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As we wrap up 2025, we wanted to share the biggest lessons we learned this year at Little 6 Industries. After thousands of custom stickers and DTF transfers, countless customer questions, and plenty of trial and error, here are the insights that made the biggest difference in our work—and can help you get better results too.
Whether you are a seasoned pro or just getting started with custom printing, these hard-earned lessons will save you time, money, and frustration in 2026 and beyond.
🎨 STICKER LESSONS
The Details That Make or Break Your Design
✂️ LESSON #1: SMOOTH CURVES BEAT SHARP CORNERS EVERY TIME
One of the biggest lessons we learned this year? The smoother and more curved your sticker design, the better it performs.
Sharp corners and thin edges are the first places stickers fail—they peel up, catch on things, and generally don’t last as long. Moreover, they just look cheaper when they start to lift.
When designing custom stickers, think rounded instead of pointed. Additionally, avoid super thin elements like single-line text or narrow borders whenever possible.
💡 PRO TIP: If your design has sharp corners, ask yourself if rounding them slightly would compromise the look. In most cases, it won’t—but it will dramatically improve durability!
✨ LESSON #2: GLOSS FINISH MAKES COLORS POP
We have always offered both matte and gloss finishes for custom stickers, but this year confirmed what we suspected: gloss finish adds an undeniable WOW factor that customers notice immediately.
The shine makes colors pop, adds depth to your design, and gives stickers that premium, professional appearance. Furthermore, it just looks more expensive and polished.
🎨 GLOSS vs MATTE:
Gloss = Bold, vibrant, eye-catching (perfect for promotional stickers, product labels, anything that needs to stand out)
Matte = Sophisticated, understated, elegant (great for luxury branding, minimalist designs)
The verdict? Most customers choose gloss for maximum visual impact! 🏆
❤️ LESSON #3: EVERYONE LOVES STICKERS (SERIOUSLY, EVERYONE)
This might sound obvious, but it bears repeating: people of all ages genuinely love receiving stickers.
In addition, they are one of the most cost-effective marketing tools you can use because customers actually want them, keep them, and display them. Similarly, unlike business cards that get filed away or flyers that get tossed, stickers get used and shown off!
💼 BUSINESS TIP:
We have seen businesses hand out stickers at events and watch them end up on laptops, water bottles, toolboxes, and vehicles—turning customers into walking advertisements for YEARS!
🚀 LESSON #4: EVERY BUSINESS SHOULD BE HANDING OUT UNIQUE STICKERS
If you are not giving away custom stickers with your brand, logo, or message, you are missing an incredible opportunity.
Better yet, unique or clever sticker designs become collectible. People actively seek them out, share them on social media, and request more. Consequently, a well-designed sticker campaign can generate organic buzz and customer loyalty without breaking your marketing budget.
Ready to create custom stickers for your business? Check out our sticker builder tool to design and order online, or browse our full custom sticker options.
🔥 DTF TRANSFER LESSONS
The Technical Details That Matter Most
💪 LESSON #5: PRESSURE, PRESSURE, PRESSURE
If there is one lesson that came up repeatedly this year, it is this: PRESSURE IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL WHEN PRESSING DTF TRANSFERS.
In fact, inadequate pressure is the #1 cause of transfer failures, peeling, and poor adhesion. Not temperature. Not time. PRESSURE.
⚠️ HOW TO KNOW YOU HAVE ENOUGH PRESSURE:
✅ You should feel significant resistance when closing your heat press
✅ The transfer should be firmly compressed against the fabric
✅ If you can close your press with one hand easily, you need MORE pressure
✅ After pressing, the fabric should have visible compression marks
When in doubt, add more pressure! We have never seen a transfer fail from too much pressure, but we have seen countless failures from too little.
For complete pressing instructions, read our guide on how to apply DTF transfers.
🛏️ LESSON #6: PRESSING PILLOWS ARE GAME-CHANGERS
This year, we started recommending pressing pillows to every customer, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Pressing pillows changed the game for us.
