Create a cut line in Illustrator
Cutting printed materials is called die-cutting. With our Jetrion 4900, we can create any
unique shape using laser technology without extra charge!
At Zolemba, the fast laser die-cutting works as follows. After placing your order, you
provide your file by uploading it to our Zolemba site. In this file, your desired shape is
indicated by a die-cut line. We then load the file into our digital press. The specific
die-cut line is loaded into the digital laser station. Then, in one pass, the label is
printed on the same digital press and immediately die-cut using multiple laser beams. Also,
immediately after die-cutting, the waste is removed and the labels are wound onto rolls. We
do not need clichés or die plates, so you do not incur these costs. Thanks to laser
die-cutting, we can ship within 24 hours!
Below, in 8 steps, is explained how to create a die-cut line in Illustrator:
step 1:
Open Illustrator and go to your tools. If this panel is not visible: Go to the menu bar at the top. Click on 'Window'. Hover over 'Tools', expand this option, and select 'Default'.
step 2:
Open Illustrator and go to your tools. If this panel is not visible: Go to the menu bar at the top. Click on 'Window'. Hover over 'Tools', expand this option, and choose 'Default'.
step 3:
Set the fill color to 'None'. If this panel is not visible: go to the menu bar at the top. Click on 'Window'. Click on 'Color'.
step 4:
The stroke color must be a spot color named ‘die-cut’. Click on 'Stroke Color'. Click on 'Options' in the 'Color' panel (top right). Click on 'New Swatch'. Adjust the settings as shown in the example.
step 5:
Select 'Overprint Stroke' under Attributes. If this panel is not visible: go to the menu bar at the top. Click on 'Window'. Click on 'Attributes'.
step 6:
Change the stroke width to 0.2mm under 'Stroke'. If this panel is not visible: go to the menu bar at the top. Click on 'Window'. Click on 'Stroke'.
step 7:
Set the fill color to 'None'. If this panel is not visible: go to the menu bar at the top. Click on 'Window'. Click on 'Color'.
step 8:
The stroke color must be a spot color named ‘die-cut’. Click on 'Stroke Color'. Click on 'Options' in the 'Color' panel (top right). Click on 'New Swatch'. Adjust the settings as shown in the example.