Supply Die Lines as Vector Files
Please supply your die line file in Vector format. If you need help preparing your die line, watch the tutorial video or select the option to have us create your die line for you.
Simple Shapes Save Money
The prices listed are for cards cut to simple custom shapes. If your cards require intricate cutting, we will need to provide a custom estimate. We will let you know if your die line requires a custom estimate during the file check process.
Foil Area Should Be Less than 2 Square Inches
Foil is based on an estimated foil size of around 1" x 2". Full foil coverage, or borders that go around the edge of the card require a larger die and would need to be custom quoted for the additional die size.
Foil Can Fluctuate
With the foil stamping, you can expect some slight shifting throughout the print run between the CMYK and foil layers -- there may be up to 1/16" shift on the placement of the foil. Keep this in mind if you are trying to align foil with other printed artwork on the card. The areas where there is tight registration between the CMYK elements and foil elements may not turn out as expected.
Fine Detail / Small Text Does not Translate Well to Foil
Fine detail in foil stamped elements can fill in (the centre of an "e" or "a" in small type, or fine detail in an image or complex logo).
Leave Wiggle Room for Cutting
During the die-cutting process there will be a degree of shifting of the cut. A good design leaves a 1/8" critical margin inside the trim line to compensate for this shifting. Art that extends to the edge of the card requires a 1/8" bleed.
Die Cut Holes or Space Between Die Cut Elements Need to Be 1/8"
Any hole or interior shape that will die cut needs to be at least 1/8" in diameter. Say you were die cutting a letter U shape, the aperture in the U (the space between the two stems) must be at least 1/8" Small cut like this may not be strip away during cutting but a gentle tap will knock it out!
Colour will Vary
The upside of club-run printing is the shared savings, the downside is that we adjust colour globally to get the best overall colour for shared jobs. This means the colour of club-run printed items will vary through the run and will not match exactly on re-prints. Our Indigo printing service is better suited to colour critical work.
Greys Can Shift
CMYK Process colours in the grey range and de-saturated images can shift in colour throughout the print run and may cause the greys to appear either cooler or warmer. For a neutral grey, we recommend converting all grey values and de-saturated images to true greyscale consisting of K (black) only values.
Your Blue Might not Really Be Blue
Due to the nature of club-run printing, you may experience colour variation in solid fills of blue. For great blue results, we recommend a 30% difference between your Cyan and Magenta levels to ensure a nice rich dark blue, rather than purple.
Die Size Matters
The die-line must fit within the size ordered; for example if you order a 4" x 6" die cut card your shape must fit within a 4" x 6" boundary.
