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Carrco field guide / printing guide
Sticker Printing Guide — Artwork Setup, Bleed & File Specs
ARTWORK SPECS300 DPI MINIMUM1/8″ BLEEDCMYK COLORWATERPROOF BOPPPRINTED IN ST. PETEARTWORK SPECS300 DPI MINIMUM1/8″ BLEEDCMYK COLORWATERPROOF BOPPPRINTED IN ST. PETE CARRCO FIELD MANUAL · DOC 01 The PrintingGuide. E...
The Printing
Guide.
Everything you need to prepare artwork that prints perfectly the first time. File specs, bleed, color, and cut lines — explained without the jargon.
Send us the right file.
We accept PNG, JPG, PDF, and AI files. Vector formats (PDF, AI) scale to any size without quality loss, so they are always the best choice when you have them. High-resolution PNGs with transparent backgrounds are perfect for contour-cut stickers.
| Format | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AI / PDF | Logos, text-heavy designs, any size | Vector — infinitely scalable. Convert text to outlines before sending. |
| PNG | Contour-cut stickers, digital art | Use a transparent background. Export at 300 DPI at final print size. |
| JPG | Photographs, full-bleed designs | No transparency. Use maximum quality export settings. |
300 DPI or better.
Screens display at 72–150 DPI. Print demands more. Your file should be 300 DPI at the actual size it will print — a 3″ sticker needs roughly 900×900 pixels minimum. Upscaling a small image adds pixels, not detail, so always start from your largest original.
Give your design room.
Cutting is precise but not surgical — every cut can shift a hair in any direction. Two rules protect your design:
RGB designs, CMYK presses.
Screens mix light (RGB); presses mix ink (CMYK). Most colors convert cleanly, but ultra-vivid blues, neon greens, and hot pinks can shift slightly darker in print. If exact color matters — brand colors especially — design in CMYK from the start, or send us the Pantone reference and we will match it as closely as BOPP allows.
Any shape you can draw.
Our contour-cut stickers follow the outline of your artwork. Send a PNG with a transparent background and we generate the cut path for you — no die lines required. Prefer control? Include a dedicated cut path as a spot color named “CutContour” in your vector file.
Avoid razor-thin points and openings narrower than 1/8″ — skinny geometry tears during weeding and peeling.
Matte or gloss. Both BOPP.
Carrco custom-print orders use BOPP face film. Ready-made catalog items can use different materials, which are stated on their product pages. Gloss saturates color and shrugs off moisture with a wet-look shine. Matte kills glare, feels premium in hand, and reads beautifully under bar and café lighting. The BOPP face film is waterproof. Finished performance depends on the adhesive, print and finish system, surface, application and exposure.
Deep dive: the full BOPP spec sheet.
Before you upload.
- File is 300 DPI at final print size (or vector)
- Background extends 1/8″ past the cut line
- Text and logos sit 1/8″ inside the cut line
- Fonts converted to outlines (vector files)
- Transparent background on PNGs for contour cuts
- No elements thinner than 1/8″
- Colors checked in CMYK if brand-critical
Not sure about something? Upload anyway. A real person reviews every file before production and we will flag anything that will not print well — before it prints.
Human proofing / every custom order
A real person checks the details.
We review artwork, shape, edge quality and production readiness before anything reaches the press. You approve the proof; we make it real. Start with your artwork ↗