How 3D Doming Stickers are Made
What is doming?
Doming technology is an advanced process that involves covering the printed surface – usually with a self-adhesive film – with a layer of polyurethane resin. Thanks to this, we achieve a three-dimensional effect, vivid colour, and a sense of depth and clarity. The resin layer not only enhances the aesthetics of the products, giving them a professional look, but also serves a protective function, preserving colour and increasing resistance to damage, thereby enhancing the durability and quality of the final product.
Advantages of the doming technology
One of the key features of doming technology is its ability to enhance the product’s visual appeal. Thanks to the use of resin, the print gains not only three-dimensionality but also an additional gloss that catches the eye. This effect is especially valued in sectors such as advertising or automotive. Another important aspect of the doming technology is its durability. Using a polyurethane resin makes the prints resistant to many external factors, such as moisture, UV radiation, and various forms of mechanical damage. This makes the doming technology an ideal solution for products that are to be heavily used. The polyurethane resin protects the print from UV radiation, which further increases the durability and visual appeal of the end products.
In summary, the doming technology is an innovative method that enables achieving exceptional image depth and product durability. Its application results in an aesthetic appearance and, by extension, increased market appeal for the products.
Where did the name “domed strikers” come from?
What layers make up a domed 3D sticker?
Resin layer (resin dome)
After the ink has been applied and dried, the sticker is coated with a thin layer of transparent polyurethane resin. This resin coating creates a three-dimensional “drop” effect (hence the name “doming”), which also protects the print from damage.
Print layer
The pattern is applied to the self-adhesive film using digital, screen, or offset printing. Various types of inks are used, which must be abrasion- and weather-resistant.
Base layer
This is usually the self-adhesive vinyl film on which the pattern is printed. The base is made from various plastics such as PVC, PET or polyethene. This film is intended to ensure the sticker’s durability and adhesion.
Adhesive layer
On the underside of the self-adhesive film is a layer of glue that allows the sticker to adhere to various surfaces. This glue must be strong and durable, yet safe for the surface to which the sticker is being applied.
Protective layer (transport liner)
The final layer is a film or paper that serves protective functions. It protects the glue from drying out and contamination. This is removed just before the sticker is applied. Each of these layers performs a different function, and together they form a product with a unique look and properties.
How are the resin stickers made?
To ensure the custom domed labels you’ve ordered are prepared perfectly, an important stage is the consultation during which the design is created. So what happens next? After choosing the appropriate printing technique, the printed stickers are sent to cutting plotters, which precisely cut the shape. The next stage is flooding (casting) them with resin in the doming technology and allowing it to cure. At the end, all that remains is to ship your labels.
In the production process, we use special materials sourced from certified producers within the European Union, which ensures high quality. The polyurethane resin protects the prints and enhances product aesthetics, especially in the automotive sector.
1. Graphic design
Preparing the design is an important stage, and we need your guidelines to proceed. Based on these, we send a preliminary design. This is the time for consultations and refining the appearance of 3D labels. From our side, you’ll receive full support. Drawing on our experience, we’ll advise you on colour selection and help ensure the design is aligned with your brand. If you don’t know how to prepare the design, we’ll be happy to assist you free of charge!
2. Printing the 3D stickers using the digital printing method
The second stage concerns graphic production. We chose the appropriate printing technique for the design prepared earlier, which will be printed on films and self-adhesive materials. Most often, stickers are printed digitally. Digital CMYK printing is the fastest and most economical technique for this type of application. Screen printing takes a little longer. The most time-consuming is preparing for offset printing. For doming stickers, we typically use solvent printing.
3. Plotting the print
To give the individual stickers the shape you designed, entire sheets go to the cutting plotters. These machines allow us to cut each design with great precision. At the end of this stage, the excess film from the sheet is also removed. It’s worth noting that an unusual shape does not affect the sticker’s final price!
4. Flooding with polyurethane – creating the convex dome (doming)
The cut sheets are sent to a machine that floods the film with mercury-free resin for doming stickers. The resin layer is dosed in appropriate amounts to cover the entire sticker. The shape is achieved through the surface tension of the resin, which prevents it from flowing beyond the cut shape of the labels. High machine precision is required for this.
