In relation to custom labels, you may have heard the phrases like “We don’t have the die-cut you are looking for” or “You need to customize the die”. Well, the die is one of the vital parts of label printing, and one should know the essentials behind this thing.
Overview of a Die
A die is basically a large sheet of certain material with heaved blade that is fastened to a cylinder, which cuts the sheet labels out of the piece. This process is known as tooling, and it involves cutting down individual labels of different shapes and sizes. The outline of the die-shape is marked with a colored line, known as the die line. After cutting process, the matrix or the excess material is removed.
What Type of Die do You Need?
The most common types of ready-made dies you will find in the market are generally circle, rectangular, square or oval shaped. Depending upon the kind of packaging you use for a certain product, you can choose one of these conventionally shaped dies for printing labels. However, if your requirement is specific to a certain item, and it requires labeling of an unusual shape, then you may have to place an order for a customized die, which will be tailored according to your design.
How to Create a Die
If you are looking to create a die-cut of your own, you need to follow these steps:
- Measure the surface area of the container on which you’ll fix the label. For round bottles, take the diameter and the circumference, and for flat ones take the length and breadth. Once the size is known, you can modify the shape, but make sure to avoid sharp corners.
- Once you decide on the shape, convert it into a joined line in Adobe Illustrator, so that the layout is continuous. The area within red boundary line indicates the section to be cut.
How Much will it Cost You?
The pricing of a die-cut totally depends upon the shape and size of the label. More irregular the shape, the more you have to pay for the machine to work that much extra. A lot of curves and corners require more labor and more precision. Another important factor is the material of die sheet, and how many labels can be cut out of it. Smaller the size, bigger the cost!
Is the Design All Yours?
Custom dies are specifically designed as per your requirement and no label converter will keep a copyright of your die. Once you purchase a die, you can replace it any number of times when it is damaged, and you only have to pay for the designing once. Cut Sheet Labels has you covered with even the most intricate cut-outs at reasonable prices.
Material choice also makes a difference when it comes to formulating a label for outdoor and indoor-use items. If the packaging and label mismatch, it would be of no use to invest in die-cuts that don’t suit the relevant purpose. Better give us a call today to get things sorted out as per your needs!
