Create your own custom magnet design

Are you looking to make a statement with your own custom magnet design? Whether you need custom magnets for business promotions, want to learn how to make magnets to sell, or are simply looking to create something fun, displaying your unique magnets is a great way to express yourself.

With the right free online tools and a few creative ideas, you can create eye-catching designs that will stand out wherever they're displayed.

Read on for tips on turning your artwork into beautiful magnets. Learn about white layers, custom cutlines, exporting your artwork, and which designs work best on magnets. Get ready to make a bold impression with your personalized magnet creations.

Oh, and for more info, check out our post on what is a custom magnet.

Free online tools

If you're an experienced designer, creating artwork will be a breeze. But if you’ve never tried creating a design from scratch, it might seem intimidating. It doesn’t have to be.

With easy-to-use online tools like Canva or Graphic, you can create a custom design in minutes. Browse, edit, and save hundreds of templates and design elements without any design experience. You can use our free online designer as well.

White layers

If you're designing a magnet using any of our effect materials (holographic, glitter, silver, or gold), you might want to create white layers.

White layers mark areas in your design where white ink should be printed. White ink is an important tool in print design, especially when using effect materials.

When color is printed directly onto an effect material, the base shines through the color, creating a chrome or glitter look. But if you want a solid, opaque color instead, we print a white layer between the material and your color. This cancels out the base effect and makes your color appear normal.

In the design file, white layers tell us where to print white ink. If you're not sure how to do that, no problem — just let us know which areas should have white behind them, and our design team will handle the rest.

Custom cutlines

We use flexible material to make your magnets, which means you can create nearly any shape.

To do that, we need a cutline around your design. This tells our digital cutter where to cut. You can create your own custom cutline, or just send us your design and we’ll add the cutline for you. On your proof, it will appear as a magenta line around your artwork.

If you want to draw your own cutline, check out the tutorial below.

‍

Exporting your artwork

After you’ve designed your artwork, created white layers, and added a cutline, you’re ready to export and submit it. To make sure it’s print-ready:

• Set your colors to CMYK (not RGB)
• Convert all fonts to outlines
• Export as a high-resolution vector file

If you're using Canva, this video tutorial shows how to export your artwork properly.

Which designs work best on magnets?

Any design can work on a magnet. But think about where people usually use magnets: fridges, whiteboards, lockers, message boards, and even cars.

Your design should be clear, bold, and easy to read. Avoid overloading it with too much text or clutter. Leave space around your elements so the design has room to breathe.

Logo designs work great on magnets. Try to feature your logo front and center, along with your business name and contact info. For extra impact, choose die cut magnets shaped like your logo.

If you're creating promotional magnets, consider including a custom QR code that links to a landing page or unlocks a special discount.

So, here’s what makes a great custom magnet design:

• Your logo
• Business or contact info
• Plenty of white space
• A QR code for more details
• A custom shape

How do you turn a picture into a magnet?

Maybe you're not making business magnets — you just want to turn a picture of your pet or best friend into a magnet. Totally doable, and it’s actually really easy.

1. Choose your image. Make sure it’s high resolution (at least 300 DPI), so it doesn’t pixelate when resized.
2. Select your magnet product. We recommend rounded corner or rectangular magnets to give your photo the most room.
3. Pick your size. The bigger the magnet, the higher the resolution should be.
4. Choose your material. White vinyl works best if you want full photo coverage. It gives you bright, vibrant colors.
5. Set your quantity. We have no minimum order quantity, so you can order just one. But for the best value, we recommend checking out our magnet samples.

As you can see, making a custom magnet is simple and fun. To start your design, browse our site for more info about available materials, shapes, and sizes. Check out our video tutorials if you need help creating cutlines or exporting print-ready files — or reach out to us and we’ll help bring your idea to life.