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Which metallic sticker is right for you, mirror or brushed aluminum?
Mirror and brushed aluminum are our two metallic sticker materials, and picking between them is a bit like choosing between a disco ball and a soda can. If that makes sense? If not, it hopefully will by the end of this article!
Both look great (obviously), so it comes down to which vibe suits your design. Below you'll find what they share, how they differ and a few tips to help you choose.
TL;DR:
What's the difference between mirror and brushed aluminum stickers?
Mirror has a smooth surface that reflects light like an actual mirror. Brushed aluminum has fine brushed lines, a lot like an aluminum can, so it catches the light more softly.
Can you print colors on mirror and brushed aluminum stickers?
Yes, in full color on both. The metal shines through the colors, so yellow turns gold and pink turns rose gold.
Which metallic sticker lasts longest outdoors?
Both last up to 2 to 4 years outdoors with glossy laminate. Mirror also comes with matte laminate, which tones down the shine but has no UV protection.
What do mirror and brushed aluminum have in common?
More than you might think. Both are silver metallic materials, and they share most of the specs:
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Full-color print
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Permanent adhesive
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Glossy laminate (mirror also comes in matte)
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Up to 2 to 4 years outdoors with glossy laminate
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PVC-free
So the choice is really about the look: a smooth, mirror-like shine or that raw, brushed metal texture.
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Mirror: the shiny one
Mirror stickers are the drama queens of the metallic family (I mean that in the nicest way). The surface is smooth and reflects light like an actual mirror, so clean logos look sharp and lettering gets a little extra attitude.
The shine is strongest where your design uses light colors or leaves the material unprinted. Mirror is also the only one of the two that comes with matte laminate, if you'd like your chrome a bit calmer.
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Brushed aluminum: the edgy one
If mirror is the drama queen, brushed aluminum is the cool kid in the leather jacket. It looks a lot like an aluminum can, with fine brushed lines and a raw, industrial shine (it's not actual metal, just very convincing).
The light catches it softly instead of bouncing straight back. The effect shows best under lighter colors, and it comes with glossy laminate only.
Can you print colors on mirror and brushed aluminum?
Yes, and this is where it gets fun. Both materials are silver, and the colors we print aren't opaque, so the metal shines through them. That's how you turn silver into other metals:
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Yellow becomes gold
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Pink turns into rose gold
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Brown or orange gives you a warm bronze
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Black creates a dark, oxidized steel look
Want some parts of your design to stay solid, with no shine at all? Add a white layer behind them. And if you'd like exact color values to start from, our guide on how to make metallic stickers has them for every finish.
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Which one is right for your design?
It mostly comes down to the look you're after, but a few things can make the choice a lot easier:
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Logos and lettering. Both work really well. Mirror makes clean logos and bold type look sharp and shiny, while brushed aluminum gives them a more industrial, built-in look.
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Fingerprints. If your stickers will be handled a lot, I'd go for mirror with matte laminate. Matte shows fewer fingerprints and no glare.
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Sun and weather. Pick glossy. Both materials handle outdoor use and last up to 2 to 4 years with glossy laminate, while matte has no UV protection.
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One material per sticker. You can't mix mirror and brushed aluminum in one design. Can't choose? Order the same design in both! No judgement over here.
Same idea, three metallic looks
Here's the same kind of retro design on glossy mirror, matte mirror and brushed aluminum, so you can see how differently the three handle the light.
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Glossy mirror
Full-on disco. The yellow turns into a warm gold, and the unprinted parts reflect everything around them, just like a real disco ball would. Very extra, in the best way.
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Matte mirror
Same design, softer shine. The matte laminate tones the reflections down to a calm metallic sheen, and you won't spot as many fingerprints either. The chill sibling, basically.
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Brushed aluminum
Fine brushed lines run through the silver parts, kind of like the side of an aluminum can. A little less disco, a little more blocking haters, if you ask me.
Time to get shiny
So, to sum it up: go mirror when you want full-on chrome that grabs attention (or matte mirror if you'd like it a bit softer), and go brushed aluminum when you want that raw, aluminum-can kind of edge that stays a little more low-key. Both take color beautifully, so gold, rose gold and bronze are on the table either way.
Still can't decide? Totally fair. I'd grab a materials sample pack first. Mirror and brushed aluminum are both in it, along with color charts for each, so you can see (and feel) the difference before you order. And if you're in a shiny mood, have a look at mirror, prismatic and glitter side by side too.
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