Most sticker disappointments aren't printing problems — they're file problems, and every one of them is preventable before you ever hit upload. Here's the checklist we wish every file followed, from the people who print them.
Start with the format. StickerTurbo accepts PNG, JPG, PDF, AI, EPS, and SVG. If you have a vector file (AI, EPS, SVG, or a vector PDF), send that — vectors scale to any size with perfectly crisp edges because they're math, not pixels. If you're working from a raster image, a high-resolution PNG is the next best thing.
If you send a PNG, transparency is the single most important detail. A PNG with a transparent background tells us exactly where your design ends, so the die-cut line can follow it automatically. A design sitting on a white or colored box means the box is part of the artwork — and unless you want a rectangular sticker, that's not what you pictured. In Photoshop, Canva Pro, or any editor: delete the background layer and export as PNG with transparency on.
Resolution: aim for 300 DPI at the size you'll print. In practice, a 3-inch sticker wants roughly 900 by 900 pixels minimum; 1500+ is safer. A logo grabbed from a website at 200 pixels wide will print soft and fuzzy at 3 inches, no matter how good the printer is. Bigger is always safe — we can scale down losslessly, never up.
Think about your smallest text. Anything under about 8 points tends toward unreadable at typical sticker sizes, especially on textured finishes like holographic. If your design has a tagline under the logo, check it at actual size: print it on paper at 3 inches, hold at arm's length, and be honest.
Colors: screens show RGB light, printers lay down CMYK ink, and some neon-bright screen colors physically can't be reproduced in ink. Expect vivid colors to land slightly deeper than your monitor shows. This is inherent to all printing, not a defect — and it's exactly why every StickerTurbo order includes a free digital proof before production, so you approve what will actually print.
One more habit worth keeping: leave a little breathing room. Keep critical elements about a sixteenth of an inch from your design's outer edge, so the cut never grazes anything important.
That's the whole checklist: vector when you have it, transparent PNG when you don't, 300 DPI at print size, readable text, and expectations set for screen-versus-ink color. Do those five things and your proof will come back looking exactly like the sticker in your head — printed and shipped within 48 hours.