How do clear stickers with white print work?
Clear stickers need a printed white ink layer because standard CMYK ink is translucent and disappears on clear film. A white underlay sits beneath colored artwork so it stays opaque, while spot white prints white-only elements like text or a logo. Stickerine prints white ink on clear vinyl at no separate charge; clear film adds 10%.
| Clear vinyl upcharge | +10% over white vinyl |
|---|---|
| White ink | Included, no separate charge |
| Underlay | Full white layer under color art |
| Spot white | White-only elements, rest stays clear |
Why white ink exists
Process ink is translucent. On white vinyl the stock itself provides opacity. On clear film there is nothing behind the ink, so colors sink into whatever the sticker is stuck to. Printing white first restores that backing.
The two ways to use it
- White underlay. A solid white layer is printed under your colored artwork so the colors read the same on a black bottle as on a white box. The area around the art stays clear, which is what creates the "printed directly on the surface" look.
- Spot white. Only chosen elements print in white, everything else stays clear. Perfect for white text or a white logo on dark glass, amber jars or matte black packaging.
Choosing between them
| Situation | Use |
|---|---|
| Colorful logo on a dark bottle | White underlay |
| White-only wordmark on amber glass | Spot white |
| Window decal viewed from both sides | Underlay, and ask about second-surface printing |
| Light-colored packaging with soft colors | You may not need white at all |
What to send us
Flatten your art, keep the background transparent in a PNG or place vector art in a PDF, and tell us where you want white. If you do not specify, we default to a white underlay behind all colored elements and leave the background clear.
Where clear stickers shine
Glass jars, growler and can labels, dispensary packaging, storefront windows, laptop art that should look printed on the lid, and product labels where the packaging color is part of the design.
Related questions
- Does white ink cost extra?
- No. Clear vinyl carries a 10% material upcharge over white vinyl, and the white ink layer is included in that.
- Will clear stickers look truly invisible?
- The film is clear but not invisible. Up close you will see a thin edge, especially on gloss surfaces. On glass at normal viewing distance, it reads as printed directly on the surface.