What a die-line is
A die-line is the vector template showing a pack flat, before it is cut. It defines the outer cut, the fold lines, the glue laps and the safe area that type must stay inside. A designer builds the artwork on top of it; artwork prepared without one drifts out of register at the cutting stage.
What the lines mean
Why it is supplied flat
The product sits folded on the table, but printing happens on a flat sheet. Artwork has to be positioned against the flat, pre-cut dimension; a file built to the folded size puts the pattern across a fold.
It has to be vector
The cutting die is produced from the mathematical curves in the file. In a pixel image the cut line is only a change of colour and the machine cannot read it. Accepted formats are PDF, AI, SVG and EPS.
Who provides it
The manufacturer knows the dimensions and fold structure, so the template comes from the manufacturer. Templates for napkins, straw sleeves, cutlery handles and kit packaging can be downloaded as SVG and PDF, both of which open in Illustrator at true size.
Approved template versus draft
Until dimensions are confirmed by the press, a template is a draft. Susteez marks approval status at the top of every downloadable template, and production does not start from an unapproved one — if a dimension changes, the artwork has to be redone.
Frequently asked
- Is a die-line the same as a mockup?
- No. A mockup shows how the product will look; a die-line shows how it will be cut. One is for presentation, the other is the basis of the production file.
- Can my designer draw the template?
- They can, but it has to match the actual cutting die exactly. Taking the template from the manufacturer removes that risk.
Last updated: 2026-09-13