I am sure I am not the only one who builds model cars or planes, it's frustrating trying to apply water based decals on model pieces, and then pray that it doesn't shatter in two, but I noticed that everyone hates stickers around here, frankly I prefer Lego based stickers all day anyway than the ones I am used to, granted over time stickers can get unglued from lego, but is that the main reason? I think it adds character to sets and all...

what's the general consensus?

I'd rather it be printed directly on the things. Saves me effort. Saves me from accidentally putting the sticker on crooked. Doesn't look like a sticker which is good. Doesn't degrade as fast. Doesn't have bubbles that sometimes for some reason I can't always get rid of. Blablabla.

Generally I agree with BrickG and I identify with all those reasons (including getting a hair or something under the sticker when applying it - ack!! (especially when my kids do the application)). For me, though, the reason I used to despise them was because of the prevalence of STAMPs. Especially many years ago when my collection was small, I hated either having those pieces being permanently out of play unless used in their original set or worked into a related MOC, or destroying the (basically irreplaceable) sticker. Now that LEGO is so much better with their sticker placement (and my collection is large enough not to miss those pieces) I do find that I'm regularly applying stickers and do enjoy what they add to the set. :)

I don't hate stickers, I hate that stickers have their limits, but that pushed us to start our dedicated printing shop. Printing on bricks also has it's limits:

a. it will severely limit the use of the particular brick

b. prints will also fade

The most important limits of stickers can be overcome by reprinting / reproducing them :)

Honestly I tend to prefer stickers over printed pieces since stickers are optional to put on. Sometimes I like to have a useful piece without the sticker on it so it can be used for more things. In some cases I do prefer printed pieces, especially on common pieces with a "generic" print on them, such as a control panel or something that would have various uses.

I just put together City 'Town Square' #60026 on Friday, I spread it over two rainy days, to meter out the stickers. I had a little trouble getting them straight, but was able to use an exacto knife to help put them on evenly. One was crooked, after I got it on, and I was able to slip the knife under it to pull it off and try again. It worked. I know now to never press them on tight till really sure they are right!

I think the stickers do add a lot to the interest of a set, usually. So I have been putting them on when I get them. I would like printed pieces though, if possible..

I never ever put stickers on my models. The part is intact and can be reused without being different. I prefer printed parts.

I have every sticker sheets in a drawer, might sell them one day, I dunno.

I don't really like the process of putting stickers on either like most people, but they do make Lego models look better. More printed pieces would be ideal.

I don't hate stickers, just trying to put them on :(

Stickers on toys have been with me my entire life. I can remember a wooden train I had when I was five or six that had stickers for eyes that I had to apply myself. And all those Kenner Star Wars toys were loaded with stickers! (Kenner called them "labels") Does anyone remember the TIE Fighter? 24 solar panel stickers- that was a challenge!

As far as LEGO goes, it was no different- there were stickers from the get go with me. Since I would generally buy a set for the model, applying stickers never bothered me, but I never liked it when a sticker became a STAMP. That made it difficult to take apart sets. I'm glad that practice is very rare these days.

I prefer printed parts over stickers as they seem to last longer, especially on sloped parts (Classic Town awnings anyone?) I'm sad to see printed parts so far and few between, at least in the themes I collect. I also wonder about how it will affect the future collector's market- all of these stickered parts are going to be difficult to round up to complete sets.

I think it would be nice for LEGO to include two sheets per set, so you have a back-up to use way down the road.

Stickers while annoying can be very useful. If a part you need has a sticker on, it can be easily removed. I've also noticed some stickers that are intended for a certain theme can be just as useful for another one. Many stickers included in a Hobbit set worked very well with Harry Potter sets.

I used to detest stickers (especially STAMPs, thank heaven those days are over), but I admit I have recently really come around to them. I don't apply them to models (preferring to save them for possible MOCs later).

I guess, come to think of it, I have become a fan of stickers. However, I only like the stickers with the transparent background. I was surprised to see that TLG still makes stickers with a colored background to 'match' the color of brick it is supposed to be applied to--they are terrible. The background color never quite matches, and the sticker itself is more paper-like (as opposed to the plastic-y transparent ones), so they get scratched more easily, and leave behind that awful residue when you pull them off. In that case, I would rather have no design at all.

Transparent stickers: great!

Printing: less versatile, but I have no problem with it.

Colored paper stickers: no, thank you.

Edited May 7, 201410 yr by rodiziorobs

However, I only like the stickers with the transparent background. I was surprised to see that TLG still makes stickers with a colored background to 'match' the color of brick it is supposed to be applied to--they are terrible.

Agreed. Besides, what's the point in having a background color to match the part it's on, when said part is colored? A transparent sticker let the color show through it, right?

The main problem I have with stickers is that in time they tend to start to come of from the bricks. I don't agree that printed bricks limit the reusability of the bricks - if you glue a sticker and want to use this brick for another creation you need to remove them and you can't reapply them easily.

Almost every single time I have applied a sticker, I have ended up changing my moc very soon after for better design(it never ends:)) so I have almost stopped using them. My creations seem to be ever evolving as I find new techniques to change tiny details so they are almost all WIPs, but I am not at all opposed to stickers, I just never get to the point where I am happy enough with my design to apply them :)

I like stickers, and the transparent back-grounded ones are my favorite.

I am aware this is an unpopular opinion.

Water slide decals are the only "stickers" that seem to turn out well for me.

Just wondering if anyone here protects their sticker or printed parts in any way? As stated before for stickers I use a clear plastic vynil and when I was a kid I used to coat my minifig heads with a clear nail varnish so the prints wouldn't rub off. Just wanted to know if there were better ways to do this.