iOS 17 makes it easier than ever to create your own custom stickers directly on your iPhone or iPad. With just a few taps, you can turn any photo or video into a sticker to use in Messages, Mail, and other apps.
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Introduction
Stickers are a fun way to add personality to your conversations. The iOS Messages app comes pre-loaded with tons of different stickers, from animated characters to illustrated emoji. But you’re not limited to just the default stickers – you can make your own using your photos and videos.
Creating custom stickers is a breeze in iOS 17. The process takes just a few steps, and you don’t need any special apps or artistic skills. All you need is a photo or video you want to turn into a sticker.
In this guide, we’ll walk through the full process of making stickers on an iPhone or iPad running iOS 17. We’ll cover:
- Requirements for making stickers
- How to turn a photo into a sticker
- Converting Live Photos into stickers
- Adding and using custom stickers
- Tips for making great stickers
After reading, you’ll be able to quickly create stickers from memories, inside jokes, illustrations, and anything else you can capture on your device’s camera. Let’s get started!
Requirements for Making Stickers
The sticker-making feature first appeared in iOS 13, but it has been improved in iOS 17. To make stickers, you’ll need:
- An iPhone or iPad running iOS 17
- The Photos app
- Photos or Live Photos you want to turn into stickers
That’s it! There’s no need to download any extra apps or tools. The new sticker utility in iOS 17 is built right into the Photos app.
The Photos app is available on iPhone 6s and later running iOS 17. On iPad, you’ll need a 5th generation iPad or later, also running iOS 17. Your device will need enough storage space for the new stickers too.
As long as your iPhone or iPad meets the requirements, you’re ready to start making stickers.
Turning Photos into Stickers
Let’s start with the basics – converting a standard photo into a sticker. Here are the steps:
- Open the Photos app and find the photo you want to use. This can be an existing photo or one you just took.
- Tap on the photo to view it in full screen.
- Long press on the main subject of the photo. This could be a person, pet, object, etc.
- Select “Add Sticker” from the menu that pops up.
- Outline the subject with your finger. A tracing tool will help you draw the outline.
- Tap “Add” to save the sticker.
The new sticker will be saved to your sticker collection in the Messages app. Let’s break down these steps in more detail:
The long press in step 3 is the most important part. You need to long press on the exact part of the photo that you want to turn into a sticker. This brings up the “Add Sticker” option.
After selecting that option, use the tracing tool to cleanly outline the object or person in the photo. Try to trace as closely to the edges as possible. This will remove the background and save just your selected subject as the sticker image.
Tap “Add” when you finish outlining to save the sticker. You can repeat these steps to make multiple stickers from the same photo.
Converting Live Photos into Stickers
Live Photos are a fun iPhone feature that capture a short video with sound alongside your photos. In iOS 17, you can now turn Live Photos into animated stickers.
Here’s how to make Live Photo stickers:
- Open the Photos app and locate the Live Photo you want to use.
- Tap on the Live Photo to view it.
- Swipe up on the photo to reveal the “Add Sticker” option.
- Tap “Add Sticker.”
- Outline and trace the subject you want to convert to a sticker.
- Tap “Add” to save the sticker.
The process works just like converting a standard photo, except you swipe up instead of long pressing. The sticker will include the Live Photo’s animation and audio.
Live Photos can make fun animated stickers since they contain built-in movement and sound. Try making stickers from Live Photos of people, pets, or funny scenes.
Adding and Using Custom Stickers
Once you make a custom sticker, you can find it in the Messages app. Here’s how to access and use your own stickers:
- Open the Messages app and start a new message thread or open an existing one.
- Tap the App Store icon next to the text box.
- Select your new sticker from the “My Stickers” tab.
- Tap the sticker to add it to your message thread.
- Tap Send to share the sticker.
You can also add your custom stickers when creating emails in Mail or editing photos and videos in Photos. Tap the App Store icon in those apps to find your stickers in the “My Stickers” section.
Share your unique stickers in conversations with friends or family. With just a few taps, you can make stickers from your favorite memories and moments.
Tips for Making Great Stickers
Now that you know the basics, here are some tips for making awesome custom stickers with iOS 17:
- Use high-quality photos. The source photo quality directly affects sticker quality. Use your best photos or do some editing beforehand to optimize images.
- Pick expressive subjects. The best stickers have personality. Try using photos with people or animals making funny faces or acting silly.
- Fill the frame. Frame your shot so the subject takes up most of the space. Avoid lots of negative space around the edges.
- Trace carefully. Take your time outlining the subject to remove as much of the background as possible. Clean tracing results in better stickers.
- Choose vertical shots. Stickers are tall and narrow, so photos taken vertically work best.
- Play with Live Photos. Converting Live Photos adds fun animation and sound to your stickers. Find lively Live Photos to make animated stickers.
- Make sticker packs. Design related stickers that work well together in themed packs. This helps build your own sticker “brand.”
- Use stickers creatively. Place stickers over photos in Messages or add them to emails and other apps. Get creative in how you use your custom creations.
With some practice and creativity, you can make sticker packs tailored to any occasion, person, pet, hobby, or inside joke. The options are endless!
Frequently Asked Questions About Custom iOS Stickers
Here are answers to some common questions about creating and using custom stickers on iOS:
How many stickers can I make?
There is no limit to the number of stickers you can make from your photos and Live Photos in iOS. You are only limited by your device’s storage space.
What photo formats can I use?
You can make stickers from JPG photos or Live Photos taken with an iPhone. For best results, use high-quality images. Avoid photos with a lot of noise or blurriness.
Can I edit the photos first?
Yes, you can edit photos in the Photos app before converting them to stickers. Cropping, filters, and adjustments can optimize images.
Do my stickers sync across devices?
Custom stickers are synced across devices using iCloud, just like your regular Photos library. Stickers will be available on all your linked iOS devices when signed into the same Apple ID.
Can I organize stickers into albums?
Unfortunately no, there is currently no way to organize custom iOS stickers into albums. All user-created stickers appear together under “My Stickers.”
How do I delete custom stickers?
Open the Messages app, tap the App Store icon, select “My Stickers”, tap “Edit”, then tap the red minus icon on any sticker you want to delete.
What’s the best file format for stickers?
For maximum image quality, export sticker files in the PNG format with a transparent background. This removes any artifacts from the original photo background.
Can I use stickers on Mac or Windows PCs?
No, custom iOS stickers can only be used within iOS apps. They cannot be transferred and used on macOS or Windows computers. You’ll only see them on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch.
Conclusion
That wraps up this guide on how to make custom stickers on iOS! With the built-in tools in iOS 17, it’s a breeze to turn photos and Live Photos into one-of-a-kind stickers.
Stickers are a fun way to add personality, humor, and self-expression to your conversations. Simply pick memorable photos, outline the main subject, and save your creations to Messages.
Use your custom stickers to decorate photos or liven up message threads and emails. With practice, you can even make themed sticker packs to share or use across all your Apple devices.
So grab your best photos or capture new ones – it’s sticker making time! Express yourself with custom creations in just a few taps.