Holographic stickers alwasy look incredible, don't they?
They’re a great way to elevate your sticker design by having a kaleidoscope of colors that change depending on the lighting. Whether it’s to show off personal art or take a small business to the next level, Holographic Stickers are magic every time.
But how do you make them?
Keep reading to learn how to make holographic stickers—and get them professionally printed without paying premium prices.
What Is a Holographic Sticker?
They’re similar to other sticker styles, except for being printed on holographic vinyl instead of plain. Depending on your design, a holographic effect conveys luxury or an out-of-this-world aesthetic.
The Difference Between Iridescent and Holographic Stickers
You’ll often hear holographic and iridescent used together, but they have two very different looks. They get confused because they both have color-shifting properties depending on the lighting, but holographic items have a rainbow effect. In contrast, iridescent items shift different shades of the same color.
We could get technical and discuss how iridescence is a natural phenomenon and how holographic color-shifting is an artificial technology—but we’re here to talk about how to make holographic stickers.
How to Make Holographic Stickers
Creating the perfect holographic sticker takes a balance of art and science, though we can help with the more technical parts. Here are five steps to make a holographic sticker:
Step 1: Brainstorm Designs Ideas with Holographic Effects in Mind
Let’s talk about design. You should always design with your sticker shape options in mind. If you don't, crucial parts may get cut off. Resources like Procreate, Photoshop, and Canva are great options if you need to work on your design.
But, let’s say you already have some designs ready to go—take a minute to look at them and see if they’ll suit a holographic effect. While most things look great with holographic effects, you want your sticker to take advantage of the effect’s full power.
So how do you do that?
Use negative space.
All negative space will be filled with the rainbow effect when designed correctly. Having blank spaces allows for the full effect to be uninterrupted. Also, because holographic is so bold, a simpler design is sometimes better. This way, your design doesn’t get lost or feel too busy.
Step 2: Use Black and White to Make the Holographic Material Pop
When making holographic stickers, most colors work well with them. In fact, the right pairings can almost create a whole new color. But, if you don’t want the holographic effect in some areas, you should use black or white ink. These two colors are highly saturated, blocking the holographic effect.
If your sticker design ends up with little to no negative space, use black or white ink, so those small areas really shine. They’re also good for ensuring small details or text don’t get lost in the design.
Step 3: Play with Color
While you can have a design that is mostly holographic material, not everyone is interested in minimal design. So, let’s talk about color.
Holographic materials work with all colors (minus black and white), but the shade of the colors matters most. Lighter colors tend to merge more with holographic materials, so it may be difficult to see it beyond the effect.
For example, if you wanted to use light blue, it may give the appearance of a blue-tinged holographic instead of the color blue with the material on top.
On the other hand, darker colors diffuse the effect more, giving the color a better chance of standing out. Instead of being taken over, the color would appear more behind the holographic effect.
Step 4: Order a Sample
We’ve all had that moment when something we designed on a computer didn’t come out as expected in print. This can be especially true when working with holographic materials—as it affects how colors look (or don’t look).
Die Cut Stickers offers a sample pack of our different sticker styles. Not only will you see how good our stickers look, but you’ll get an exclusive discount code so you can order a sample of your own designs through our Insanely Custom form.
Getting a sample can save you money in the long run. You can order a smaller amount and see how it looks in physical form and make any changes before ordering a large number of stickers.
Step 5: Make a Full Order
Once you’re happy with your design, it’s time to make a full order instead of using a Cricut and doing it yourself.
Die Cut Stickers will print your stickers on professional-grade vinyl and holographic material with professional-grade ink. By ordering from us, your stickers will look incredible.
In addition, ordering with us will save you time and money. Doing sticker printing yourself requires trial and error, and wouldn’t you rather use your time for something more fun? Not to mention material costs…
Time to Make Holographic Stickers!
Now that you know how to make holographic stickers, it's time to get to printing! Create hypnotizing stickers for your personal use or for your business with Die Cut Stickers. We offer a variety of styles and different printing amounts so you can stay within budget. Shop our holographic stickers here!
Plus, get your stickers within four business days after you approve the proof!
If you have more questions, check out our FAQ page or contact us.