Introduction
Die line is the base of a successful custom packaging project, especially for custom packagings like metal tin cans or tin boxes, In this post, we will show you some practical examples of our custom printing projects, you will learn how to read and design properly on a tin box die line file.
What is a Die-Line and How Does it Work?
A die-line or blank die-line is a PDF file that indicates the area where you can put your graphic artwork. When the die-line is correctly placed, the design will appear on the right area of the product.
When will you need a dieline?
Dieline is a must when choosing packaging solutions, which are restricted by existing molds. For paper-related packaging, the molds are small and affordable, but for plastic or metal containers, the mold sets are usually very expensive, It will be very expensive to invest in new molds, the better option is to customize the design based on the existing mold sizes and structures offered by the supplier.
Using existing molds means you need to finish your graphic artwork design within some specific area and size, these area guide lines are called die-lines.
What is a tin box dieline? Where to get one?
A tin box dieline is a template file(usually in adobe PDF or Illustrator format) that is specialized for custom tin box design, you can use it to place your custom graphic design of the tin box packaging. You can only get the tin box dieline from a tin box manufacturer, who created the mold sets of the specific tin box you need. Once you find one tin box supplier and tell them what you need, and the tin box cost is affordable to you, you can ask for a dieline for Free from them, some helpful tin box suppliers will also be very happy to assist you in the designing process, which can help you save a cost from hiring a graphic designer.
How To Read a Die Line and Identify the Important Information
Die lines are a visual representation of the information that is shown on a die. There are several important elements in a die line file: lines, size numbers, color swatches, bleeding area, orientation, and safe canvas area. A safe canvas area is the most important element of a die line because it guarantee what you need to show on the final design is inside the safe printing area. Here we will use an example of a custom coffee tin can project we have done for a premium coffee customer recently.