How to create an oval document with bleed for stickers?

[AndreasS]

Hi,

I'm Affinity Designer (v2) beginner and would like to create an oval sticker. The printing service requires an oval document including an oval margin and bleed (sent as PDF).

Can I do this with Affinity Designer? Below the requirements from the printing service.

Thanks, Andreas.

[Hangman]

Hi @AndreasS and welcome to the forums,

Of course, if the printing service has provided or you can download the PDF then you can simply open it in Affinity Designer and use it as the template for your sticker artwork. If not then the attached should give you a good starting point though you would need to adjust the sticker sizing as appropriate for your artwork.

You wouldn't include the cyan and magenta lines on your final artwork, they are shown purely as a guide for the artwork safe zone (cyan line), trim size (dashed magenta line) and bleed size (solid magenta line). There is no need to make the bleed rectangular as it just wastes ink, the oval bleed is absolutely fine and should provide sufficient margin for misalignment when printed N-Up on a sheet.

Oval Sticker.afdesign

[MickRose]

Hi @AndreasS - Bleed is always rectangular (I think). Printing stickers with a cutout shape is something different. The normal practice is the create a spot colour called CutContour and tag the outline shape with that spot colour. Then export to a PDF making sure to keep spot colours. I would check this with your print supplier. I would also suggest doing a forum search for "CutContour".

[v_kyr]

2 hours ago, AndreasS said:

Can I do this with Affinity Designer?

Jip it's predestinated for such tasks.

 

The net is full of sticker services and corresponding templates (also for oval ones).

• oval sticker templates

 

You can also use those for m x n sheets of oval stickers (for self printing), I once had a need for rounded calendar reminder stickers for sheets ...

 

[AndreasS]

Thank you @Hangman, @MickRose and @v_kyr for your prompt answers and useful information! I've created my sticker based on the template with a CutContour color and will check with the printing service if that will work with them. Great Forum here, happy I've invested in the Affinity Suite 🙂