The cut decides how a sticker feels in the hand and how it is used. Both cuts use the same vinyl and the same print; the difference is whether the knife goes through the backing.
Die-cut
A die-cut sticker is cut right through, along the outline of the design, so there is no white border and no backing around it. It looks like an object, which is why logos and mascots are usually die-cut. It is peeled from a single backing sheet and is a little harder to hand out because it has no square to hold.
Kiss-cut
A kiss-cut sticker is cut through the vinyl only and stays on a square or rectangular backing. It is flat in the mail, easy to peel, and the backing leaves room for a printed message on the back. It is the usual choice for hand-outs, packaging inserts and sticker packs.
A quick way to decide
- For laptops, bottles and bumpers: die-cut, outdoor vinyl for anything that sees rain.
- For hand-outs and packaging inserts: kiss-cut on a backing.
- For a set of designs: a kiss-cut sheet.
- For seals and closings: round stickers.
