How to Make Window Clings

Window clings are an easy and creative way to add color, privacy, or seasonal decorations to any glass surface.

From holiday designs and storefront logos to family crafts, they can be applied, repositioned, and removed easily without leaving residue. Unlike traditional stickers, window clings rely on static electricity or low-tack materials to stay in place.

In this guide, we'll explore two ways to make window clings: simple DIY methods using basic craft supplies and a more advanced approach using a UV DTF printer for professional-quality designs.

Image: Amar Preciado

How to Make Window Clings Using Traditional Methods

Creating window clings using traditional methods is an excellent weekend project. It's budget-friendly, highly customizable, and perfect for getting creative. The most common DIY method uses puffy paint (also known as dimensional fabric paint).

Step 1: Prepare Your Materials

Before you begin, gather all the necessary supplies. You will need:

• Dimensional Fabric Paint (Puffy Paint) or Window Cling Paint: These come in squeeze bottles with fine tips, perfect for drawing. You'll want a black or dark color for outlines, plus various colors for filling in the design.
• A Smooth, Clear Work Surface: The best options are a clear plastic sheet protector, a piece of acetate, or a glass cutting board. This is what you'll paint onto, and what the cling will cure on.
• A Printed Template (Optional but Recommended): A printout of the design you want to create.
• Tape: To secure your template and work surface.
• Toothpicks or a Needle: For popping bubbles and spreading paint into small corners.

Step 2: Create or Select Your Design

You can freehand a design directly, but using a template guarantees a cleaner result. Find a coloring book page, print a clip art image, or draw your own design on paper.

The design should have distinct, enclosed areas (like a stained-glass window) to hold the colored paint.

Tape your template to a flat surface, then place your clear plastic sheet protector or acetate directly over the template and tape that down securely as well. Your clear surface is now ready to receive the paint.

Step 3: Paint the Design

With traditional methods, you don't cut the cling out — you build it with paint.

1. Outline First: Using your outline color (usually black), carefully trace the lines of your template onto the clear plastic sheet. Ensure all lines connect completely; any gaps will allow the fill colors to leak together. The outline needs to be fairly thick and solid to give the cling structural integrity.
2. Let the Outline Dry: This is a crucial step. Wait until the outline is mostly or completely dry (often 1–2 hours, depending on the paint) before moving on.
3. Fill in the Colors: Once the outline is set, generously fill the enclosed spaces with your chosen colors. You want a thick layer of paint so the final cling isn't too flimsy. Squeeze the paint in, making sure it touches the outline borders on all sides to bond properly.
4. Pop Bubbles: As you fill, use a toothpick to gently pop any air bubbles that rise to the surface, or drag the paint to ensure it reaches every corner.
5. Cure Time: Leave the project flat to dry completely. This can take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours. The paint will often turn from opaque to translucent as it dries.

Step 4: Test and Apply the Window Cling

Once you're certain the paint is completely dry and cured (it shouldn't feel tacky when lightly touched), carefully peel it off the plastic sheet, working slowly from the edges.

If it resists heavily or feels wet underneath, let it dry longer. Once removed, your DIY window cling is ready. 

Simply press the smooth side (the side that was touching the plastic) against a clean window — the smooth, non-porous surface grips the glass and holds it in place, no adhesive needed.

Image: Suzi Kim

How to Make Window Clings with a UV Printer

For commercial purposes, highly detailed graphics, or simply a more durable and professional finish, UV DTF printing is the modern solution.

UV Direct-to-Film technology lets you print vibrant, high-resolution designs that transfer onto almost any hard surface — including glass.

For direct printing, our guide to printing on glass walks through the process in detail.

Step 1: Prepare Your Window Cling Design

Because window clings are viewed on glass, preparing your design differs from printing on opaque products.

Glass is transparent and light passes through it, which affects how colors are perceived.

Key design requirements include:

• High-resolution image: Ensure your design is crisp and clear (at least 300 DPI) to avoid pixelation when viewed up close.
• Correct dimensions: Size your design accurately for the intended window space.
• Transparent background when needed: Unless you want a solid square or circle, ensure your PNG or design file has a transparent background so only the graphic itself transfers.

