Custom Clear Decals
The look of hand-painted glass without the painter. Clear decals put your design straight onto windows, bottles, and packaging — no white edge, no background, just your brand on the surface.
We print white ink behind your colors so they stay vivid while everything around them stays invisible. Send vector artwork for the cleanest edges — or add design help and we prep it for you.
Free digital proof on every order · 2–3 day production · Ships nationwide
Optically clear film disappears on glass
Colors stay vivid on any surface
Pick the adhesive for the job
Clear decals on product packaging
Illustrations shown — your free digital proof shows your actual artwork before anything prints.
What these are used for
- ✓ Storefront glass and entry doors
- ✓ Product and bottle branding
- ✓ Laptop lids and device branding
- ✓ Mirrors and display cases
- ✓ Trade-show and retail displays
Material guidance
Clear vinyl is the standard here. High-contrast, bold designs read best — thin light-colored text on clear film can disappear at a distance. Removable clear vinyl is available for seasonal glass promotions.
Artwork requirements
PDF, EPS, AI, PNG, or JPG up to 50 MB. Vector files print sharpest at large sizes; raster files should be 150 DPI at final print size. Full specs on the artwork guidelines page. Not sure your file works? Upload it anyway — we check every file before proofing, and design help is $45.00 flat if it needs cleanup.
Price your clear decals
Set your size, material, and quantity. Price updates as you go.
Popular picks
The painted-on look without the painter
Clear decals are how storefronts get that hand-lettered-on-glass look for a fraction of a sign painter's invoice. Your design prints in full color, with white ink laid down behind it where opacity matters, on optically clear film that disappears against glass. Product companies use the same trick on bottles, jars, and gloss boxes: the label vanishes and only the brand shows.
When to choose clear over standard vinyl
Pick clear film when the surface behind the decal is part of the design — glass, transparent packaging, polished metal, or any colored surface you want showing through. Pick standard white-backed vinyl when you need maximum color punch or full coverage. Not sure? Upload your artwork on either page; the free proof shows exactly how it will read, and we flag jobs that would look better on the other material.
Designing artwork for clear film
Two habits make clear decals shine. First, contrast: your design sits against whatever is behind the glass, so bold shapes and strong colors survive where thin pastel lines vanish. Second, real transparency: send a PNG with a transparent background or vector art — a white box around your logo will print as a white box. Your proof shows the white-ink layer explicitly, so what you approve is what hits the glass.
Storefronts, breweries, and product lines
The heaviest users of clear decals are storefronts (hours, logos, and door lettering that read as etched glass), beverage brands (bottle and growler branding that lets the product show), and cosmetics and food companies whose packaging is the aesthetic. If you are testing packaging, order small: a short run of clear decals turns stock jars and bottles into finished product without a label-converter minimum.
Clear Decals — specifications
| Maximum size | 52″ wide × 120″ tall per piece (larger jobs paneled — request a quote) |
|---|---|
| Materials | Clear Vinyl · Removable Vinyl (low-tack) |
| Durability | 5 years outdoor; interior glass indefinitely |
| Finish | Optically clear film, white-ink backed colors |
| Cut options | Square, rounded, or close contour to artwork |
| Best for | Glass, bottles, jars, gloss packaging |
| Artwork | PDF, EPS, AI, PNG, JPG up to 50 MB · 150 DPI at print size · free file check on every order |
| Production | 2-3 business days after artwork approval |
| Shipping | 2-4 business days via UPS Ground · free over $99.00 |
| Minimum order | $50.00 |
Need something outside these specs? Request a quote — oversized, unusual materials, and high-volume runs are priced by email.
Production & delivery timeline
Free digital proof
After you order, we email a proof of your exact print file. Nothing goes to production until you approve it by email.
Production: 2-3 business days after artwork approval
The production clock starts at artwork approval + payment — not at order time.
Shipping: 2-4 business days via UPS Ground
Free over $99.00, flat $9.95 under. Decals ship ready to apply — see our application instructions.
Clear Decals — common questions
Will the clear area be truly invisible?
The film is optically clear. At normal viewing distance the background disappears, especially on glass. Up close, a faint film edge is visible — we contour-cut close to your artwork to minimize it.
What happens to white parts of my design?
Anything white in your file prints as white ink; anything transparent in your file stays clear. Send a PNG with real transparency or vector art, and we confirm the white-ink layer on your proof.
Do clear decals work on dark surfaces?
Yes — because we print white behind your colors, they stay bright on dark glass and dark packaging. Colors without white backing become translucent, which can also be used as an effect. Your proof shows exactly which.
Inside or outside of the window?
Standard clear decals apply to the outside face. If you want them protected inside the glass, tell us — we mirror the print so it reads correctly from the street.
Can clear decals be removed later?
Yes. Clear vinyl comes off glass cleanly with a razor at a low angle or fingernail-and-peel; the removable-grade option comes off by hand. Any adhesive haze wipes away with glass cleaner.
Do clear decals work outdoors?
Yes — the film and inks are exterior-rated. Outside-glass installs face weather directly and are still the standard for storefronts; expect years of service.
More answers on the general FAQ — or email support@manhattandecals.com.
Customer reviews
Every review comes from a verified, shipped order.
Ready to price your clear decals?
Exact size, your material, your quantity — priced in seconds, proofed for free before anything prints.