In a previous article Decal Printing、Transparent Sticker、Water Decal、Hand-painting, we introduced water decals, also known as water transfer or water slide decals:
Water decal (water transfer decals or water slide stickers), involve printing the design on special paper. To apply them, you cut out the design along with the paper, soak it in water for a moment, and then gently slide the design onto the item you want to decorate.
Water decal stickers are easy to apply and don’t require special skills. The designs are usually quite durable, resistant to fading, peeling, and don’t produce reflections. They are typically used for decorations and patterns on surfaces like nail art, phone cases, ceramics, glass, wood, plastic, and more.
Now, let’s demonstrate how water decals are used on a production line to print a logo on a resin surface:
Step 1: Print Water Sticker
Water stickers are printed products. The printing setup cost remains constant, so the cost for small q’ty (10–20 pcs) is not significantly different from small batches (1,000–3,000 pcs). The larger the q’ty, the lower the average cost per pcs.
Typically, water stickers are not produced as samples. Instead, they are batch-produced directly based on the customer’s provided artwork. However, if samples are required, a sampling fee may be charged according to the design and dimensions. Mass production begins after the sample is approved.
For this demonstration, we’ll use a logo from YEYE Company as an example. The logo’s dimensions are 1.3 cm x 2.5 cm and will be applied to a white poly surface, as shown in the example.
Step 2: Wet the Water Sticker to Separate It
The water stickers consists of a layer of paint printed on a thin film temporarily attached to paper. By soaking the stickers in water, the design gradually separates from the paper backing.
Step 3: Transfer the Water Stickers
Once the water sticker separates from the paper, quickly move the design to the desired position on the product.
Step 4: Finalize the Application
Before the sticker dries, position it correctly. Once placed, strengthen its adhesion to the surface to prevent it from shifting or peeling off.
Advantages of Using Water Stickers
1) High Success Rate. There’s no need for test printing. The printing company completes the logo printing, and the design is transferred to the product surface.
2) Multi-Color Logo Printing. Water stickers can accommodate intricate, multi-colored designs.
If you’re interested in applying logos to your products using water stickers, please feel free to contact us for further discussion!