What is die-cutting?

Die cut can be 2 words or hyphenated, die-cut.

Die-cutting is the process of cutting out (stamping out) custom shapes. The process uses a metal cutting forme (that is made up of shape blades) that are pressed directly onto the material (using pressure) to cut the shape out.

Below are the Cambridge dictionary definitions for both words:

• “die noun [C] (TOOL)a shaped piece or mould (= hollow container) made of metal or other hard material, used to shape or put a pattern on metal or plastic” https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/die
• Cut“to break the surface of something, or to divide or make something smaller, using a sharp tool, especially a knife:”https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/cut

   

If you’d like to get custom die-cut marketing materials for your business or event, please get in touch. Call our team on 01347 823 230 for your quote.

What Materials can a die cutter cut? Can you die cut Correx?

The die cutting machine in our factory, can be used to cut a variety of printed materials including vinyl, display board, polypropylene, Correx and Foamex boards.

What products are made using the die cutting process? What is die cutting used for?

There are loads of different products that can be created from printed die cut materials, it is about the design. Here are a few examples of products that we have printed and produced: twist ‘n’ lock leaflet dispensers, open and closed signs, correx signs (all custom shapes), stickers in all shapes and sizes, shelf wobblers, header boards, strutted show cards etc.

What is the die cut process?

The process is simple. Artwork is supplied for the required product with a cutter guide template. This cutter guide is then used (by a specialist producer) to create the cutting forme. The cutting forme in simple terms is a wooden block that has lots of sharp small knife blades arranged to form the outline of the design, these blades are edged with foam. This wooden block is then placed into the machine, if you imagine how a sandwich toaster works the process is similar (without the heat), the machine opens up and the cutting forme is fitted to the inside of the lid, the material is then placed inside the machine on the bottom and the lid is then closed (during this process the die cutter machine applies a lot of pressure) enabling the small blades to slice through the material. Therefore, when the machine is opened again, the material has the design/shape stamped out of the material, allowing the excess to be weeded out.

Can you crease material in the die cutting process?

Yes is the simple answer, materials can be creased during the process rather than cut, which allows them to be folded. Often designs are a combination of cutting and creasing, to enable a product to be created.

So how does the die cutter know what to cut and what to crease? And how does it achieve this? In basic terms the cutting form is created using sharp blades where it needs to cut but the areas that need to be creased are left blunt, therefore it only marks/creases the material but doesn’t slice through it.

What is the difference between die cutting and embossing?

Although both processes require a form to be made, they are very different, die cutting cuts the material into a shape, whilst embossing stamps the design into the material so that it stands in relief and nothing is cut out.

For further information or prices please speak to our team on 01347 823 230.