How to Design Your Own Car Stickers Perhaps you have the perfect slogan for a new bumper sticker. Or maybe you want to create a new interpretation of a familiar symbol, like the peace symbol, for instance, to place on your rear window. Regardless, the process for creating your own bumper stickers can be both creatively enjoyable as well as a relatively easy project. You might also want to sell your sticker designs or even give them as gifts to friends and family.

Instructions

o 1

Brainstorm slogan and graphics ideas for car stickers with a sketchpad and markers or colored pencils. Choose the type of design you want to create. If you have an image, slogan or quote you want to use, make certain it is not covered by copyright before using it.

o 2

Select a font that works best with your message. If your sticker will include text, review the font styles available. It is a good idea to use lettering that is readable from a short distance. Also, try not to create a design that is so involved that your message is unclear.

o 3

Design your sticker in a professional level graphics program. Both Photoshop and the freeware program GIMP are excellent choices to create stickers. GIMP functions much like Photoshop, so it is a good alternative if you don't own a copy of Photoshop. Begin by going to "File" then to "New" to open a new document that will become your sticker's design. Plug in both the width and height requirements into the dialog box. Do the same when setting the resolution of your document; 200 pixels per inch is best for quality printing.

o 4

Add external photos or other graphics to layers by bringing them into the program. To do this, go to "Edit" and "Copy." Then go back to your main document and select "Edit" and then "Paste." These elements will automatically be placed on a new layer. The layers panel is in the right-hand corner of your screen, each "layer" being one box stacked upon another then another as each new layer is created. Layers allow you to add elements either brought into the program or created by you (like a design

you've painted or text) to a separate layer where it can be altered without effecting other elements.

o 5

Add filter effects or adjust other settings like "Hue/Saturation" or the "Blending Options" until you are happy with your final design. Save your design as a high resolution JPEG.

o 6

Have your stickers professionally printed. You can have your stickers printed by an online company like Zazzle or Cafepress by uploading your designs to one of their websites. Follow the instructions and guidelines found on these sites for uploading your images if you choose to go this route. One benefit of using an online company is that you can also sell your stickers for profit on these sites.

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