A dieline is the flat, to-scale plan of a package. It shows where the board will be cut, folded, glued and perforated, so the printer can build the cutting die and the designer knows exactly where the artwork goes.
Dieline definition
Dieline (noun, packaging and print): a flat, to-scale technical drawing of a package or label that marks where it is cut, creased, perforated and glued. It is used to make the cutting die and to position artwork. Also written die line or die-cut line; called a tracé de découpe in French.
What does dieline mean in printing?
In printing, the dieline is the outline the cutting die follows. It sits on its own layer in a spot colour and is never printed: it only tells the press and the finishing machines where to cut and fold.
Dieline vs mockup vs template
Dieline: the exact technical outline for one structure and one size.
Template: a generic dieline you resize, for example from a box generator.
Mockup: a picture or 3D view of the finished pack, made from the dieline and the artwork.
Simplified tuck end box. Real dielines also carry dust flaps, bleed and dimensions.
The lines on a dieline
Every printer has its own conventions, so always read the legend on the file. These are the most common ones:
Element
What it does
Usual convention
Cut line
Where the die cuts through the board
Solid line
Crease (fold) line
Where the board is scored so it folds cleanly
Dashed line
Perforation
Partial cut for tear strips and easy-open tabs
Dash-dot or a dedicated colour
Glue area
Where the pack is glued, kept free of ink and varnish
Hatched or tinted zone
Bleed
Artwork extended past the cut line so no white edge shows
Usually 3 mm (1/8 in) outside the cut
Safe zone
Inner margin for text and logos
Usually 3 mm or more inside cut and creases
Why the dieline matters more than the artwork
The dieline is a technical drawing, not a sketch. Its dimensions already account for the board, the folding machine and the gluing line. That is why designers should start from the printer's dieline rather than draw their own box: a few millimetres off and the tuck flap no longer closes, or the logo ends up on a fold.
Standard box styles: FEFCO and ECMA
Most box structures have a code. FEFCO codes describe corrugated boxes (for example the classic shipping carton), while ECMA codes describe folding cartons such as tuck end boxes. Quoting the code helps you and the printer talk about the same structure.
Files you will receive
PDF or AI: the most common. The dieline sits on its own layer, in a spot colour often named "Dieline" or "Cut", set to overprint so it never prints.
DXF: from CAD software and cutting tables. Opens in most vector apps.
SVG: handy for Affinity Designer, Inkscape and web tools.
How to check a dieline before print
Put your artwork on the dieline, keep the dieline layer on top and never move it.
Check bleed past every cut line and keep text inside the safe zone, away from creases.
Fold it: print at 100% and fold a paper prototype, or fold it in 3D to see every panel in place.
Send the file back with the dieline layer intact and ask your printer for a proof.
Step 3 is what Boxobox is for: open the complete PDF, see it folded in 3D with your artwork, on your Mac. Join the waitlist.
Questions
What does dieline mean?
A dieline is the flat, to-scale outline of a package that shows where it will be cut, folded, glued and perforated. Printers use it to make the cutting die and designers place their artwork on it.
Is it "dieline", "die line" or "die-cut template"?
All three mean the same thing. "Dieline" is the most common spelling in packaging. It is unrelated to The Dieline, the packaging design magazine.
Who makes the dieline?
Usually the printer or packaging converter, because it depends on their machines and board. Structural designers also draw custom ones. Designers then receive it as a PDF, AI or DXF file.
What file format is a dieline?
Most often a vector PDF or AI file with the dieline on its own layer in a spot colour. DXF is common for CAD and cutting tables. SVG works for most design apps.
How do I check a dieline before printing?
Print it at 100%, cut and fold a paper prototype, or fold it digitally in 3D to check that panels, flaps and artwork line up. Always get the final proof from your printer.
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