How Custom Sticker Ordering Works at Actual Prints
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This article walks you through exactly what happens after you click Add to Cart on a custom sticker product, from upload through shipping. If you've never ordered custom printed stickers before, or if you ordered somewhere else and found the process confusing, this is the complete picture of how I do it.
About 12% of the emails I get are some version of "I approved the proof, what happens next?" or "I'm not happy with the proof, can I change it?" This article answers all of that so you know what to expect before you order, not after.
The short version of the ordering process
You upload your logo directly on the product page, pick your size and quantity, and check out normally. I review the order, build a digital proof of your sticker, and email you a link to a proof page where you can see exactly what it will look like. You either approve it or request changes, all on that same page.
Nothing goes to print until you click Approve. If you want something adjusted, you leave a comment on the proof page and I update and resend. Once you approve, I print your order and ship it. You get a tracking number automatically when the label prints.
The proof step is there to protect you. I do a proof-based workflow on every custom order, no exceptions, because "I'll just print whatever they send" is how bad stickers happen.
Still have questions after reading? Email me at sales@actualprints.com.
Upload your logo on the product page
Every custom sticker product on the Actual Prints store has a file upload field built directly into the product page. It's right there before you add to cart, next to where you pick your size and quantity. This is where you attach your logo or artwork file.
Accepted formats: PDF, AI, SVG, PNG, JPG. Vector files (PDF, AI, SVG) are the best option because they scale cleanly to any sticker size and give me the most flexibility when I'm building the proof. PNG and JPG work too, just send the largest, highest quality version you have. See the artwork specs guide for the full details on file formats, resolution, and color mode.
If you forget to upload a file at checkout, don't panic. Email me at sales@actualprints.com with your logo attached and your order number in the subject line. I'll connect the file to your order and proceed from there. It adds a small delay, but it's not a problem.
The best file is the original source file from your designer. If you don't have that, your logo at the highest resolution available is the right choice. What you want to avoid is pulling a small image from your website or screenshotting your logo from an email signature. Those tend to be 72 DPI, which prints blurry at sticker size. When in doubt, send what you have and I'll let you know in the proof email if I need something better.
Configure size, quantity, and check out
On the product page, you'll pick your sticker size, the quantity you need, and the vinyl type. Two options: standard white vinyl, which is what most people pick, and holographic vinyl, which has a rainbow shimmer that catches the light. Both are equally durable. It's purely a style call, so pick whichever you like better for your brand.
Once you've uploaded your logo and set your options, you go through normal Shopify checkout. Payment is collected at checkout, just like any other online order. You're charged when you place the order, not when you approve the proof.
I absorb the cost of reasonable proof revisions. The proof step is part of the service, not an upsell. If you see the proof and want to shift the logo slightly, change the text layout, or adjust something that's within the scope of what you ordered, those revisions don't cost extra. If you want to change the design to something completely different from what you originally sent, that's a different conversation and we'd handle it case by case.
Proof email within 1 business day
After your order comes in, I review it personally. I look at your logo file, the size and quantity you ordered, and any notes you left at checkout. Then I build a digital proof: a rendered image that shows exactly how your sticker will look, with your artwork positioned in the template at real scale. The proof shows the bleed zones, the cut line, and the safe zone so you can see what's getting printed and what gets trimmed.
I email you a link to a proof page within 1 business day of your order. Usually faster. If you order Monday morning, you typically have a proof link in your inbox by Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning. Orders placed Friday evening start getting worked on Monday.
The proof page is a real page on my site. The link in the email takes you to a secure URL where you can view the proof images, see what size and quantity you ordered, and take action from there. You don't need an account to view or respond to the proof. The link is specific to your order.
I work in RGB through the whole proof and production process. What you see on the proof page is what the sticker will look like in print. There's no color conversion step that shifts things between what I show you and what comes off the printer.
The proof email comes from my shop email. Check your spam folder if you don't see it within a day or so. If you still can't find it, email me with your order number and I'll resend the proof link directly.
Approve or request changes on the proof page
On the proof page there are two actions available to you: Approve and Request Changes.
If you click Approve: production starts the same day. I print your stickers and get the order ready to ship. This is the signal I need to pull your job into the print queue, so the faster you approve, the faster everything moves downstream. I've had customers approve a proof within an hour of receiving the email and get their stickers within a few days total.
