How do I add white ink to my design?

We have a few different ways you can add white ink to your design. This article will go into each method. Scan the headings below to see which method is suitable for you.

Firstly, why would you add white ink?

We print white ink for 3 main reasons:

1. To show the colour white on a clear, silver, gold, holographic, glitter or fluorescent sticker.
2. To make a colour opaque on a clear sticker. If we don't add white ink behind a colour on a clear sticker, it will be transparent. 
3. To remove the metallic effect from; silver, gold, holographic and glitter stickers. If we don't add white ink behind a colour on these stickers, the colour will appear metallic or glitter effect.

Adding white ink for designers

If you are a designer, you can add white ink behind the colours you choose by creating a white layer, and calling it 'white'.

You don't need to add white behind the black layer, because black is opaque enough, even without white ink.

You would create this white layer in a vector design programme such as Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw. The reason it's best to create the white layer as a vector shape is because it's known in printing as a 'technical ink'. If it's a vector shape, we can tell the printer exactly what colours to use so we get beautifully vibrant white.

Adding white ink for non-designers

If you are not a designer, we can still help.

Just let us know where you want the white ink, and our design team will do the rest. We will create the white layer to create your desired result.

Remember, if we don't add white ink behind a colour, it will be transparent for clear stickers. And we need to add white ink behind a colour to remove the metallic effect from; silver, gold, holographic and glitter stickers.