Step 2: Choose Removable or Permanent Application

Traditional UV DTF transfers are usually designed for strong, long-lasting adhesion. However, true window clings require easier removal. Depending on the film and ink setup, you need to decide the lifespan of your cling.

• Removable option: Use specific films designed for low-tack application, or specialized cling materials meant to be peeled off seasonally.
• Permanent option: If you're creating a long-term storefront graphic, standard UV DTF adhesive provides a robust, weather-resistant bond.

Be sure to check the instructions on how to remove UV DTF transfers safely before applying permanent options.

Step 3: Set the Correct White Ink Layer

In this case, we recommend to follow these recommendations:

• Select "White > CMYK" in your software's layer settings, so white ink prints as the base and your CMYK colors sit on top
• A white base is essential on transparent glass. Without it, CMYK colors look faded or washed out

For more on this, see our guide on printing with white ink.

Create Double-Sided Window Clings

Double-sided window clings stay visible and vibrant from both the inside and outside of the window.

In this case, we recommend to follow these recommendations:

• Add a "White" layer first, since we now support sequential printing
• Select "White > CMYK" in your design's layer settings

This produces a final layer order of "White > CMYK > White".

A white base, your CMYK colors, and a white top layer that keeps the design vivid from both sides of the glass

Step 5: Print and Apply the UV DTF Transfer

Once your settings are dialed in, send the job to the UV printer. The printer applies the inks and the necessary varnish onto the A-film.

After printing, laminate the A-film to the B-film (the transfer sheet). Once laminated, your UV printed window cling is ready to be cut out and applied.

How to Apply Window Clings

Proper application ensures your window clings look great and last as long as intended, free from distracting bubbles.

For the complete production process, see this detailed guide on how to make UV DTF transfers. Whether using DIY clings or UV DTF transfers, the preparation is similar.

Step 1: Clean the Glass Surface

This is non-negotiable. Any dust, grease, or fingerprints will prevent the cling from adhering properly and will be visible from the other side.

Clean the window thoroughly using a glass cleaner or rubbing alcohol and a lint-free cloth, and ensure the surface is completely dry before proceeding.

Step 2: Position the Window Cling

Before removing any backings or transfer tapes, hold the cling up to the window to determine its exact placement.

For larger clings, use a small piece of painter's tape at the top edge to create a temporary hinge.

Step 3: Apply from One Side to Reduce Bubbles

For a DIY cling, place one edge down first and slowly roll the rest of the design onto the glass, smoothing it out with your hand.

For a UV DTF transfer, peel away the backing film (A-film). Carefully place one edge of the transfer tape (B-film with the design) onto the glass.

Using a squeegee, credit card, or brayer, firmly press the design down, working from the starting edge across to the opposite side. Firm, even pressure helps push out any trapped air bubbles.

Step 4: Remove Transfer Film Carefully

For DIY clings, this step is skipped. For UV DTF transfers, once the design is firmly burnished onto the glass, slowly peel away the clear transfer film (B-film), pulling it back flat against the glass rather than straight out.

If any part of the design lifts with the film, lay it back down and burnish it again before continuing.

Traditional Window Clings vs UV Printed Window Clings

Choosing between these two methods depends entirely on your needs, budget, and desired outcome. For more on the range of window graphics available, see our guide to the types of window decals.

Traditional Window Clings:

• Pros: Very inexpensive, excellent activity for kids and families, requires no specialized equipment, easily removable and reusable.
• Cons: Time-consuming to make and cure, lacks fine detail, colors can fade over time, limited durability, not suitable for commercial use.

UV Printed Window Clings:

• Pros: Professional, photo-realistic quality, capable of highly intricate designs and small text, extreme durability (water and scratch-resistant), can create double-sided graphics, efficient for bulk production.
• Cons: Requires a significant investment in a UV DTF printer and supplies, learning curve for software and machine operation, transfers can be difficult to remove if permanent adhesives are used.