{"id":2753,"date":"2012-03-20T11:23:48","date_gmt":"2012-03-20T15:23:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mmprint.com\/blog\/?p=2753"},"modified":"2018-01-19T12:10:18","modified_gmt":"2018-01-19T17:10:18","slug":"creating-die-lines-die-cut-printing-adobe-illustrator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mmprint.com\/blog\/2012\/creating-die-lines-die-cut-printing-adobe-illustrator\/","title":{"rendered":"Creating Die Lines for Custom Die Cut Printing in Adobe Illustrator"},"content":{"rendered":"

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This post is best suited for graphic designers who will be working on a die cutting project and\/or those of you who simply like to know how to do stuff.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Creating a die line for die cutting can be pretty simple or can be quite difficult, all depends on your design and some planning beforehand can come in very handy later on.<\/p>\n

First, I want to make it clear that die cutting thin lines is not always a good idea<\/strong><\/em>. Thin lines in a die create thin cuts in the paper that can easily bend or rip off. Sometimes it’s unavoidable such as die cutting hair or thin fonts but if possible, always try to use thick locks of hair or bold type if your die cut is typography-based.<\/p>\n

Custom Die Cut Hang Tags<\/h2>\n

For this tutorial we are going to create a Die Cut Hang Tag<\/a>. Many clothing manufacturers use hang tags to brand their merchandise and sometimes include information about the product or the company on the back or inside if it is a folding hang tag.<\/p>\n

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For this tutorial, we will use a\u00a0fictitious\u00a0Clothing Brand called mmprint.<\/p>\n

\"mmprint<\/a><\/p>\n

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Our goal is to have a finished hang tag where we will die cut the mmprint with the white Stroke around it. Leaving the\u00a0grey area (which for purposes of this tutorial is simulating the paper) by using a die cutter such as our Heidelberg Windmill Letterpress<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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The Right Tools<\/h2>\n

The die line<\/em> must\u00a0be made using a vector design program such as Adobe Illustrator or InDesign. A die maker uses a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machine which uses CAD software to send the design commands to the CNC machine.<\/p>\n

\"vector<\/a>
Since the CNC is computer controlled, it requires vector lines to operate. Raster lines are created using blocks which then create jagged edges along the perimeter of the line.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Preparing the Artwork<\/h2>\n

Creating the die line for the mmprint hang tag should be rather straight forward and simple. We used Century Gothic Bold for the text and\u00a0made an offset path to make it thicker<\/a>, then added a 3pt. Stroke around it. All we really need to do is make a line that goes around the entire perimeter of the white Stroke.<\/p>\n

Sure, you can show off your Pen tool skills and trace the whole thing but working efficiently is key for a designer and when you have other projects to move on to, time is important.<\/p>\n

At this point in our design, our stroke is an effect applied to the object. When you select the object with the black arrow, you will see that the selection line is located within the stroke. Since we need the die line to be the outside edge of the stroke, we have to make the stroke an object itself.<\/p>\n