Zazzle Custom-Cut Vinyl / Contour Stickers: Product Overview and Designer Guide

Watch Monica and Kyle chat about the technology that went into making this product come to life.


This article explains Zazzle’s contour (custom-cut) stickers, covering the technology, design guidelines, product specifications, and best practices for designers.

1. What Are Contour / Custom Cut Vinyl Stickers?

  • Contour stickers are stickers precisely cut around custom designs, using advanced image processing technology rather than standard shapes like circles or rectangles.

  • Designers can place up to 30 individually cut stickers on a single sheet.

2. How Does the Cutting Technology Work?

  • Stickers are custom-cut according to the actual outlines of each uploaded design, thanks to Zazzle’s proprietary image processing system.

  • Designs must have transparent backgrounds for accurate cutting. File formats like PNG with transparency are recommended.

  • The cutting arm has physical limits—very small or extremely narrow details may not cut cleanly.

3. What Are the Size and Material Options?

  • There are 6 sticker sheet sizes to choose from:

    • Tiny 2" x 2"  
    • Extra-Small 3" x 3"  
    • Small 4" x 4"  
    • Medium 6" x 6"
    • Large 8" x 8"
    • Extra-Large 14" x 14"   

  • Stickers can be printed on two substrates: matte white and transparent.

  • No white ink is printed: white areas on designs will appear as the base material color (white for the white substrate, invisible for the transparent substrate).

4. What Are the Design Requirements & Limitations?

  • Each sheet can contain up to 30 individually die-cut stickers. If the design includes more, only the 30 largest objects are cut; the rest must be cut manually.

  • Designs should use transparent backgrounds—otherwise, the system will default to a basic rectangle shape.

  • The design tool previews show exactly how the sticker and sheet will look after production, helping designers plan their artwork effectively.

  • Designers can intentionally connect individual sticker elements in the design tool if one larger sticker is desired.

5. How to Choose Between White and Transparent Backgrounds?

  • Use the white substrate for more vibrant designs, especially for use on dark surfaces.

  • Use transparent for a more subtle effect or for placement on light-colored or clear surfaces.

6. What Are Common Use Cases for Contour Stickers?

  • Popular uses include decorating laptops, phones, tablets, luggage, water bottles, notebooks, lockers, guitar cases, and more.

  • Additional design tips and inspiration can be found in Zazzle’s forums and design guidelines.

7. What Challenges Did Zazzle Solve for This Launch?

  • Developed real-time preview technology so designers see accurate outlines and cut lines in the design tool.

  • Balanced production constraints (time to cut, machine precision) with creative freedom.

8. How do I design one?