What are graffiti stickers?
Graffiti stickers, often called slaps, are stickers with a writer's name or tag drawn on them. Many are hand-drawn on blank labels, especially the red-and-white "Hello my name is" name tags and blank postal shipping labels, which were cheap or free and took marker well. Others are printed designs, like the graffiti word stickers on the sheet above.
Sticker art grew into its own scene inside graffiti culture. Writers draw stacks of labels, trade them by mail and at meetups, and collectors fill sticker books and sketchbook covers with slaps from other cities. A good slap is a small piece of lettering practice: one name, one label, drawn again and again until the letters flow.
Only stick them where you have permission: your own laptop, notebook, skateboard, water bottle, guitar case or a sticker book. Putting stickers on other people's property or public property without permission can count as vandalism. The is graffiti illegal? guide explains why.
How do you print graffiti stickers at home?
Print the PDF on full-sheet sticker paper at 100% scale (or Fit to page on US Letter), let the ink dry, then cut along the gray line around each sticker. Any home inkjet or laser printer works, as long as the sticker paper is made for that printer type.
- Matte sticker paper: easy to draw on with markers and pens, so it is the best choice for the Hello my name is labels.
- Glossy sticker paper: brighter colors, closer to a shop-bought sticker. Best for the printed graffiti words. Markers can smear on it.
- Clear sticker paper: the background disappears, so the sticker looks painted onto the surface. Works best on light surfaces, because white does not print on a clear sheet.
- Inkjet or laser: buy the paper that matches your printer. Laser paper in an inkjet stays wet; inkjet paper in a laser can jam or melt.
- Printer settings: choose the paper type "glossy" or "labels" if your printer has it, and the best quality setting. Print one page on plain paper first to check the size.
For durability, laminate before cutting: self-adhesive clear laminate sheets or a clear packing tape layer protects the ink from water and scratches on a laptop or bottle. Cut with sharp scissors, leaving a little of the white border around each word, or load the sheet into a Cricut or Silhouette using its print-then-cut feature. Printable stickers in general work the same way; these sheets are just pre-laid out for graffiti.
How do you tag a "Hello my name is" sticker?
Write your tag in the white box with a paint marker, using the full width of the box, then add one detail such as an outline, a crown or a drip. Practice the tag on paper first so the sticker is your cleanest version.
- Pick your name. Short names of 3 to 5 letters fit the box best. Stuck for one? Try the graffiti name generator.
- Practice the tag. Write it 20 times in a sketchbook until it is one fluid motion. The how to make a graffiti tag guide covers letter flow, connections and flourishes.
- Fill the box. Make the tag touch nearly every edge of the white area. Small tags in a big box look lost.
- Use the right marker. Paint markers like Posca or Molotow cover the glossy label surface and do not fade fast. A thin black pen is fine for a final outline.
- Add one extra. An outline in a second color, a shadow line or a small character. Then stop; a crowded slap reads worse.
Other slap styles work too: a mini throw-up in two colors, or bubble letters with a white highlight. Draw a few in a row and keep the best for trades.
How do you make custom graffiti stickers in the generator?
Type your name in the graffiti generator, pick a style, set the Scene tab to None and choose Sticker 512 × 512 (transparent) as the download size. That file drops straight into WhatsApp and Telegram sticker maker apps, Discord emotes and sticker mockups.
- White border: most styles, like bubble, wild and throw-up, already draw a white outline around the whole word. On a printed sticker that outline becomes the border you cut around.
- Print stickers: download Original HD instead, place several on one page in any editor and print on sticker paper. For a ready-made transparent graffiti PNG, the free pack has 30 words.
- Cut line: the generator does not add one. Cricut Design Space and Silhouette Studio can add an offset around the image, which becomes the cut path for print-then-cut. The SVG download works for vinyl decals.
Stickers you sell, on Etsy or anywhere else, are commercial use; the image license explains what is free and what needs Pro.
Sticker trading etiquette
Sticker trading is a swap: you send a stack of your slaps and get a stack back, usually by mail. Most trades are an even count, such as 10 for 10, and every sticker should be drawn or printed by the person sending it.
- Send your best work. Only your clean, finished slaps, not practice pieces.
- Agree on numbers first. Say how many you will send and stick to it.
- Send on time. If you are slow, say so. Silence is how people get a bad name in trade groups.
- Pack them flat. A stiff card in the envelope stops creases.
- Don't sell what you got in a trade unless the artist says it is fine.
- Collect, don't scatter. Put traded slaps in a sticker book, a blackbook or on your own gear.