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What is a white layer? (And why it's a game-changer)
White layers are a bit like the backstage crew of the sticker world. You won't see them, but they have a huge impact on the final performance.
By controlling how much of the material shines through, a white layer can completely change the look of your sticker. Curios? Keep on scrollin'!
TL;DR:
What is a white layer?
A white layer is a layer of white ink printed underneath your design. It controls how much of the sticker material shows through.
Why is it important?
A white layer affects how opaque, transparent, or effect-heavy your sticker appears. It gives you control over where the material shines through and where it stays hidden.
Can I use different white layer percentages in the same design?
Yes. Mixing different percentages allows you to combine opaque, semi-transparent, and effect-heavy areas within the same sticker.
How do I create a white layer for my sticker?
You can create a custom white layer in your design software, use StickerApp’s editor, or leave instructions in a comment when placing your order.
What is a white layer?
A white layer is a layer of white ink printed underneath your design. Sounds simple enough, right? Its job is to block the material underneath. The more white you add, the less of the material shows through. The less white you use, the more the material gets to be part of the design.
Think of it as a curtain between your artwork and the sticker material. Pull the curtain closed, and the material stays hidden. Open it up, and the material starts to shine through.
This is especially useful on special materials. The white layer lets you decide where the material should shine through and where it should stay hidden.
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Creative ways to use a white layer
A white layer is not just there to make colors more opaque. It is also one of the easiest ways to add contrast, depth, and material effects to a design.
Some popular uses include:
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Keeping text and logos crisp and readable
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Creating transparent elements like glass, water, smoke, or windows
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Letting holographic, glitter, or metallic effects shine through selected details
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Mixing opaque and transparent areas in the same design
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Drawing attention to highlights, outlines, or small design elements
A good rule of thumb? Let the material do some of the work. Instead of applying an effect everywhere, use the white layer strategically to reveal it where it matters most.
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Understanding white layer percentages
White layers do not have to be all or nothing. By adjusting the amount of white ink underneath your design, you can control how much of the material effect shines through. Lower percentages reveal more of the material, making effects like holographic, glitter, or Pixie Dust more visible. Higher percentages block more of the material, creating a stronger, more opaque appearance.
This gives you plenty of creative freedom. You can keep important elements solid and easy to read while letting other parts shimmer, sparkle, or interact with the material underneath. Even small changes in white layer percentage can have a surprisingly big impact on the final result.
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0% white
No white layer is applied to the pink areas, allowing the Pixie Dust effect to shine through at full strength. The result is bright, sparkly, and packed with texture. The border remains fully opaque thanks to a 100% white layer underneath.
This is a great option when you want the material itself to be part of the design rather than sitting behind it.
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30 % white
A light white layer softens the Pixie Dust effect without hiding it completely. The pink areas still shimmer, but with a smoother and slightly more solid appearance.
The border remains fully opaque. This can work especially well on white or light-colored designs, creating an almost snow-glitter effect.
15% white
A subtle white layer allows even more of the Pixie Dust effect to show through. The shimmer becomes stronger and the material plays a bigger role in the final look, while the border stays fully opaque.
The difference between 15% and 30% can be difficult to spot in photos, but in person, 15% reveals more of the material’s sparkle and texture.
Creating a white layer (the easy way)
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Using the editor
If you don’t feel like building a custom white layer from scratch, our live editor makes things a lot easier.
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Upload your artwork, choose your material, and the editor will automatically identify the colors in your design. Simply click a color and choose whether it should have no effect, a colored effect, or full effect.
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Play around with different combinations until it looks the way you want. Once you’re happy with the result, do a final check and place your order.
Want something extra specific? Leave us a comment. Our production team will review the file and make sure everything looks just right before it goes to print.
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Comment-based ordering
Don’t feel like creating a custom white layer? That’s completely fine. The easiest option is simply to leave us a comment when placing your order.
For example:
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“No white layer on the stars.”
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“100% white behind the logo, 50% behind the background.”
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“Keep the border transparent, the rest opaque.”
The more specific you are, the easier it is for us to match your vision. And if anything looks unclear, our team will always double-check before sending it to print.
Upload a custom effect layer
If you want to have full control of your sticker design, creating a custom effect layer is your best option. This can be done by either including a separate layer in the file or uploading it separately.
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Uploading a separate custom effect layer is possible with these materials: Holographic, transparent, glitter, prismatic, brushed aluminum, and mirror.
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If included in the file, place it in a separate layer, and name it properly: “DO NOT PRINT - 30 % effect on this area” is a great way of telling us exactly what you want.
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Leave a comment saying to follow your custom effect layer so we don’t miss it
That’s it. We handle printing, laminating, cutting, and all the finicky stuff, so you get finished stickers that look exactly as you envisioned them.
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Final thoughts
My personal favorite? It has to be around 30% white layer on white Pixie Dust. The effect is subtle enough to feel elegant, but still catches the light in a way that almost looks like tiny snowflakes scattered across the design. They say you’re not supposed to have a favorite child.... Let’s just say Pixie Dust has always been suspiciously close to my heart.
Ready to try it yourself? Upload your design, play around with different white layer effects, and see what happens when you let the material do some of the work
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