Cheat Sheet for Creating iMessage Stickers

If you are just getting into self-publishing iMessage stickers, here’s a cheat sheet that I use to improve my workflow. You can also check out my tutorial on how to create your own iMessage stickers here.

Required Artwork Sizes

1. App icon sizes

App icons for Xcode, Sketch template here.

1. App store — 1024 x 1024 px
2. iPhone-settings-29pt@2x — 58 x 58 px
3. iPhone-Settings-29pt@3x — 87 x 87 px
4. Messages-iPhone-60x45pt@2x — 120 x 90 px
5. Messages-iPhone-60x45pt@3x — 180 x 135 px
6. Messages-iPad-67x50pt@2x — 134 x 100 px
7. Messages-iPad-Pro-74x55pt@2x — 148 x 110 px
8. iPad-Settings-29pt@2x — 58 x 58 px
9. Messages27x20pt@2x — 54 x 40 px
10. Messages27x20pt@3x — 81 x 60 px
11. Messages32x24pt@2x — 64 x 48 px
12. Messages32x24pt@3x — 96 x 72 px
13. Messages-App-Store-1024x768pt — 1024 x 768 px

2. App store image sizes

The promotional images for your stickers. These are the bare minimum.

• For iPhone — 1242 x 2208 px (up to 5 images)
• For iPad — 2048 x 2732 px (up to 5 images)

3. Sticker artwork sizes

Choose one. The number of stickers per pack is up to you.

• Small — 300 x 300 px
• Medium — 408 x 408 px
• Large — 618 x 618 px

Setup Checklist

In your developer account and iTunes Connect (in this order)

1. Two certificates

First-time only, certificates are valid for a year.

• Development — iOS App Development
• Distribution — App Store and Ad Hoc

2. Create an App ID

Each new sticker pack will require a new app ID

3. Create 2 provisioning profiles

Each new sticker pack will require new provisioning profiles

• Development — iOS App Development
• Distribution — App Store

4. Create a new app on iTunes Connect

Each new sticker pack will be its own app

If this is totally new to you, here are some basics you will need.

1. Mac OS to run Xcode
2. Adobe Illustrator or some similar programs to produce the sticker artwork and app icons
3. iPhone/ iPod/ iPad running iOS10 to test your stickers (or you could use the simulator in Xcode)
4. An Apple developer account, USD99/year.
5. Patience. Yes, you will need plenty.

To learn more about how to publish your stickers on the iMessage App Store, you can check out my tutorial here on creating the Dim and Sum sticker pack. I would love to hear what you think about the stickers!