Creating unique stickers in the messenger Telegram has become not just a trend, but a full-fledged type of digital creativity. If earlier this required a computer and skills to work with Photoshop, now you can turn any photo into a sticker directly from your smartphone under control Android. The process is completely free and takes only a few minutes if you know the correct procedure.
In this article we will look in detail at how to prepare images, remove the background and upload the finished pack through the official bot. You don't need to pay for subscriptions or download dubious apps - all the necessary tools are already available in Google Play or inside the messenger itself.
We will look at the technical requirements for files, which often cause download errors. Understanding these nuances will save you time and nerves. In addition, you will learn how to add an emoji anchor so that stickers appear automatically when you type.
Technical requirements for images for stickers
Before you start processing photos, you need to clearly understand the formats that the server accepts Telegram. Ignoring these rules will cause the bot @Stickers to simply reject your file with a format error. The main requirement concerns resolution: the image must be square with a side exactly 512 pixels.
However, there is an important nuance: one of the sides can be less than 512 pixels, but the larger side must be equal to this value. The file format must be strictly PNG or WEBP. The use of JPEG is unacceptable, since this format does not support transparent backgrounds, which are critical for stickers.
⚠️ Attention: The weight of a single file should not exceed 64 KB. This is a very strict restriction. Even if a picture is the correct size at 512x512, if it is too detailed, it may weigh more. In this case, additional compression will be required.
Background transparency is a key parameter. Telegram stickers do not have a white or black backing; they are overlaid on top of chats. If you upload an image with a white background, it will look like a sticker with a white border, which is considered bad form in sticker pack design.
For animated stickers, the requirements are even stricter: the format is used TGS (Lottie), which requires specific animation skills in After Effects. For the purposes of this tutorial, we will focus on static images, since creating them on your phone is as simple as possible.
Use applications to compress images if your files weigh more than 64 KB, but try not to lose the quality of the object's outline.
Selecting and installing applications for background removal
The most time-consuming step of creation A sticker is a cut out of an object from a photograph. On a computer this is done with the Pen tool or the Magic Wand, but on Android we will use neural networks. They cope with this task automatically and often better than an inexperienced user could manually.
There are many applications, but not all of them allow you to save the result in the desired resolution without watermarks. We recommend using proven solutions that specialize specifically in preparing graphics for the web and instant messengers.
- 🖼️ Background Eraser - a classic application with manual and automatic tools that allows you to control every pixel.
- 🤖 Adobe Photoshop Express —a powerful editor where the background removal function works based on cloud algorithms.
- ✂️ Pixelcut —a modern tool with excellent automatic cutting of objects and ready-made size templates.
After installing the selected software, import the photo you want to turn into a sticker. Most modern applications offer an “Auto” or “Remove Background” button, which instantly removes unnecessary things. If the result is not perfect, use the Eraser tool to manually refine the edges.
It is important to ensure that there is no “garbage” left around the object - translucent pixels or shadows that were not part of the original object. In a sticker pack, such artifacts will look like dirt on a transparent background.
Step-by-step guide: resizing and saving
After the background is removed, you need to bring the image to the canonical size. Many background removal apps do this automatically, but it's best to double-check your settings before exporting. Your goal is to get a file of 512x512 pixels or a proportionally reduced version (for example, 512x400).
Open the image in any photo editor, for example, in a standard gallery or Android, for example, in a standard gallery or Snapseed. Find the Resize or Crop option. Set the width to 512. The height will adjust automatically if you maintain the proportions, which is the right decision.
⚠️ Attention: Never artificially stretch a small image to 512 pixels. This will result in a “ladder” appearance and blur. The original photo must be of high quality and large enough initially.
When saving, select a format PNG. Make sure the "Keep Transparency" option is active. If you save the file as JPG, the transparent background will be replaced with black or white, and the sticker will be ruined.
Check the file weight in the properties. If it is larger than 64 KB, try reducing the number of colors or lowering the compression quality slightly in the PNG export settings. Sometimes converting to a format helps WEBP, which compresses graphics more efficiently while maintaining the same visual quality.
☑️ Preparing the file for downloading
Working with the official @Stickers bot
Now let's move on to the magic itself - uploading ready-made files into the ecosystem Telegram. To do this, you don’t need to go into the application settings; all control occurs through a chat with an official bot. Find a user with the name @Stickers in the messenger search and click the “Launch” button or /start.