If you click Request Changes: there's a text field on the proof page where you describe what you want adjusted. Be as specific as you can: "shift the logo left," "make the text larger," "the background color looks too dark, try a lighter shade." I update the proof, typically within 1 business day, and you get a new email with the updated proof link. You can go back and forth until the proof looks right. There's no cap on revisions for reasonable adjustments, and no extra charge.
You can also use the proof page to ask a question if you're not sure about something. Leave it in the changes field and I'll respond before sending the updated proof.
I won't print a single sticker until I have your explicit approval on the proof page. Not "I assume they liked it because they didn't email back," not "close enough," not a verbal approval over email. The Approve button on the proof page is the trigger. Everything before that is the design phase.
Production: printing and packing
Once you approve the proof, I move your job into production. I run every print job myself. Actual Prints is a solo operation based in Ballston Lake, NY, so there's no handoff to a production floor or a third-party printer. I print it, cut it, inspect it, and pack it.
Print and pack time is typically 2 to 3 business days after proof approval. Most orders ship within 48 hours of approval. The exact timing depends on what else is in the queue when your job starts, but I try to move quickly once an approval comes in.
For the full breakdown of how the production and shipping timeline stacks up, read Custom Sticker Turnaround Times. That article has worked examples showing how different approval timings and weekends affect the total door-to-door timeline.
Shipping and tracking
Once the order is packed, I print a shipping label and drop the package with the carrier. You get a tracking number automatically as soon as the label prints. The tracking email comes from Shopify, so watch for a "Your order is on its way" notification from the same email address as your original order confirmation.
Shipping options at checkout:
- USPS Ground Advantage for most small orders. Typically 2 to 5 business days in transit, but USPS has had some inconsistency lately so build in a buffer if you have a deadline.
- USPS Priority Mail for larger orders and situations where speed matters. Priority is 2 to 3 business days in most cases and is the better option if you're up against a date.
- USPS International for orders shipping outside the United States. International transit times vary widely depending on destination country and customs processing.
If you have a hard deadline, factor in the full timeline: proof build time, however long you take to approve, production, and shipping. For example, if you order Monday, approve the proof Tuesday, and choose USPS Priority, the stickers realistically arrive Thursday or Friday of the same week. That's a best-case scenario with everything moving quickly. See the turnaround times article for more detailed examples.
If your deadline is tight, email me at sales@actualprints.com before you order. Tell me what you need and when. I'll tell you honestly whether I can hit the date and what shipping option makes sense for your situation.
I ship internationally via USPS. Customs clearance timing is out of my hands once the package leaves the US. If you're ordering from outside the US with a deadline in mind, give yourself extra buffer time and reach out before ordering so we can talk through the timing realistically.
Quick answers
Can I change my order after I've placed it?
Yes, before you approve the proof. During the proof phase, you can request any reasonable changes to the layout, artwork positioning, or design. Just click Request Changes on the proof page and describe what you want adjusted. Once you've clicked Approve, production starts and the order is locked in. If you need to change something after approval, email me immediately at sales@actualprints.com and I'll let you know whether the job has already printed.
What if I don't like the proof?
Click Request Changes on the proof page and describe exactly what you want adjusted. I'll update the proof and send you a new link, usually within 1 business day. There's no extra charge for reasonable revisions. You don't have to approve anything until the proof looks right to you.
How long until I get my stickers from start to finish?
Total time is proof build (usually 1 business day) plus however long you take to approve, plus production (typically 2 to 3 business days after approval), plus shipping. In a best-case scenario with a quick approval and USPS Priority, you're looking at about 5 to 7 days door to door. The proof approval step is the biggest variable because that's the one I can't control. The faster you approve, the faster everything downstream moves. Read Custom Sticker Turnaround Times for worked examples.
Can I see the proof before I pay?
No, the proof is built after checkout. Payment is collected when you place the order. But you can request changes before you approve, so there's no risk of being stuck with something you don't want. Nothing goes to print until you click Approve on the proof page. If the proof comes back and it's genuinely not what you ordered, reach out and we'll sort it out.
Do you accept rush orders?
Sometimes. Email me at sales@actualprints.com before ordering with what you need, the quantity, and your deadline. I'll tell you honestly whether I can make it. Don't place a rush order and assume I'll know it's urgent from the checkout notes. A quick email first lets me confirm before you pay.
Ready to start?
Browse the custom sticker products below. Upload your logo at checkout and I'll have a proof in your inbox within 1 business day.
Have a deadline or a question before you order? Email me at sales@actualprints.com. I'll give you a straight answer on timing and whether the order makes sense for your situation.
Brian Brader
Owner, Actual Prints