Chat Stickers
WhatsApp Sticker Size, WebP, and PNG Export Basics
A tested guide to preparing a digital sticker for WhatsApp workflows, including 512×512 WebP output, the 100KB cap, transparent PNG sources, and import limits.
Many people make photo stickers because they want to use them in chat apps. The file you download is only one part of that workflow. The chat app or sticker app still controls how stickers are imported, grouped, and displayed.
StickerBeam now provides two useful layers after a paid unlock on the WhatsApp tool page: the clean transparent PNG that acts as the flexible source and a separate 512×512 transparent WebP prepared for a WhatsApp-style import workflow.
This guide documents the adapter we actually tested, including its file-size cap and access gate. It does not claim one-click publishing, official account access, automatic pack creation, or approval by WhatsApp.
Adapter fixture
What the WhatsApp WebP QA verified
We tested the server-side variant builder with a high-complexity transparent fixture rather than only checking for a `.webp` filename. The test reads the encoded image back and verifies dimensions, format, alpha, file size, and the visible white edge treatment.
Tested 2026-07-15
What we verified
- The QA output was WebP, exactly 512×512 pixels, retained an alpha channel, and encoded to 40,060 bytes, below the 102,400-byte limit.
- Pixel inspection found 9,181 expanded white-edge pixels with average brightness 254.1, confirming that the edge existed in the file rather than only in code.
- The file route keeps auth and paid unlock checks before source read or transformation; anonymous requests return 401 and locked results return 402.
Limits to keep in mind
- • The public cat images illustrate the source/result workflow; the numeric adapter checks come from the dedicated engineering fixture.
- • StickerBeam does not import the file into WhatsApp or publish a sticker pack.
- • Platform requirements can change, so users should still verify the current import workflow in the app they use.
Make the PNG
Turn your photo into a chat sticker PNG
Upload one photo, inspect the protected preview, and unlock the clean transparent PNG plus the 512×512 WhatsApp WebP only when the result is worth keeping.
Digital files only. WhatsApp import and pack setup remain separate.
Why the export uses a 512×512 canvas
Chat stickers are displayed small and commonly use a square canvas. The StickerBeam WhatsApp adapter creates a 512×512 WebP so the file has predictable dimensions while preserving the subject's aspect ratio inside the square.
The adapter keeps safe padding around the subject instead of stretching the image to fill every pixel. It also adds a white edge treatment to help the sticker remain readable on both light and dark chat backgrounds.
The clean transparent PNG remains available because it is the more flexible source for editing or another destination. The WebP is an additional derived download, not a replacement for the unlocked PNG.
Transparent background is important
A chat sticker usually needs transparency so it does not appear as a square photo tile. The WebP adapter preserves an alpha channel and places the sticker result on a transparent square canvas rather than flattening it onto white.
Before importing the image, inspect either the clean PNG or the WebP on a contrasting background. Transparency does not repair missing hair, fur, fingers, product corners, or other details that were already weak in the preview.
How the adapter stays under 100KB
The adapter uses several WebP quality and alpha-quality steps. It starts with a higher-quality candidate, checks the encoded file size, and only moves to stronger compression when the result is above the 100KB cap. If no candidate can meet the cap, the server returns an explicit failure instead of silently sending an oversized file with a misleading name.
The size cap applies to the generated WhatsApp WebP variant, not to the clean source PNG. A complex subject with soft edges or many semi-transparent pixels may need more compression than a simple object. That is why file size and visual quality are both tested rather than assuming that a `.webp` extension alone is enough.
StickerBeam does not expose this variant before the existing access checks. The file endpoint verifies sign-in and `download_unlocked` status before reading or transforming the clean source, so requesting the WebP does not create a second free-download path.
- Target canvas: 512×512 pixels.
- Target format: transparent WebP.
- Target file-size cap: 100KB.
- Access gate: the same paid-result auth and unlock checks as other clean downloads.
Platform rules can change
WhatsApp, Telegram, iMessage, Discord, and third-party sticker apps can each have different import rules. Some need a sticker pack app. Some compress images. Some accept PNG directly. Some require additional metadata, tray artwork, or a separate publishing step.
StickerBeam creates downloadable PNG and WebP assets. It does not connect to a WhatsApp account, call an official WhatsApp API, create or publish a sticker pack, or complete the platform-specific import steps for you.
Keep the source file
After import, chat apps may resize or compress the sticker. Keep the unlocked PNG in case you want to adjust it later, import it into another app, or create a new platform-specific variant without recompressing the WebP.
If the sticker looks too small in chat, try a source photo where the subject fills more of the frame before generating another result.