The bot will offer you a menu with commands. To create a new set, select command /newpack. The system will ask you to come up with a name for your sticker pack. This title will be visible to all users when they find your set in search, so choose it carefully.
After submitting the title, the bot will ask you to upload the first image. It is important here not to send the file as a “Photo”, but rather as a “File” (Document). In the interface for sending attachments to Android select the paperclip icon, then “File” and find your prepared image in the downloads folder.
If you send the image as a regular photo, Telegram it will compress it using its algorithms, change the size and add a white background, after which the bot will throw an error. Sending through the "File" tab ensures that the original data is transmitted without distortion.
Always send images to the bot as "File" (Document) and not as "Photo" to maintain transparency and the exact size of 512px.
Setting up emoji and publishing a set
After successfully uploading the image, the bot will ask you to send an emoji corresponding to this sticker. This is necessary for smart selection: when a user types an emoticon in a chat, Telegram will offer him your sticker. You can send one emoticon or several separated by commas.
For example, if you downloaded a sticker with a cat, send the bot an emoticon 🐱 or 🐈. If the sticker expresses the emotion of laughter, 😂 or 🤣 will do. This linking significantly improves the usability of your set in correspondence.
Repeat the procedure of uploading the file and linking emojis for all pictures in your pack. When all images have been added, send the command /publish. The bot will offer to upload an icon for the set (100x100 pixels) and a short name for the link.
If you don’t want to mess with the icon, you can send a command /skip, and Telegram will automatically assign the first picture from the set as the cover. Then you need to come up with a short name in Latin for the link, for example, SuperCat2026.
| Bot command | Purpose | When to use |
|---|---|---|
/newpack |
Creating a new sticker pack | At the very beginning work |
/addsticker |
Adding a sticker to an existing pack | To replenish the collection |
/editsticker |
Changing the emoji of a downloaded sticker | If the binding is not suitable |
/publish |
Publishing a set and receiving links | When all the stickers are loaded |
After finalization, the bot will send a link like t.me/addstickers/YourName. Friends and acquaintances can install your kit using this link. You can also click on it yourself to add the pack to your list of stickers.
What to do if the bot writes “Invalid images provided”?
This means that the image does not meet the requirements. Most often the problem is in the format (sent as a photo instead of a file) or size (not 512px). Check the file properties before sending.
Frequent errors and ways to solve them
Even following the instructions, users often encounter technical problems. The most common error is the message “Sorry, something went wrong.” This is usually due to the fact that the file is slightly larger than the 64 KB limit or has incorrect metadata.
Another problem is the “black background” instead of transparent. This happens if you converted the image to a format that does not support the alpha channel, or opened a PNG in an editor that by default puts a white layer when saving.
⚠️ Attention: The bot interface
@Stickersand file requirements may change slightly by developers. If the command does not work, try updating the Telegram application to the latest version from Google Play.
If the bot does not accept emoji, make sure that you are sending exactly the emoticon symbols, and not their text description or pictures. You also cannot link more than one emoji to one sticker at a time, although all linked ones will work in the search.
If you have difficulty removing the background on your phone, try taking a screenshot of the object on a white background, and then uploading it to online services through the browser of your mobile device. Sometimes web versions of tools work more stable than mobile applications.
For batch processing of many photos, use applications like "Image Resizer", where you can immediately set a 512px template and convert dozens of photos to PNG at a time.
Is it possible to create a sticker pack without removing the background?
Technically, the bot will accept an image from background, but it will look unnatural in chat. The square frame around the sticker disrupts the visual style of the correspondence. It is still recommended to spend time cutting out the object.
How many stickers can be in one pack?
Officially, one sticker pack can contain up to 120 static images. If you want to create more, you will have to create a second set through the command /newpack.
Can you edit stickers after publication?
Yes, you can change the emoji link through the command /editsticker or remove individual stickers from the set. However, you cannot replace the image itself with a new one without recreating the pack.
Will my stickers be visible to all users?
Yes, as soon as you publish the pack through the command /publish, it will become publicly available. Any Telegram user will be able to find it via a link or add it through a bot if they recognize the name.