What does PP stand for in stickers?
Printing stickers are simple, but picking the right material for your stickers can be tricky. For many people, they may not be able to tell the difference between the materials for stickers to realize which is more suitable for certain packaging or products.
Here in Hellosticker, we have different kinds of stickers and materials to choose from, and they all come in various sizes, shapes, colors and characteristics! To keep things simple, here is a short introduction of our sticker types and their distinctive features.
Stickers on a Sheet
1. Simili Sticker
Simili Stickers are common and budget-friendly stickers. This paper stock is uncoated and comes with a natural feel to it. Due to its non-waterproof characteristics, simili stickers can absorb ink easily, making them ideal to be written on.
2. Mirrorcoat Sticker
Yet another budget-friendly option, mirrorcoat stickers are shiny, glossy paper stickers. These white-based stickers can be used indoors. They’re not fully waterproof.
3. Synthetic Matte White
These stickers are made from a material similar to plastic. Which means they are water-resistant!
4. Synthetic Transparent
As the title suggests, these stickers are see-through. This makes them ideal to show off packaging or products that have great designs.
5. Kraft Paper Sticker
These stickers are created from brown, natural paper materials, This made the stickers ideal for handcrafted or eco-friendly products. Like simili stickers, these stickers are writable.
6. PVC
PVC are stickers made from high quality material with plastic characteristics. Which means they are waterproof, flexible and tear resistant. They are ideal to use outdoors.
7. PP
These high quality stickers are not only waterproof, they are also easy to stretch and tear resistant.
8. Silver
These stickers are made from shiny and metallic material, making it appear as silver. Not only that, they are also water plus tear resistant. These eye-catching stickers can put emphasis on your product or packaging.
9. Holographic
These holographic stickers have metallic properties of silver stickers combined with the colors of a rainbow. They’re suitable for technology-based products or simply used for the FUN factor :)
10. Warranty
Warranty Stickers are mainly used as a security seal. Once sticked, it will break into tiny chunks when there are removal attempts.
Sticker Roll
1. White PE
These white-based stickers are made from water resistant material. They are also slightly stretchable.
2. Silver PP
Silver PP has the metallic properties that will make them shine just like silver.
3. Transparent OPP
The transparent OPP sticker is water resistant, flexible and durable. They’re also glossy with a tough base.
4. Tissue Paper
This security seal can only be used once. Once sticked, any removal attempts will break it with ease. These stickers have a yellow base.
5. Breakable PVC
These stickers also function the same with our warranty stickers. Once sticked, it will also be broken into small chunks should there be any removal attempts.
Individual Sticker
1.Car Window
Car Window Stickers consist of non-adhesive cling material. This is so that the glass will not be damaged when the sticker is removed. In addition, the stickers are tear resistant plus water-proof.
2. Lettering
These Lettering Stickers are decals that are cut out using a vinyl cutting plotter. They are mainly for decoration and can be applied on to walls or even vehicles. Their waterproof plus tear resistant properties make them suitable for outdoors.
3. Reflective Lettering
These Reflective Stickers are similar with Lettering Stickers, but they come with reflective attributes. They’re useful on vehicles especially during the night.
Wrap up
We hope the brief introduction of our stickers can make it easier for you to choose the right sticker. Moreover, if you need more details about the stickers, you can also take a look at another article of ours. If you’re all set and ready, be sure to stick out among the others by printing with Hellosticker!
Vinyl vs. Bopp
There are lots of options for stickers out there. A common question we get at Custom Stickers is: "Vinyl vs. BOPP, what's the difference, and which should I use for my stickers?"
At Custom Stickers, we use vinyl for our stickers and BOPP for our labels. This article will cover the differences so you can get a sense of which material is better for your application.
What is Vinyl?
Vinyl is a plastic product manufactured from ethylene and chlorine (a type of salt) to produce Polyvinyl Chloride, more commonly known as vinyl. It is a versatile product used to make various everyday products, including vinyl flooring and siding, vinyl records, and vinyl stickers.
What is BOPP?
BOPP is an acronym for Biaxially-Oriented (BO) Polypropylene (PP). It's a type of plastic that has been stretched in two directions (biaxially) so that it is thin and flexible. Its most common use is packaging labels such as food and beverage, personal care, and more.
Comparing and Contrasting Vinyl and BOPP
Both materials have uses outside of sticker production, but this comparison will cover the differences specifically for sticker production. Before we dive in, note that both vinyl and BOPP are waterproof and recyclable.
Weight and Thickness
Vinyl is significantly thicker than BOPP. It is simply a heavier-duty material that is manufactured for durability. It is better for die-cut stickers because the thickness and weight have a better impact when passing them out or including them in packages.
On the other hand, BOPP is manufactured to be thin and flexible. This means it is better than vinyl for product packaging and similar applications. It is easier to apply to product packaging with various depths and curvatures. It's a better material for sticker label rolls.
Vinyl is thicker and more rigid. BOPP is thinner and more flexible.
If you plan to use your stickers for packaging, BOPP is better. For handing out, or marketing, vinyl is better.
Winner: Draw
Durability
Because vinyl is thicker and more rigid than BOPP, it has better durability. This is especially true under harsh conditions.
For example, vinyl is much better if you have an outdoor application, such as bumper stickers or window stickers. It will hold up for years under rain, snow, and heat.
Likewise, vinyl is the best choice if you plan to put your stickers on a water bottle because it is dishwasher safe.
BOPP is best suited for indoor use or temporary applications. BOPP can hold up for a long time indoors.
For durability and long-term use, vinyl has the edge.
Winner: Vinyl
Print Quality
Both vinyl and BOPP can have similar print quality. This is because they are both white materials (but can also be produced to be clear and holographic).
One key difference is that BOPP material is stretched, so it is significantly thinner than typical vinyl sticker material. This can make it appear more translucent. In practical terms, this can make print slightly more dull.
However, the more significant difference stems from the type of printers available to print on Vinyl and BOPP. There are commercial vinyl printers, such as the ones we use at CustomStickers, which print using ten colors. On the other hand, the BOPP printers with the broadest color gamut print using up to 7 colors.
When comparing the top-of-the-line vinyl printers vs. the top-of-the-line BOPP printers, the vinyl printers win out in terms of color.
Vinyl has a slight edge, but it isn't something most people would notice.
Winner: Vinyl
Who uses vinyl, and who uses BOPP?
Vinyl tends to be more common for sticker production. Most folks would agree that it is the superior material for sticker applications. That said, several sticker producers use BOPP exclusively - they tend to be companies that focus on labeling solutions.
Vinyl Sticker Producers
CustomStickers
StickerMule
RockinMonkey
StickerYou
CarStickers
BOPP Sticker Producers
StickerGiant
MakeStickers
StickerApp
Conclusion
We use vinyl for our sticker material because it has the best durability and print quality. We also offer BOPP material for our label products.
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this article, make sure you check our blog regularly for the latest. If you're in the market for stickers, check out our guide on choosing the perfect sticker.