Die cutting, commonly referred to as die-cut stamping is the process of cutting materials (such as paper, stickers, plastic, or foam boards) into various desired shapes. These shapes can range from rounded rectangles, circles, and stars to custom free-form designs (contour cutting) by using a custom-made die.
Artwork Preparation: The designer creates a die-line in graphic design software (like Illustrator) to define the exact boundaries for the cut.
Making the Die: The die-line is used to shape a metal blade into the specific design, which is then embedded into a wooden board to create a die block.
Die-cutting Process:
For small quantities or large-format jobs, a Digital Die-cut Machine is often used, utilizing a computer-controlled blade to cut directly from the digital file without the need for a physical die block.
For high-volume production, a Platen Die-cut Machine is used. The material is fed into the machine, and the die block is pressed down with high pressure to create the desired cut or perforated lines.
