Diecutting
A Cut Above
Want your yearbook cover to stand out in a seriously cool way? Die cutting is your go-to. It’s a process that cuts shapes or designs right into the cover…think windows, patterns, or custom cutouts that reveal what’s underneath.
How Does It Work?
Diecutting uses a metal tool (called a die) that’s shaped to match your design. It’s pressed into the cover to cut out specific areas. There’s a bit of finesse involved…we test some things to make sure that they’ll work the way they’re supposed to (think fine details).
Shaping Your Story
You can use diecutting to create peek-through windows that show off a photo or design underneath, cut out custom shapes like stars or mascots, or use it to hint at your theme with cool cutouts like puzzle pieces or keyholes. Add some more pizazz with the addition of foil or spot gloss UV.
Things to Keep In Mind
- Die cutting happens after the cover’s been printed, laminated, trimmed, and wrapped. Since it’s one of the last steps, there’s a chance things might shift just a bit, especially if you’re lining it up with printed or foiled elements. So, it’s always good to plan for a little wiggle room in your design.
- If you’re using spot UV, just keep it light! Die cutting works best when the coating isn’t too thick. Going over 50 microns can be tricky, so sticking to a lighter application helps everything cut clean and look great.
- When you’re placing an image behind a die cut, make sure it either goes a bit beyond the cutout or sits slightly inside it, never exactly edge-to-edge. That way, you’ve got a little wiggle room (about 0.125″).
- If your design has super thin sections or delicate little tails, it might be a bit tricky to cut cleanly. Those areas can tear during die cutting, so it’s a good idea to tweak the shape a bit to keep everything looking sharp.