What Are Holographic Stickers and How They Work?

What Are Holographic Stickers and How Do They Work?

Holographic stickers are shiny, colourful, and eye-catching and not just for show. They’re made using a special material that reflects light in a way that creates a rainbow-like effect. People love them because they stand out, feel premium, and look a bit magic.

In this post, we’ll break down what holographic stickers actually are, how they’re made, and how they work. We’ll also explain how to design them properly and what you should keep in mind if you’re thinking of printing some.

So, What Are Holographic Stickers?

Holographic stickers are printed on a shiny vinyl with a rainbow sheen. This material reflects light in lots of directions, which makes the surface shift colours depending on how you hold it.

You’ve probably seen this effect on credit cards, shiny logos, or old school trading cards. In sticker form, it adds an extra layer of interest to your design – even before you add print to it.

What Makes Them Shine?

It’s all in the film. The base layer of holographic vinyl has a special finish built into it. This surface is covered with tiny grooves, like microscopic mirrors, that bend and bounce light. This light bounces in different directions, creating that multi-coloured look.

The effect isn’t printed. It’s part of the material itself. That means even plain designs with no ink can still look interesting , because the base shines through.

How Are Holographic Stickers Made?

We start with the holographic vinyl sheet. The process from there is pretty standard for any high-quality sticker:

1. Your design is printed onto the holographic film using CMYK inks.

2. A layer of clear laminate is added over the top. This helps protect the print and adds durability.

3. Stickers are cut to your chosen shape using a plotter or laser cutter.

The clear layer on top doesn’t ruin the holographic look – the rainbow finish still shows through, especially in the parts of your design that are left blank or semi-transparent.

Can You Print Colour On Holographic Vinyl?

Yes, and here’s where it gets interesting. You can print colour on top of the holographic base, and the two interact. This gives a different result than printing on plain white vinyl.

Colours printed on holographic vinyl will often look slightly metallic. The rainbow sheen comes through the ink, unless you lay down a solid base layer (like white ink) to block it out.

That means you’ve got two main options when designing:

• Let the holographic effect show through parts of your design (text, shapes, etc.)

• Use white ink under some areas to stop the shine and keep your colours solid

What File Type Do You Need?

Vector files (like AI, EPS or SVG) are best. They’re clean and scalable, which makes for sharp prints and easy cut lines. But if all you’ve got is a high-res PNG or PDF, that usually works too.

If you want us to print white ink under certain areas, just let us know, we’ll handle the setup. No need to panic about file prep , we’ll guide you through it if needed.

Design Tips for Holographic Stickers

If you want your design to take advantage of the material, here are a few tips:

1. Leave some areas clear or less detailed – that’s where the shine really works.

2. Use bold lines and shapes. Fine detail can get lost in the colour shifts.

3. Think about contrast. Bright colours on a shiny surface can be hard to read unless you block out the background.

4. Ask about adding a white layer under parts of the design if you want solid colours.

We’re happy to mock something up for you or make suggestions if your design needs a tweak.