Micro perforations are small, evenly spaced cuts made either in the material of your stickers or labels or on your design itself, allowing for easy tearing or folding along a specific line. Unlike traditional perforations, which are more noticeable and can sometimes affect the visual appeal of your design, micro-perforations are subtle and precise, offering a clean edge after separation.

These tiny cuts are ideal for:

• Tear-away stickers for promotions or coupons
• Chapstick labels with tamper-evident seal
• Tamper-evident bottle seals for food safety regulations
• Tickets or tags that need clean separation

How Do Micro Perforations Work?

When micro-perforations are added to your stickers or labels, they create a line of purposeful separation in the material without compromising the overall durability. This makes it easy to tear along the perforated line while keeping the rest of the design intact.

At StickerGiant, we apply micro-perforations with precision lasers, ensuring each perforation is clean and consistent. Available for every product type, micro-perforations can be tailored to fit your design needs.

When to Use Micro Perforations in Your Design

Are micro-perforations right for your project? Here are some common use cases where they shine:

• Tamper-Evident Bottle Seals: Twist and break in the perfect spot to open.
• Promotional Coupons: Include tear-away coupons as part of your sticker design for added marketing value.
• Event Tickets or Tags: Micro-perfs make it easy to create event tickets or tags that require clean separation.

How to Request Micro Perforations at StickerGiant

At StickerGiant, adding micro perfs to your custom stickers or labels is easy! When placing your order, simply use the “Special Instructions” box to let our Graphic Production Artists know where you'd like the perforations added to your design. You can specify:

• “Add a micro perforation line between the QR code and the rest of the design.”
• “Include a micro perf line along the black line next to the left edge of the sticker”
• “Perforate the bottom section of the label for a tear-off coupon.”

Our team will ensure the perforations are placed exactly where you need them, and we’ll send you a proof to approve before printing. Make sure to look for a dotted pink line on your proof to show that micro perforation!

How to Setup Your Artwork for Micro-Perforations

Once you have your artwork set up at the correct size and shape, setting up your artwork with a micro perforation requires just a few simple steps in Adobe Illustrator. 

1. Draw a path along the line where you would like to have a perforation in your artwork.
2. Set this to our standard cutline, a 0.5 pt Stroke, set to 100% Magenta.
3. Go to the Stroke Panel in Illustrator (if it is not visible in your Workspace, go to Window>Stroke to make the panel appear). Tip: If the options shown are minimal, double-click the panel name or hit the ≡ 3 bars symbol at the top of the panel to show more options.

4. Once the options are visible, hit the Dashed Line setting and change the dash to 1.5pt and the gap to 1.5pt

5. Group this stroke with the main stroke cutline around your artwork.
6. Place your cutlines on their own layer.
7. Enter specific notes that you would like a micro perf added to your file when you place your order so our team can take it the rest of the way!

Enhance Your Stickers with Micro Perforations!

Micro perforations are a simple yet powerful way to add functionality and ease to your custom stickers and labels. Whether you’re looking for easy-to-tear coupons, tamper-evident medicine or food labels with any easy twist-to-tear, or sticker sheets with detachable sections, micro perforations provide the perfect solution without compromising your design’s aesthetics.

Ready to add micro-perfs to your next project? Order Custom Stickers and Labels with Micro Perforations Today!

More Resources: 

• How to Setup Artwork For Stickers and Labels
• What Type of Label Should I Order?
• Roll Finishing: What is it?