Pressing pillows (also called platen pillows) fill the space inside garments during pressing, creating even pressure across seams, zippers, and thick areas. In contrast, without a pressing pillow, seams create gaps where pressure is inconsistent, leading to incomplete adhesion and eventual peeling.
🎯 WHERE PRESSING PILLOWS MAKE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE:
• Hoodies (thick seams and pockets)
• Polo shirts (button plackets)
• Jackets (zippers and lining)
• Onesies and baby clothes (small pressing area)
• Bags and totes (seams and straps)
💰 Investment: Pressing pillows cost $15-30 and last forever. Therefore, they are one of the best investments you can make for consistent DTF transfer results!
📄 LESSON #7: YOUR SECOND PRESS MATERIAL MATTERS
After the initial press and peel, the second press (also called the cure press or finishing press) locks in the adhesive and determines the final feel of your transfer. Interestingly, what you use during this second press significantly affects the finished product.
🧪 WHAT WE TESTED IN 2025:
Teflon Sheet: Creates a smooth, slightly glossy finish. Best for vibrant designs where you want colors to pop. ✨
Parchment Paper: Produces a softer, more matte finish. Ideal when you want transfers to blend seamlessly with the fabric. 🧈
Butcher Paper: Gives a very soft, natural feel. Great for vintage or distressed looks. 📜
Most importantly, ALWAYS do that second press—it is not optional!
🎨 LESSON #8: KNOCK OUT SHIRT COLOR FOR SOFTER TRANSFERS
One of the more technical lessons we learned this year involves “knocking out” the shirt color from your design. In other words, if you are printing on a white shirt and your design includes white elements, you can remove the white ink in those areas.
Why does this matter?
✅ Reduces overall ink weight on the transfer, making it feel lighter and softer
✅ Eliminates stiff feel that occurs when white ink is layered over white fabric
✅ The fabric provides the white color naturally!
💡 PRO TIP: This technique works especially well for designs with large white areas or white backgrounds. However, it requires precise color matching between your design and the garment. For detailed designs or colored shirts, you will still need white underbase for opacity!
Want to learn more technical DTF tips? Check out our complete DTF Printing 101 guide or compare DTF vs Screen Printing to choose the right method for your project.
🚀 READY TO PUT THESE LESSONS INTO ACTION?
Order custom stickers and DTF transfers with professional results guaranteed!
Build Custom Stickers with our App
Build DTF Transfers with our Auto Gangsheet
🎊 LOOKING AHEAD TO 2026
These lessons came from real-world experience—customer feedback, production trials, and plenty of “what if we tried this?” moments. Ultimately, the goal is always the same: deliver professional results that exceed expectations.
As we head into 2026, we are excited to keep learning, testing, and sharing what works (and what doesn’t). Whether you are printing DTF transfers at home, ordering custom stickers for your business, or just getting started with custom printing, we hope these lessons help you achieve better results.
🎉 HERE’S TO 2026!
May your stickers be smooth, your presses be perfect, and your custom printing projects be AMAZING!
Have questions about stickers, DTF transfers, or custom printing in general? We are here to help!
Ready to Put These Lessons Into Action?
Order custom stickers and DTF transfers with professional results guaranteed
Design Custom Stickers at Little 6
Upload DTF Transfers at Little 6
📚 MORE HELPFUL RESOURCES
Want to dive deeper into custom printing techniques?
• How to Apply DTF Transfers: Step-by-step guide with temperature settings, pressure tips, and common mistakes to avoid
• DTF Printing 101: Everything you need to know about Direct-to-Film printing technology
• DTF vs Screen Printing: Honest comparison to help you choose the right method for your project
💡 Have a Printing Question?
Call us at (520) 705-4026 or email sales@little6llc.com. We love talking shop and helping customers get the best possible results!
About Little 6 Industries
Little 6 Industries LLC is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business based in Maricopa, Arizona. We specialize in DTF transfers, custom stickers, laser engraving, UV printing, and promotional products. With professional quality, fast turnaround, and honest advice, we help customers achieve amazing results.
“The Brand Behind the Brand”