5. Resin curing
In the final production stage, the resin-flooded label sheets are placed in a room that provides appropriate temperature and humidity conditions. The polyurethanes we use harden on their own over time. Once the stickers are ready, all that remains is to send them to you. For very large orders, we split production into several batches so your company can receive the first 3D doming stickers as soon as possible.
Types of doming stickers
Doming stickers are a special type of sticker, distinguished by their convex shape and a polyurethane resin coating. Thanks to the use of resin, these stickers gain not only a three-dimensional effect but also an elegant gloss that catches the eye. Doming stickers can be produced in various shapes and sizes, which allows their wide application across industries.
Depending on the needs, doming stickers may be rectangular, round, oval, or even custom shapes that perfectly match the client’s specific requirements. Thanks to digital printing, it is possible to achieve vivid colours and precise details, making these stickers an excellent carrier for logos and other graphic elements.
Doming stickers are also available in different thicknesses, which allows them to be adapted to specific applications. Regardless of the chosen shape or size, each sticker is coated with a polyurethane resin layer, which ensures its durability and resistance to mechanical damage and weather factors such as moisture or UV radiation.
5 important facts about DOMING stickers
When is it worth using doming?
Doming, i.e., applying a three-dimensional layer of resin to stickers, is a technique with many uses. It is especially valuable when we want to emphasise the quality of a product — thanks to its three-dimensionality and gloss, doming stickers look very professional and elegant.
Doming is also an excellent solution if we want to highlight a company logo or name. The colourful print, elegant gloss and three-dimensional surface create an eye-catching 3D effect.
Repeatable quality thanks to the doming technology
Hand-sticker production is a slow process that cannot maintain repeatability. That’s why we use the best machines on the market, which allow us to produce high-quality convex stickers faster. We guarantee that each will look identical!
Increased durability of signage
Doming stickers are resistant to weather conditions, abrasion or mechanical damage thanks to the use of epoxy resin. The resin layer not only enhances visual appeal but also provides protective functions, helping the pattern retain its colour and resist damage, thereby increasing the durability and quality of the final product. Such properties allow them to keep their ideal appearance for a very long time. We want the labelling to be as durable as your product.
Possibility of applying different printing techniques
Our basic production method is solvent printing, which shows beautiful colours together with high quality. When the colours in your logo require Pantone matching, we use screen printing. For very large orders, we employ offset printing, which most accurately reproduces all the details.
Application of doming stickers
Doming stickers have a wide range of applications across industries such as advertising, marketing, automotive, electronics, and many others. Thanks to their durability and aesthetics, they are an ideal solution for product labelling, kits, packaging, and also for creating logos and other visual elements.
In advertising and marketing, doming stickers are often used to create striking labels and signage that attract customers’ attention. Thanks to the colourful print and elegant gloss, these stickers stand out from other advertising materials, thereby increasing their effectiveness.
In the automotive industry, doming stickers are used to mark vehicles, automotive parts, and accessories. Their resistance to moisture, UV radiation and mechanical damage makes them an ideal solution for outdoor use, where they are exposed to challenging weather conditions.
Doming stickers are also popular in the electronics sector, where they are used to label devices, components and accessories. Thanks to their flexibility, they can be applied to various surfaces, including metal, plastic, glass, and wood, making them a versatile solution for many companies.
It’s also worth noting that doming stickers can be produced using various printing methods, such as digital, offset, or screen printing. This allows stickers to be adapted to individual client needs, enabling the highest quality and precision.
Ecology
Hearing the word “plastic” often raises the question of whether it is nature-friendly and, above all, safe for humans. The answer can only be one – yes! You can be sure that the polyurethane resins we use are mercury-free — i.e., eco-friendly.
Summary
The doming technology is a process that transforms ordinary stickers into three-dimensional advertising elements. It involves covering their surface with a transparent two-component polyurethane layer. This special resin forms a flexible lens that protects the stickers and gives them depth. The production process consists of four stages: printing, plotting, flooding with polyurethane and resin curing.
Thanks to doming technology, stickers are not only more visually appealing but also more durable. Doming stickers are flexible, transparent, and easy to shape, allowing the creation of unusual shapes and visual effects.
Product labelling using doming technology is economical and eco-friendly, and ensures repeatable quality through machine production. Many manufacturers across industries, such as HVAC, HoReCa, IT, furniture, construction, and machinery and equipment production, use doming technology to increase brand recognition and strengthen their company image.