Custom Washi Tape Made in Japan: What to Know Before You Order

Short answer: Washi tape is a thin paper tape with a low-tack adhesive, printed with patterns and easy to tear by hand. Custom washi tape is a common request from shops, illustrators and brands. The design is printed on rolls of paper tape and then cut to width, so the minimum is set by the printing run, not by the number of rolls you need.

What makes washi tape different

• Paper, not plastic. The base is a thin paper, which takes print well and tears cleanly.
• Low-tack adhesive. It can be lifted and repositioned on paper, which is why people use it in planners and scrapbooks.
• Translucent. Colours look lighter when layered; a white base layer can make them stronger.

The decisions that change price and minimum

Decision	Options	Effect
Width	Narrow to wide	Wider tape uses more material per roll
Length per roll	Short to long	Longer rolls cost more, fewer to cut
Print colours	One colour to full colour	Each spot colour may need its own plate
Special finishes	Foil, white underprint, clear tape	Extra steps, sometimes extra minimum
Core	Standard core or your printed core	A printed core is a separate small print job
Packaging	Shrink-wrapped, label, card, box	Labels and cards are extra print jobs

Why the minimum is per design

Washi tape is printed on a long, wide roll, which is then slit into narrower rolls. Setting up the printing machine for a design takes time and material, so the maker needs a certain length of print for each design. If you want several designs, each usually has its own minimum. Fewer colours and a standard width and length are the easiest ways to start small.

What to send

• Artwork as a repeating pattern, with the repeat length marked
• Width and length per roll
• Number of colours, or “full colour”
• Quantity per design, and packaging
• Your logo for the label or core, if you want one

Questions to ask the maker

• What widths and lengths are standard on their machines?
• What is the minimum per design, and does it change with colours?
• How do colours look on their paper; can they send a printed proof?
• How long from approved proof to delivery?

If you want me to ask Japanese washi tape makers for you, send a brief. See also custom notebooks and paper goods.