Printing
How to Make Die Cut Stickers at Home
By Sticker Flux ·
Die cut stickers are cut through both the sticker and its backing, following the outline of the design. They look professional and are easier than you might think to make at home.
What makes a sticker die cut
A die cut sticker has no rectangle around it. The blade follows the shape of the artwork, usually with a thin white border, and cuts through the backing paper too, so each sticker becomes its own little object. That custom silhouette is why die cut stickers look so polished on laptops, water bottles, and notebooks, and why shops charge more for them than for simple square labels.
The secret to a good die cut sticker is a design with a simple, smooth outline. Spiky hair, thin tails, and tiny gaps between limbs are hard to cut and easy to tear. A bold shape with a consistent white border around it gives you a forgiving line to follow, whether you use scissors, a craft knife, or a cutting machine. [Sticker Flux](/) offers a rounded-square alternative to intricate subject-shaped artwork. Its paid PNG or JPG download includes a thin white edge and black outline for manual cutting. That visible line is not a vector cut path, so a cutting machine requires its own setup.
Printing die cut stickers at home
Print on full-sheet sticker paper or printable vinyl using your printer's best quality setting and the matching paper type. Let the ink dry for several minutes before handling, especially on glossy media. Leave a little space between designs so you have room to cut around each border without nicking its neighbor, and print one test sheet before using your best paper.
For durability, add a clear laminate sheet over the printed page before cutting. It protects inkjet prints from smudges and light splashes and gives the finished die cut stickers a glossy or matte finish. Smooth it on slowly from one edge with a card to avoid trapped bubbles, then trim the excess before you start cutting out shapes.
Cutting die cut stickers cleanly
By hand, cut through both layers with sharp scissors, following the outside of the white border. Small curved scissors make rounded corners easier, and turning the paper instead of your hand keeps lines smooth. A craft knife on a self-healing mat works well for inside curves, but always cut away from your fingers and change blades often.
With a cutting machine, use the print-then-cut workflow so the machine reads registration marks and follows each outline. Set the blade to cut fully through for die cut stickers, or only through the top layer if you want kiss cut stickers on a sheet instead. Test the pressure on a scrap first, because different papers and laminates need different settings.
Further reading
Create your own stickers in Sticker Flux
Related guides
How to Cut Printed Stickers with a Clean White Border