Many people come to Websticker looking for clear automotive window stickers, window decals or static decals. While clear material may be appropriate in a few cases, most of the time we try to talk people out of using it. There are several reasons this is the case, and on jobs where it is used, several important details need to be kept in mind for clear auto window stickers to be effective.
The reason putting your design on clear material sounds appealing to many people is that they believe it won’t be “bumper sticker looking” with too much white space. The hope is that it will look like a custom paint job of just the graphic. Usually, this is just not the case. Vinyl cut graphics or a basic die cut sticker can accomplish the same desired effect in a much stronger way. And, these alternative custom stickers won’t necessarily cost more than clear auto window stickers and decals.
I discussed in a previous post my dislike for clear static stickers on auto windows. Clear stickers with adhesive share some of the same negative traits and there is also increased risk of air bubbles trapped under the material (which can show as white). The bigger the clear automotive window stickers the more risk of air bubbles and problems with applying the auto stickers.
A common problem with printing on clear sticker material is that after application on autos is that light bleeds through, even with the thickest screen printed inks. Car windows appear dark from a distance and printed inks on auto window stickers that aren’t reflecting light will wash-out once applied. White ink is essential when printing on clear window stickers and decals so that there is more reflected light and increased visibility. But, even with white ink backing all colors, or white ink on it’s own, clear automotive window stickers still are not as bold and visible as inks custom printed on white or yellow vinyl.
If you are looking to get the most value out of custom auto window stickers you may want to avoid stickers and decals that can only go on car windows. If you order clear stickers with adhesive or static on the face (graphic side), not only are they usually more expensive to print, but they also severely limit application options. There are many alternative options for outdoor custom stickers for cars and vehicles.
If you are printing stickers for promotional purposes, optimizing price and maximizing where they can be applied is essential. Adhesive should always be on the back so that custom stickers and decals can be applied anywhere. On a car some people prefer to put stickers on the bumper or car body. Off of the car people often put stickers on water bottles, laptops, sport equipment or many random locations. If you are creating a custom sticker don’t take those personal preferences and options away. Maximizing impressions and exposure is the goal for any brand sticker marketing.
Even for product companies producing custom clear Authorized Dealer Stickers for retail locations, not all store entries have windows and many establishments might prefer to stick the window decal elsewhere. By only printing stickers with adhesive on the back businesses increase their chances of the custom sticker (and their branding) being applied where the public can see it and maximizing impressions.
Websticker can help businesses with any automotive window stickers as well as any custom sticker product and offers free sticker design to optimize value and marketing power.
Jeff Nicholson is the founder and Creative Director at 
5 Responses
Why are there comments on here that are over 8 years old when it’s supposedly a new post??????
Hi Eric – Excellent question. Not often, but, we will sometimes update and republish older blog posts that are still relevant just to try and refresh the content and dig it out of the archives. In this case, I still believe clear stickers are usually a bad idea for promotional purposes, but rather than say the same thing as the older post in a new similar post, I just refresh and republish content. The comments still seemed relevant so I left these in.
I put a clear sticker with my school’s name on the back of my car’s window (which is tinted), and you can barely see it. Wish they saw this article!
thats awesome!! great advice…You're the specialists and i trust your opinions… 🙂 will respond to you trough email too..
thanks
Carolina
I do development work for a few non-profits. I came to you to get a sticker for a school who wanted their families to put them on their cars. You tried to talk us out of a clear decal but with so many involved in the decision I could not convince them. While the sticker was designed well and attractive they were not as visible from afar as we wished. When we reorder we will certainly heed Websticker.com's advice and print them on white vinyl!!