How are holographic stickers and labels made?

If you’re in the market for holographic rainbow stickers or are curious to learn more about them, you’re in the right place.

We’re going to explain how they’re made and how you can design awesome holographic stickers.

Firstly, what is a holographic sticker?

The term holographic simply means your design is printed on iridescent vinyl, which gives it an eye-catching rainbow effect.

The holographic material we use to print your stickers is vinyl-based and already comes with a rainbow sheen. That means we don’t need to add foil or print any metallic effects onto the stickers.

You can see the holographic effect here:

See 6 examples of awesome holographic stickers.

How are holographic stickers made?

Holographic stickers are made like most other stickers. Ink is printed onto holographic vinyl, then a clear laminate is applied on top. This protective layer makes your sticker durable, waterproof, and resistant to fading from sunlight.

Finally, your stickers or labels are cut into the shape you selected when placing your order.

Here’s an image showing the layers of a holographic sticker:

Can you print on holographic vinyl?

Yes, and holographic stickers and labels are something special.

We use the iridescent effect of the vinyl to create amazing results by printing different colors on top of the holographic base. Here's a look at how those printed colors appear:

How is holographic vinyl made?

Holographic vinyl starts out as a metalized polyester film. A very thin layer of metal is applied to a polyester base film, then passed through rollers with a textured surface.

This process is called embossing. The texture is extremely shallow (around 10 microns, or about one-fifth the width of a human hair) and can’t be felt by touch. The subtle changes to the surface diffract light, which creates the rainbow effect you see.

Embossing can be done with many patterns, giving us different effects such as holographic (rainbow chrome) stickers or silver stickers. Learn more about the difference between holographic stickers vs silver stickers.

Do your holographic stickers have a gloss or matte finish?

Our holographic stickers have a premium gloss finish. We’ve found that a glossy laminate enhances the material’s reflective quality and gives you the best possible result.

If you’re looking for a matte finish instead, please contact us before placing your order.

Security hologram stickers – how are they different?

What is a security hologram?

Security hologram stickers are often used on official documents like diplomas or certificates to verify authenticity. They’re also popular on product packaging. These stickers are difficult to counterfeit and help protect your brand.

How are security hologram stickers made?

These are made from metalized film—a thin plastic sheet (usually polyester) coated with an ultra-thin layer of metal. The film is embossed (or etched using a laser) with your design.

The embossed surface diffracts light, making the design appear when light hits it just right.

While these stickers are highly effective, custom security hologram stickers aren’t cheap. Custom embossing rollers need to be made with your design, and the setup cost is high. For example, minimum orders may start at 30,000 stickers, with setup costs near $2,500.

A more affordable option is to create a sticker design that mimics the look of a security hologram. You can print as few as 50 of these for around $35.

Ready to get started?

If you're ready to elevate your packaging and branding, check out our holographic stickers to get inspired.

Still exploring? Visit our blog for more helpful info about all things sticker printing.