posted by Ahijoy on October 17, 2022
Vinyl vs Sticker Paper
Vinyl and sticker paper are a world apart. We have laid down all the differences for you clearly so you may make the right choice.
A layman may think of stickers as entertainment for kids only, yet one may not realize that stickers are around us, used on different things that an adult uses or sees. There are two types of stickers: vinyl stickers and paper stickers.
Sticker paper, as the name suggests, is made of paper while vinyl is made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Vinyl and sticker paper not only differ concerning the material they are made of, but both have a lot of dissimilar properties. Further, we will be discussing the differences between both types.
Suitable Environment For Usage
Vinyl films survive both indoor and outdoor environments, whereas sticker papers are better off indoors.
The vinyl decal tends to sustain itself outdoors through dirt and humidity while the sticker paper’s ink fades away due to constant exposure to sunlight and rain.
The adhesive of sticker paper also gets weak for the same reason hence it comes off itself quite easily. Therefore, sticker papers are preferred to be used indoors only.
Making
Vinyl stickers and decals require practice and more steps to be made than sticker paper. Sticker papers can be made quickly in only three steps, design, print, and cut.
The creation of vinyl decals requires more practice and various steps from designing to layering to weeding and so on. It can be a time-consuming process.
Resistance
Vinyl stickers have better resistant properties than sticker papers. Vinyl stickers are great at resisting heat, water, oil, or anything liquid. They also resist environmental pollution, maintaining the shine a sticker holds.
The sticker paper loses its shine with exposure to heat, slight contact with water will cause tearing, and even moisture affects the quality of a paper sticker. The inked design of the sticker paper is often smudged if water is spilled on it.
Some companies claim their sticker papers to be water resistant but they fail to deliver durability because it is not actually waterproof. A sticker paper can only be waterproof if it is laminated.
Vinyl stickers due to their resistance towards the liquid can be used on mugs, glasses, tumblers, and so on. They adhere so well that it looks as if the mug or jar has a built-in design. While even two drops of water will ruin the quality of a sticker paper.
Variety In Color And Designs
Sticker papers have limited designs as compared to vinyl stickers. There is glossy vinyl, holographic, metallic, mirror, chrome, textured, and so on, whereas a paper sticker cannot have such variety due to its material.
Vinyl also comes with some magical effects, like, color-changing vinyl, glitter, glow-in-the-dark, and temperature-sensitive vinyl. Sticker paper fails to deliver such variety.
With glossy paper we may be able to recreate something like that but will the quality be the same as that of a vinyl sticker? Definitely not. It definitely cannot change color or glow in the dark.
The Cost Factor
Sticker paper costs a lot less than vinyl. However, the choice you make depends on your requirements. Cost becomes insignificant if you want durability and a sturdy material that is long-lasting.
Different Sizes
One major difference is the size of both the vinyl and paper sheets. A sticker paper can only be made up to a limited size like A4. However, vinyl decals can be created in large dimensions.
The vinyl rolls come in huge sizes like 82 feet, which results in the creation of large stickers out of it. A3 size can also be made with a paper sticker but with a regular laser or inkjet printer, only A4 is possible. A3 will require a different printer which will be costlier.
So Which One To Choose: Vinyl Or Sticker Paper?
As we have stated earlier, it all depends on your requirement and usage. Vinyl stickers are much more durable than sticker papers. If we want fancy modification or larger size, then our choice would be vinyl stickers.
However, for easy access and indoor work, sticker papers are a good option. The outdoor environment can be taken well by vinyl stickers. This results in people using vinyl stickers for advertising their businesses around town.
The sticker papers are ideal for quick indoor usage if durability is not required, while for bigger, planned, long-lasting projects, vinyl is the best choice.
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