In a fast-paced world where consumers’ attention spans are shorter than ever, you have less than 10 seconds to catch someone’s eye. But how can you instantly engage a potential customer and convince them to give your marketing materials a second glance?
One way to do so is to use a die cut, which provides a unique visual and tactile experience. Die-cut printing is where a die-cut machine creates a specific shape or design out of your chosen material, the same way a cookie cutter produces biscuits of a desired design.
For a deeper understanding of its manufacturing method and process, consider referring to our fundamental guide to die-cut printing.
Otherwise, you can read on to learn more about the benefits of die-cut printing and the elements to note during the process.
Creativity and customisation
With die-cut printing, you have complete creative control. There are no limitations to the size, shape, or design you can choose, which means that you can tailor your marketing materials to your specific needs and add a unique flair that is recognisable.
These specially-printed items help you stand out, as many brands opt for classic rectangular brochures or cards.
Versatility
Die-cut printing can be used on a wide range of materials, such as paper, vinyl, magnet sheets, and even fabrics, making it suitable for various project types.
Uniformity
Typically, cutting out shapes leads to slight variations across products.
Die cutting eliminates this problem as multiple identical forms are replicated based on the precise shape of the die. This consistency is essential for mass production applications requiring the creation of large volumes of identical products.
Professional finish
Die-cut printing ensures greater attention to detail than is possible with traditional printing methods. Therefore, it creates sharp, crisp, and detailed products that reflect a high degree of professionalism.
Reduce waste
Dies can be lined up closely during printing, leaving less excess material around the cut-out shapes. Not only does this help you save money, but it is also good for the environment.
Speed
Die-cutting machines can cut out multiple shapes simultaneously and in rapid succession. Hence, if you need your materials done quickly, die-cut printing is the ideal choice.
Key considerations when preparing design
To fully reap the benefits of die-cut printing, it is essential to understand some key considerations when preparing your design.
1. Add bleed area
Though die cutting is highly accurate, some slight cutting imperfections may still exist. Hence, adding a bleed area, which refers to an image, colour, or background extending beyond the trim area, is essential. This practice ensures that there will not be any white borders around the design in the case of printing or design errors.
2. Use CMYK colour mode
There are two main types of colour modes: RGB (Red, Green, Blue) and CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black).
RGB is suitable for images or designs intended for screen displays, while CMYK is used for printing. Therefore, to ensure the printed materials look exactly like the desired design, it is necessary to use the CMYK colour mode.
3. Image resolution of at least 300 DPI
The greater the DPI (Dots Per Inch) value, the higher the dot density and the less pixelated the image is. It is necessary to use an image of at least 300 DPI to avoid blurriness.
4. Convert fonts to outlines
While most editing software supports many fonts, some more niche fonts can only be downloaded and used on specific software. However, it is still possible to ensure compatibility and similarity to the original design by converting the fonts to outlines.
Conclusion
Die-cut printing is the ideal way to customise your marketing materials, providing high-quality and unique final products that set your brand apart from the rest. It encourages potential customers to take a closer look and gives them a tangible reason to remember your brand.
If you’re looking for high-quality and affordable die-cutting services, check out Hiller Industries. We also offer services like screen printing, commercial offset printing, and label and sticker printing in Singapore. Visit https://www.hillier.com.sg/ to find out more!