Custom Labels / Sticker Printing in Singapore
(IMPORTANT) Additional Details - Transparent Based Materials
Please Read Carefully Before Ordering!
1) Understanding Surface-Print, Reverse Print, and Lamination (PVC Materials)
It is crucial in understanding how Transparent Stickers and Window Stickers (Removable Stickers) are printed and pasted. Firstly, if you intend to have the printed artwork printed on the non-adhesive side, we call it a Surface-Print Sticker. This is the usual way stickers are printed.
If you intend to have the printed artwork printed on the adhesive side, we call it a Reverse-Print Sticker. To better understand Reverse Printing, just visualize yourself in a car and pasting the sticker on the windscreen, or inside an office room pasting the sticker on the glass door; the content can be seen from outside the car or room.
Removable Frosted Synthetic material (not laminated): Top (Surface-Print) pasted on the outside, Bottom (Reverse-Print) pasted on the inside.
The image shown is a good example of how these stickers appear when pasted on a glass window. In general, the material properties of both Surface-Print & Reverse-Print are exactly the same; it is just a matter of preference if you prefer the sticker to be viewed through a glass panel, or if you will prefer to view the printed sticker exposed to the air. However, In terms of durability, we highly recommend going for the Removable White / Transparent PVC materials as they are laminated and have a longer lifespan compared to other materials without any lamination.
For laminated materials, we generally name them PVC materials. PVC materials are Synthetic materials with a layer of lamination on them. This can range from White-based or Transparent-based materials to Foil materials. Examples are White PVC, Transparent PVCÂ or Silver Foil PVC sticker materials. Sticker materials with lamination are much more durable compared to materials without any lamination. This is because the lamination provides a layer of protection for the printed artwork, preventing any direct contact with them, such as scratches, abrasions from constant contact, chemical reactions from oil or other chemical substances, and environmental reactions such as sunlight or rain conditions. Your printed artwork will last longer on laminated material.
2) Overview of Printing Techniques for Transparent Sticker Materials
The following will explain the various printing techniques for transparent stickers.
Printing on transparent stickers will be translucent by default! Please read on for detailed photo examples.
An Underlay is a base of white printing between the surface of the material and the actual printing. On transparent material, it makes the actual printing visible. Without this White Underlay, the actual printing will look translucent. Printing is done on the non-adhesive side, we call it a Surface-Print Sticker.
An Overlay is a layer of white printing on top of the actual printing, this is applicable if you intend to do reverse printing on the transparent sticker, whereby the adhesive side is the same as the printed side, we call it a Reverse-Print sticker. An example of a Reverse-Print sticker is the Windows Sticker. White Lamination can also be used instead of White Overlay printing if the entire background is white.
We can also print without a white underlay or overlay (we call it no-lay). This works if you are only printing black and white on transparent material. Our black colour looks better without any underlay.
By default our laser printers will not print 'white', any white spots in your manuscript will be rendered colourless, the printout will look translucent. Printing will still look fine on a white background. However, on a darker background, light colours on the printout will be less visible, especially so if the colours are closer to white, for example, Light Grey.
Transparent without white underlay
Lighter colour will be less visible
Transparent without white underlay
Not visible on dark surface
4) White Underlay Printing is needed for opaque colour
If you wish to have solid bright and sharp colour on the transparent sticker, you need to have a white underlay.
Colour is opaque with white underlay
Logo without (left) vs with (right) white underlay
With vs without white underlay
5) White No-lay Printing (without any White Overlay or Underlay)
It is much straight forward If you are only printing black and white, or just white, there's no need for an overlay or underlay. We call this "no-lay". Our black colour looks better without any underlay.
Black & white on transparent
Black & selective white on transparent
All white on transparent
6) White Overlay Printing / White Lamination (Reverse-Print Stickers)
White Overlay or White Lamination is needed if you are printing Reverse-Print Sticker (aka Windows Sticker), whereby the adhesive side is the same as the printed side. Please note that we are not actually printing on the adhesive side of the transparent sticker, but instead, we flip the artwork horizontally and print on the non-adhesive side, and then add a transparent or white lamination on top. The result is a sticker with the printed side the same as the adhesive side.
For some customers who might not want the entire sticker background to be white (white lamination), a white overlay can be added on top of the printed colour to make it solid bright and sharp. Otherwise, if there is no white overlay or white lamination, the colour will look translucent.
Window sticker with white overlay
Printed side is the same as the adhesive side
Printed side is the same as the adhesive side
7) Double-sided Sticker Printing is Unavailable
Due to technical difficulties, we are sorry that double-sided sticker printing is unavailable. However, let us explain how it works so that you can have a better understanding.
A double-sided print sticker is a Reverse-Print Sticker (aka Windows Sticker) with additional colour printing on top of the White Overlay or White Lamination. The result is a sticker with printing on both the adhesive side and the non-adhesive side.