Ask a printer for stickers and you will probably be asked a question back: die cut or kiss cut? Many print shops in Singapore and Malaysia say half cut instead, which adds a third term. All three describe one thing: where the blade stops. Getting it right decides how your label sticker looks in someone’s hand, how easily it peels, and how it is handed out.
First, what a sticker is made of
Every label sticker has two layers. The face stock is the printed part (PVC vinyl, paper, polyester, or a clear or holographic film) with adhesive behind it. Underneath sits the liner, the backing paper that keeps the adhesive clean. Cutting is a question of which layers the blade goes through.
Die cut: through everything
A die-cut sticker is cut through both the face stock and the liner. The result is a standalone piece: the sticker and its backing share exactly the same outline, whether that is a circle, your logo silhouette or a custom shape.
- It looks finished on its own. A die-cut piece in a gift bag reads as a small product in its own right.
- The shape is part of the design. The outline is the first thing people see, before they even peel it.
- Best with bold outlines. Smooth, confident shapes give the cleanest loose pieces; peeling starts from the edge.
Kiss cut: through the sticker, not the backing
A kiss cut goes through the face stock only. The blade just touches the liner and stops, so the sticker sits on a larger square, rectangle or sheet of backing. Peel the sticker off and the backing stays behind.
- It is easy to peel. The margin around the shape gives a clean starting point to lift the edge.
- Several stickers can share one sheet. Name label sheets and sets of small icons are kiss cut.
- Intricate shapes are well supported, because the backing around them stays whole until the moment of use.
- It is how roll labels work. Roll labels sit on a continuous liner so a person or a machine can apply them one after another.
So what is a half cut?
Half cut is the term you will hear most often in Singapore and Malaysian print shops, and in most conversations it means the same as a kiss cut: the blade goes halfway, through the sticker but not the backing. Some people also use it for a sheet of several kiss-cut stickers. The easiest way to get exactly what you want is to describe what the end user will hold, for example “one loose sticker in the shape of our logo” or “six stickers on one A5 sheet”. The right cut follows from that.
Side by side
| Die cut | Kiss cut / half cut | |
|---|---|---|
| Blade goes through | Face stock and liner | Face stock only |
| Backing shape | Same as the sticker | Square, rectangle or full sheet |
| Peeling | Start from the edge | Easy, with a margin to lift from |
| Several designs on one piece | One design per piece | Yes |
| Typical use | Handouts, giveaways, logo stickers | Sticker sheets, name labels, roll labels |
Which cut for which job
- Event giveaways and corporate gifts: usually die cut. A logo-shaped label sticker in a welcome pack makes a strong first impression. See corporate gift sticker labels in Singapore and Malaysia.
- Logo stickers for laptops, bottles and merch: die cut to your outline. See die-cut logo stickers in Malaysia.
- Luggage and bag stickers: either works. Die cut for a souvenir handed out loose, or kiss cut on a sheet when several designs belong together. See luggage sticker labels in Singapore and Malaysia.
- Domed badges: the label is cut to shape before the clear resin goes on, either die cut or kiss cut on a sheet for small badges. See epoxy dome sticker labels in Singapore and Malaysia.
- Product labels applied by hand in volume: kiss cut on a sheet or roll, so they go on quickly. See product and packaging labels in Singapore and roll label stickers in Malaysia.
Getting the artwork right
- Send vector artwork (AI, EPS, or PDF with text outlined), so the cut line can be drawn from your own outline.
- Keep important text and detail comfortably inside the cut line.
- Extend the background colour past the cut line (bleed) for a clean, full-colour edge.
- Decide whether you want a white border around the shape or the colour running right to the edge, and say so when you send the file.
Not sure which cut you need?
We print die-cut and kiss-cut stickers for businesses in Singapore and Malaysia. Send us the artwork, the size and quantity, and tell us how the stickers will be used: handed out loose, applied by hand, or packed into a gift set. We will recommend the cut that suits the job and quote it. Not sure? Send it over and we’ll take a look.
- Singapore: WhatsApp or call +65 8530 8860 · email reliancelabelsg@gmail.com · see corporate gift sticker labels in Singapore
- Malaysia: WhatsApp or call +60 16-328 5000 · email reliance1992@gmail.com · see die-cut logo stickers in Malaysia
Related: Label printing in Singapore · Label sticker printing in Malaysia