Artwork & Print Specification Guide

Last updated: 9 July 2026

At Stikaroo, we want every order to print to the highest possible standard.

This guide explains how to prepare your artwork, our print recommendations, production tolerances and what you can expect from the finished product.

Following these guidelines will help ensure the best possible print quality.

1. Accepted File Formats

We recommend supplying artwork in one of the following formats:

Preferred

• PDF
• AI (Adobe Illustrator)
• EPS
• SVG

Also Accepted

• PNG
• TIFF
• JPEG (High Quality)

Where possible, please avoid screenshots, low-resolution images and files copied from social media.

2. Recommended Resolution

For professional print quality, artwork should be supplied at:

300 dpi (dots per inch)

Lower resolution artwork may appear:

• blurry;
• pixelated;
• soft;
• jagged.

Images taken from websites or social media are often only 72 dpi and are usually unsuitable for high-quality printing.

3. Artwork Size

For best results, create artwork at the final print size.

For example:

If ordering a 60 mm round sticker, your artwork should also be created at 60 mm.

Scaling very small artwork up can significantly reduce print quality.

4. Bleed

Where your artwork extends to the edge of the finished product, include a 3 mm bleed on all sides.

This helps prevent unwanted white edges caused by the normal trimming process.

If no bleed is included, minor white borders may be visible after cutting.

5. Safe Zone

Keep all important elements away from the trim edge.

We recommend leaving at least:

3 mm inside the finished cut line

This helps prevent important content from being trimmed during production.

Keep the following inside the safe zone:

• logos;
• text;
• QR codes;
• barcodes;
• contact information;
• decorative borders.

6. Colour Mode

For the most accurate printed colours, artwork should be created using:

CMYK colour mode

RGB artwork can be printed, but colours may appear different once converted for commercial printing.

7. Colour Accuracy

Printed colours will never exactly match colours displayed on:

• computer monitors;
• laptops;
• tablets;
• mobile phones.

Colour differences occur because screens emit light while printed materials reflect light.

Minor colour variation is considered normal within commercial printing.

If colour accuracy is critical to your project, please contact us before ordering.

8. Spot Colours & Brand Colours

If your business requires specific brand colours (such as Pantone® references), please contact us before placing your order.

Standard digital printing reproduces colours as accurately as possible but cannot guarantee an exact Pantone match unless a specialist colour-matching service has been agreed.

9. Fonts

Where possible:

• convert fonts to outlines before exporting artwork; or
• embed fonts within PDF files.

If fonts are missing, they may be substituted, altering the appearance of your design.

10. Transparency & Effects

Before exporting artwork:

• flatten unnecessary transparency;
• check shadows;
• check gradients;
• ensure blending modes export correctly.

Some software may render effects differently when converted to print-ready files.

11. QR Codes & Barcodes

QR codes and barcodes should be:

• high resolution;
• positioned within the safe zone;
• large enough to scan comfortably.

Always test QR codes and barcodes before submitting artwork.

Stikaroo does not verify the functionality of customer-supplied QR codes or barcodes.

12. Thin Lines

Avoid extremely thin lines.

Lines thinner than 0.25 pt may not reproduce consistently during printing.

For best results, use slightly heavier line weights.

13. Small Text

Very small text can become difficult to read.

As a general guide:

• avoid text smaller than 6 pt;
• use larger sizes for reversed (white) text;
• choose clear, legible fonts.

14. Image Quality

Avoid:

• screenshots;
• compressed images;
• images downloaded from social media;
• photographs enlarged beyond their original size.

The better the original image quality, the better the printed result.

15. Sticker Materials

We offer a range of premium materials suitable for different applications.

Examples include:

• Premium Matt Vinyl
• Premium Gloss Vinyl
• Matt Paper
• Gloss Paper

Each material has different characteristics relating to durability, water resistance, finish and intended use.

Please refer to individual product pages for specific material information.

16. Lamination

Where available, laminated products offer additional protection against:

• scratches;
• moisture;
• fading;
• everyday wear.

Lamination may slightly alter the final appearance of colours and surface finish.

17. Cutting Tolerances

Commercial printing involves small manufacturing tolerances.

Minor variations may occur in:

• trimming;
• positioning;
• alignment;
• cutting.

Typical tolerances are approximately ±2 mm, depending on the product.

These tolerances are considered acceptable within the printing industry.

18. Shape Accuracy

We manufacture a wide variety of sticker shapes including:

• Round
• Oval
• Square
• Rectangle
• Custom Shapes

Minor variations in cutting position are normal and should be considered when designing artwork.

19. White Borders

Where a white border is part of your design, we recommend making it sufficiently wide to allow for normal cutting tolerances.

Very narrow borders may appear uneven due to the precision limits of commercial cutting equipment.

20. Customer Proofing

Customers are responsible for checking artwork before submitting an order.

Please carefully review:

• spelling;
• grammar;
• colours;
• layout;
• image quality;
• contact details;
• URLs;
• QR codes;
• barcodes;
• measurements.

Once production has commenced, changes may no longer be possible.

21. File Storage

To make repeat ordering easier, we may securely retain artwork associated with previous orders.

If you would like your artwork removed after your order has been completed, please contact us and we will securely delete it unless we are legally required to retain it.

22. Need Help?

If you are unsure whether your artwork is suitable for printing, we're happy to help.

Contact us before placing your order and we'll advise whether your files are suitable or if any improvements are recommended.

Email: admin@stikaroo.co.uk

23. Related Policies

This guide should be read alongside our:

• Terms & Conditions of Sale
• Artwork & Copyright Policy
• Returns & Refund Policy
• Privacy Policy

These policies explain your rights, responsibilities and how we process your artwork and personal information.