Crystal transfer stickers have a quality similar to "direct printing on the applied object." On bottles, cans, wooden boxes, or materials with curved surfaces, small-scale customization printing is not easy. The more common method is screen printing, but it's challenging to achieve complex color effects with screen printing. #CrystalTransferStickers provide an excellent solution with various advantages:
Small amount and variety: Suitable for quantities ranging from 1 to 10,000 pieces, allowing for diverse styles in batch printing.
Color Gradients: Compared with screen printing, it can have richer color expressions, and the white ink base can express transparent designs.
Inkjet Printing Texture: Texture similar to screen printing on the applied object, with only ink thickness, making the stickers thin and refined. The edges have curved corners instead of the sharp corners of regular stickers.
Scratch-resistant and Washable: Exhibits characteristics similar to fragile stickers or ink that is difficult to completely remove, making it less likely to peel off even after washing or scrubbing, except under high temperatures or soaking in special chemicals.
Easy Processing: The Operation method is straightforward. Place the crystal transfer sticker along with the surface transfer film on the applied object, then carefully peel off the transfer film!
Printing Principle of Crystal Transfer Stickers
Early crystal transfer stickers were also made using screen printing, formerly known as "dry pressure-sensitive labels," in contrast to "water transfer stickers" since crystal transfer stickers do not need to be soaked in water and can be peeled and transferred to the applied object with the transfer film. Whether using screen printing or digital printing, the final effects are similar, with differences only in printing equipment and process order.
The manufacturing process of crystal labels involves printing ink on a bottom paper with adhesive and then overlaying it with a transfer film.
The transfer film catches the ink and the entire adhesive on the bottom paper, making it easy to peel off from the bottom paper (release paper).
Applying it to the applied object, peeling off the transfer film, due to the transparent protective oil on the print, the transfer film separates from the ink. Where there is no ink, only adhesive remains, which is taken away by the transfer film, creating a cleanly cut edge. If the printed lines are too thin, they are prone to tearing along with the adhesive. Normally, there may be a slight overflow of adhesive at the edge of the print, which is the adhesive that remains after tearing.
Expressing Complex Shapes with Crystal Transfer Stickers
Compared to transparent stickers, crystal transfer stickers are not only thinner, resembling the texture of screen printing, but they can also represent more delicate and intricate curved outlines, making them suitable for printing logos or designs with complex shapes.
Texture Similar to Screen Printing with Crystal Transfer Stickers
Compared to transparent stickers, the edges of crystal transfer stickers are delicate and rounded. To avoid ink breakage during transfer, it is still not recommended to have overly intricate lines or dots at the edges, such as fonts with strokes below 0.2mm. In normal circumstances, the edges of the print may have a slight adhesive overflow, which is the adhesive that remains after tearing.
Partial Translucent Effect with White Ink Background Design
Partial white ink can be printed for creating a partially translucent design effect.
Weather-resistant and Fade-resistant Car Stickers
The printing ink of crystal stickers is thicker than most screen prints, resulting in better resistance to light and fading. They are suitable for use as promotional car stickers.
Scratch-resistant and Elegant Design
Crystal stickers on water bottles withstand brushing, but it is advisable to avoid steel brushes or hard scraping. To remove, soaking in hot water or using adhesive remover works. Be cautious when peeling off the entire piece and then spraying adhesive remover to wipe off any remaining adhesive. Soaking in sodium percarbonate can easily remove the entire sticker, but be aware that if the base material has a painted or transfer treatment, it may be damaged by sodium percarbonate.
