How long does it actually take to make a custom sticker?
| Standard production | 3-5 business days |
|---|---|
| Rush production | 1-2 business days |
| Prepress and proof | Same or next business day |
| Ship from | Greenville, SC |
| Free US shipping | Orders over $75 |
Stage by stage
1. Prepress and file check (same or next business day). A person opens your file, checks resolution at final size, confirms bleed and safe zone, builds or verifies the cut path, and flags anything that will not print well. If we need to ask you something, this is where the clock pauses.
2. Proof (optional, adds a day if you want one). A digital proof goes out at no charge. Production does not start until you approve.
3. Ganging and RIP. Your job is laid out with others on the same material to minimise waste, then processed through the RIP with the correct ICC profile for that substrate.
4. Printing (minutes to a couple of hours). Eco-solvent ink on the 11-color press. Longer runs are the only ones where press time is a meaningful part of the schedule.
5. Outgas and lamination. Eco-solvent ink needs a short period to release solvent before laminate goes on; trapping it causes silvering later. Then the roll runs through the laminator.
6. Contour cutting. Summa OPOS reads the registration marks and cuts to ±0.1 mm. Rigid or oversize work goes to the Kongsberg table.
7. Weeding and inspection (manual, the real bottleneck). Waste vinyl is removed by hand and every sheet is looked at. Intricate die-cut shapes take longer here than anything else in the process.
8. Packing and label. Boxed flat with backing board, tracking emailed automatically.
Why we quote 3 to 5 days and not "24 hours"
A 24-hour promise usually means one of three things: the laminate step was skipped, the file did not get a human prepress check, or the number is a marketing figure with an asterisk. Our standard window is honest and we hit it. If you genuinely need it faster, rush production is a real option at checkout, not a maybe.
Shipping time is separate
Production days and transit days are different things. From Greenville, ground shipping reaches most of the eastern United States in 1 to 2 days and the west coast in 4 to 5. Expedited air is available at checkout.
Related questions
- When does the production clock start?
- At artwork approval, not at payment. If your file needs a fix or you requested a proof, the clock starts when that is settled.
- Can I get stickers tomorrow?
- With rush production and expedited shipping on a simple file placed early in the day, next-day delivery is possible in parts of the Southeast. Email hello@stickerine.com before ordering and we will tell you honestly whether your deadline is achievable.
- Do you ship internationally?
- Yes, with duties and taxes payable by the recipient. Transit time varies by destination.