Artwork Guide
The Sticker Studio artwork guide
Great stickers start
with great artwork.
A little preparation makes a big difference. Follow this guide to set up your sticker or label file for a clean cut and a sharp print.
Designing in Canva? Start here ↓
SET UP. CHECK. SEND TO PRINT.
01 / Build in a little breathing room
Trim, bleed & the safe zone
These three boundaries help your artwork print right to the edge while keeping important details clear of the cut.
The trim line is where your label is cut. Set your document’s finished size to the sticker or label size you have ordered.
Extend edge-to-edge backgrounds, photos and colours 2 mm past the cut line on every side. This helps prevent unwanted white edges if the cut moves slightly.
Keep all text, logos and other essential content at least 2 mm inside the cut line. For shaped labels, follow the actual cut shape.
Finished size: 50 × 50 mm · Artwork including 2 mm bleed: 54 × 54 mm · Safe area: 46 × 46 mm. Bleed is added outside the finished size; it does not make the finished label larger.
02 / Spot the difference
What good setup looks like
✓ Correct
Background out. Text in.
Artwork fills the bleed area. All important content sits comfortably inside the safe zone.
✕ Needs fixing
Missing bleed
The background stops at the trim line. Extend it to the outer bleed edge to avoid white slivers after cutting.
✕ Needs fixing
Text too close to the cut
The heading crosses the safe zone. Move it inward so it is at least 2 mm clear of the trim line.
Illustrations are simplified and not to scale. Solid line = trim; dashed line = safe zone.
03 / Make every detail count
Sharp images. Reliable type. Print-ready colour.
Use images at 300 dpi or higher
Supply bitmap images at a minimum of 300 dpi at the final printed size. Enlarging a small image reduces its effective resolution.
A 50 mm-wide image needs approximately 591 pixels across to reach 300 dpi at that width. Check the image’s resolution at its placed size; simply changing its dpi setting does not restore missing detail.
A sharp-looking screen preview is not proof of print quality. Use original, high-resolution images instead of screenshots.
Outline all fonts
Convert live text to outlines in artwork supplied from applications such as Adobe Illustrator or InDesign. This preserves the letter shapes and avoids font substitution.
Keep a separate editable copy before outlining. Check every text element, including small print.
Using Canva? Follow the PDF Print steps below. If you cannot outline the fonts, tell us when supplying your PDF so we can advise on file preparation.
Set artwork to CMYK
Sticker Studio prints in CMYK. Set up or convert your artwork to CMYK before supplying it, then review the converted colours.
RGB warning: bright screen colours can change when converted for print. Screens and printed materials will not look identical.
Pantone warning: we do not print Pantone spot colours. Not every Pantone colour can be closely matched in CMYK.
If supplied in RGB or Pantone, artwork will be converted to CMYK during our print process. Let us know about colour-critical requirements when you place your order.
Choose a suitable file format
Our preferred formats are PDF, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign and Adobe Photoshop.
- For Canva artwork, supply the exported PDF Print file.
- JPEGs, such as photographs, must still meet the size, bleed, resolution and colour requirements.
- Export Word or Excel artwork to PDF, then check the finished file carefully. Saving as PDF does not automatically fix artwork quality.
04 / Your Canva-to-print guide
Made it in Canva? Here’s how to send it.
Start with a design at the finished label size you ordered. Then prepare the edges and export a PDF with the settings below.
Show the print bleed
File → Settings → Show print bleed
Turn on the bleed guide. If your version of Canva shows Rulers and guides instead of Settings, look there for Show print bleed.
Extend backgrounds. Protect text.
Fill the entire bleed area with any background intended to reach the edge. Keep important text and logos at least 2 mm inside the trim line.
Do not assume Canva’s default margin guide is exactly 2 mm. Check spacing against your finished label size.
Download the print PDF
Share → Download
Choose PDF Print, tick Crop marks and bleed, then select CMYK (best for professional printing) under Colour profile. Download the file.
Open it and check it
Check the PDF’s text, images, page selection and finished dimensions. Make sure backgrounds reach beyond the trim marks and important content stays inside the safe area. Send the PDF with your order details.
Your export settings
Ready for print
- File type
- PDF Print
- Crop marks and bleed
- ✓ Selected
- Colour profile
- CMYK (best for professional printing)
Download the PDF and check it before sending.
Canva uses a fixed bleed amount, which may be larger than 2 mm. Keep the document at your finished size and extend the artwork through Canva’s full bleed. Do not enlarge the document to add bleed a second time.
Can’t see the CMYK option?
Availability can depend on your Canva account. If you cannot select CMYK, contact us before submitting the file. RGB-to-CMYK conversion can change colours.
Does “Flatten PDF” outline my fonts?
Flattening and outlining are different processes. Do not rely on Flatten PDF to satisfy the outlined-font requirement. If you cannot outline your Canva text, let us know so we can advise.
Menu wording may vary. See Canva’s bleed and crop-mark guidance for its current controls.
05 / For labels supplied on rolls
Choose your label roll direction
Tell us the direction number, 1–8, required for your order. It describes how the printed label is wound and which edge comes off the roll first. If you use a label applicator, check its requirements before choosing.
Outside wound · Directions 1–4
The printed face is on the outside of the wound roll.
1 Head First
Unwinds to the right →
2 Foot First
Unwinds to the right →
3 Right Edge First
Unwinds to the right →
4 Left Edge First
Unwinds to the right →
Inside wound · Directions 5–8
The printed face is on the inside of the wound roll.
5 Head First
Unwinds to the right →
6 Foot First
Unwinds to the right →
7 Right Edge First
Unwinds to the right →
8 Left Edge First
Unwinds to the right →
Head first = top edge leads · Foot first = bottom edge leads · Right edge first = right edge leads · Left edge first = left edge leads.
Arrows show the unwind direction. Diagrams follow the numbering in the supplied Label Roll Direction Chart; they are orientation guides, not machinery drawings.
06 / One last look
Before you send your artwork
- Finished dimensions match your order.
- Backgrounds extend 2 mm beyond the trim on every side.
- Text and logos are at least 2 mm inside the trim.
- Images are at least 300 dpi at their final printed size.
- Fonts are outlined, or any limitations have been raised with us.
- Artwork is CMYK; colour-critical details have been discussed.
- The exported file has been opened and checked.
- For roll labels, the required direction number is supplied.
Need a hand with your file?
Send your question, intended label size and any artwork concerns to sales@stickerstudio.com.au. For roll labels, include your required direction number.