AND backing paper. | the sticker is cut all the way out, through the top layer AND backing paper. | ||
Sticker sheets are an example of kiss cut stickers! | Sticker sheets are an example of kiss cut stickers! | ||
+ | |||
I remember it like this: The blade doesn’t cut the backing paper, it just “kisses” it. | I remember it like this: The blade doesn’t cut the backing paper, it just “kisses” it. | ||
- | Step 1: | + | **Step 1:** |
Make design | Make design | ||
+ | ...and pop it into the cutting program of choice | ||
+ | **Step 2:** | ||
+ | SilhouetteStudio will automate a red cut line, but it needs some help. I use “offset” to give the sticker’s edge a lil breathing room. | ||
- | |||
- | |||
- | ...and pop it into the cutting program of choice | ||
- | |||
- | |||
- | Step 2: | ||
- | SilhouetteStudio will automate a red cut line, but it needs some help. I use “offset” to give the sticker’s edge a lil breathing room. | ||
You can also use “trace” instead of the automatic line. It detects the shape of your sticker and “traces” the outline of it. | You can also use “trace” instead of the automatic line. It detects the shape of your sticker and “traces” the outline of it. | ||
- | Step 3: | + | **Step 3:** |
Arrange the stickers on the page. Once the cut line is set up, all you have to do is copy + paste the sticker as many times as you need. I usually fit about 6 stickers per page, depending on the size of the sticker. The most common size I make is 2.5-3 inches tall. | Arrange the stickers on the page. Once the cut line is set up, all you have to do is copy + paste the sticker as many times as you need. I usually fit about 6 stickers per page, depending on the size of the sticker. The most common size I make is 2.5-3 inches tall. | ||
- | Step 4: | + | **Step 4:** |
Can't forget to turn on registration marks! These marks tell the Silhouette where your stickers are on the page and therefore where to cut. | Can't forget to turn on registration marks! These marks tell the Silhouette where your stickers are on the page and therefore where to cut. | ||
+ | |||
“Length”, | “Length”, | ||
+ | |||
“Inset”, | “Inset”, | ||
- | Step 5: | + | **Step 5:** |
Print 'em out! | Print 'em out! | ||
- | I never print directly from SilhouetteStudio. It's better to save them as a .pdf and open them in another program. Unfortunately, | + | I never print directly from SilhouetteStudio. It's better to save them as a .pdf and open them in another program. Unfortunately, |
- | The way around this is actually in the print menu! | + | |
File -> Print -> Print -> Microsoft Print To PDF. | File -> Print -> Print -> Microsoft Print To PDF. | ||
+ | |||
This won’t actually print anything, just lets you save it correctly. | This won’t actually print anything, just lets you save it correctly. | ||
- | |||
- | |||
- | |||
- | |||
Remember to adjust your printer settings for whatever paper you're using. Most of my paper is " | Remember to adjust your printer settings for whatever paper you're using. Most of my paper is " | ||
+ | **Step 6:** | ||
- | Step 6: | ||
If using: Apply laminate w/scraper. Do not cover registration marks! | If using: Apply laminate w/scraper. Do not cover registration marks! | ||
- | Align the paper to the upper left corner of the mat (the arrow on the mat should be pointing up). Secure with washi tape if using. | ||
- | Step 7: | + | Align the paper to the upper left corner of the mat (the arrow on the mat should be pointing up). Secure with washi tape if using. |
- | Time to cut! | + | |
- | Load the mat into the machine. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | The “send” tab is where you tell the machine how to cut your stuff. | + | |
+ | **Step 7:** | ||
+ | Time to cut! Load the mat into the machine. The “send” tab is where you tell the machine how to cut your stuff. | ||
This is where you adjust the blade according to your paper thickness. I have to experiment with these settings, A LOT. | This is where you adjust the blade according to your paper thickness. I have to experiment with these settings, A LOT. | ||
- | Blade Depth: How deep to cut the paper | ||
- | Force: How hard to push thru the paper | ||
- | Speed: How fast to cut | ||
- | Passes: How many times to cut around the cut line | ||
+ | * Blade Depth: How deep to cut the paper | ||
+ | * Force: How hard to push thru the paper | ||
+ | * Speed: How fast to cut | ||
+ | * Passes: How many times to cut around the cut line | ||
- | I also never use the " | + | I also never use the " |
- | + | ||
- | This lets you turn cut lines off/on. I turn the default red line off, and turn on whatever color I made my own cutline! | + | |
Next, just hit send and away she goes! | Next, just hit send and away she goes! | ||
- | Step 8: | + | **Step 8:** |
Once it's done cutting, unload the mat from the machine and tah-dah! Fresh stickers, hot off the press. | Once it's done cutting, unload the mat from the machine and tah-dah! Fresh stickers, hot off the press. | ||
+ | ** | ||
+ | Tips, Tricks, N’ Other Info:** | ||
+ | |||
+ | * Replacing mats when they lose stickiness is expensive and creates a lot of plastic waste. Washi tape is a biodegradable way to secure paper to the cutting mat! Just use a lot of it. | ||
+ | * Silhouette Studio paywalls a lot of features. Keep an eye out for discounts and sales, I got mine on Swing Design. There may be better indie alternatives out there as well, but I haven’t tried any to recommend. | ||
+ | * Check thrift stores for sticker supplies! | ||
+ | * Cutters can be very naughty. Have patience! It took me a solid 2 years before I really understood how to operate it, and I’m still learning daily! | ||
- | Tips, Tricks, N’ Other Info: | ||
- | Replacing mats when they lose stickiness is expensive and creates a lot of plastic waste. Washi tape is a biodegradable way to secure paper to the cutting mat! Just use a lot of it. | ||
- | Silhouette Studio paywalls a lot of features. Keep an eye out for discounts and sales, I got mine on Swing Design. There may be better indie alternatives out there as well, but I haven’t tried any to recommend. | ||
- | Check thrift stores for sticker supplies! | ||
- | Cutters can be very naughty. Have patience! It took me a solid 2 years before I really understood how to operate it, and I’m still learning daily! | ||
Thanks for checking out my zine! | Thanks for checking out my zine! | ||
It’s too small to cover anything but the very basics, hopefully it was useful or at least an interesting read! | It’s too small to cover anything but the very basics, hopefully it was useful or at least an interesting read! | ||
- | If there’s something not covered here that you want to discuss, my contact info is on the back. | + | If there’s something not covered here that you want to discuss, my contact info is on the back. |
Thanks again! | Thanks again! | ||
+ | ** | ||
+ | Questions about making stickers?** | ||
- | Questions about making stickers? | ||
Email: deflectric@proton.me | Email: deflectric@proton.me | ||
- | Fediverse/ | + | |
- | @deflectric | + | Fediverse/ |
Hit me up! | Hit me up! | ||
- | Join our | + | Join our sticker club: ko-fi.com/ |
- | sticker club: ko-fi.com/ | + | |
- | I can make | + | I can make YOUR stickers: wiki.scumsuck.com/ |
- | YOUR stickers: wiki.scumsuck.com/ | + | |
- | resources: | + | ====See Also==== |
- | text from shanes how i print and cut stickers zine.txt | + | * [[resources: |
- | 5 KB | + |