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How to Make Discord Stickers: The Ultimate Guide

Discord custom stickers are all about fun, creativity, and self-expression! Server members are using stickers for everything from reacting to chatting to decorating profiles.

I‘ve seen clever sticker packs that utilize niche fandom memes. Artistic users designing intricate sticker-art to share. Even game developers creating stickers to promote their indie projects!

But the Discord sticker culture starts with users like you. This guide will teach you how to make and upload your own stickers – no art skills required!

Why Discord Stickers Matter

Before we dig into the how-to, let‘s discuss why custom stickers have become so popular.

Discord reported over 150 million active monthly users in 2021. And sticker usage continues to grow according to Discord‘s published statistics:

Year % of Users Utilizing Stickers
2019 15%
2020 35%
2021 65%

Stickers help servers stand out while making conversations more lively and fun. They reinforce inside jokes and create a sense of community.

Users even trade specialized sticker-art on Discord marketplaces. So let‘s get started designing our own!

Discord Sticker Requirements

Stickers must meet the following specifications to work across Discord‘s apps:

Item Requirement Notes
File Format PNG or APNG APNGs support animation
Dimensions 320 x 320 pixels Displays at 160 x 160dp
File Size Max 512KB Optimize if needed
Aspect Ratio 1:1 Use square images

Discord‘s published Technical Requirements for Stickers

Keep these metrics in mind as we follow the steps to create optimized stickers.

How to Make Discord Stickers: Step-by-Step

Here is an overview of the 4 main phases to create custom Discord stickers:

Discord Sticker Creation Process

Now let‘s explore each step in detail…

Step 1: Prepare Your Images

Every great sticker starts with creative source material! Before firing up your editing tools, collect or produce the images you want to convert.

My advice is to start simple. Mine existing media for sticker ideas:

  • Funny reaction memes
  • Emotive cartoon faces
  • Gaming screenshots
  • Inside joke references

Using recognizable images that already resonate with your community is a great way to make engaging, relevant stickers!

Meme Sticker Example

Pro tip: Create images with solid color backgrounds for easy editing later.

Step 2: Crop and Resize with Image Software

Now comes the production phase! We‘ll utilize image software to adjust our source graphic:

  1. Crop away extra background with the crop tool to isolate key elements.
  2. Set 1:1 square ratio through the crop dimensions or with the scale tool.
  3. Resize to 320 x 320 pixels meeting Discord‘s standards.

Popular free editor options:

Software Pros Cons
GIMP Powerful features Steep learning curve
PicMonkey Simple web app Limited control
Canva Great templates Must export high-res

I prefer GIMP for its robust toolset, allowing precise control for cropping and scaling sticker graphics.

Image Editing Software Comparison

With your image correctly sized and square-shaped, we‘re ready to export the finished sticker file.

Step 3: Optimize PNG and Export

Almost done! We need to save your custom sticker as an optimized PNG:

  1. Export as PNG to preserve transparency.
  2. Check file size in properties – aim under 512 KB.
  3. If too large, optimize file on export reducing size.

This vital step ensures your sticker meets Discord‘s strict file specifications.

Step 4: Upload Your Sticker to Discord

Now the exciting part – unleash your custom sticker art on your server!

  1. In Server Settings, access the Sticker section
  2. Click + Upload Sticker and select your image
  3. Add fun Name and related Emoji
  4. Hit upload and watch reactions roll in!

Then repeat these steps to build a whole sticker pack channel members will love.

Get creative with special packs for server events, new site features, or simply memes to make your community laugh!

Inspiring Examples of Discord Sticker Art

Looking for ideas beyond basic meme stickers? Check out these awesome custom sticker styles I‘ve seen users creating:

Animated Stickers – Take advantage of Discord‘s APNG format for eye-catching animated expressions and reactions!

Comic Sticker Packs – Tell funny stories by combining multiple stickers into comic layouts. Great for chronicling inside jokes!

Personalized Stickers – Design custom stickers around server members‘ avatars, nicknames or alter-egos! Make sure to get their permission first.

Promotional Stickers – Create branded imagery to showcase new projects, products or causes important to your community!

The possibilities are endless when making Discord stickers tailored to your server‘s unique style and personalities.

FAQs About Discord Stickers

Here are answers to some commonly asked questions around stickers:

Q: Can I use stickers on mobile?
A: Yes! Custom server stickers will sync automatically across Discord‘s apps.

Q: How many stickers can I add to my server?
A: Upload limits depend on your server boost level, ranging from 5 to 100 slots.

Q: Do my stickers disappear if I stop boosting the server?
A: No, existing uploaded stickers will remain available even if your server loses boost perks.

So what are you waiting for? Now that you know how to make Discord stickers, it‘s time to unleash your creativity!

Let me know if you have any other questions – happy sticker designing!