How does the sticker cut line work?
How the path is created
For a die-cut sticker, prepress traces the outer edge of your art and offsets it outward, typically 1/16 to 1/8 inch, creating the familiar white or colored border. The offset is not decorative: it gives the blade a margin so tiny registration variance never cuts into your logo.
If you want a specific cut path, supply it yourself as a spot-colored vector path named CutContour on its own layer. We honor it exactly.
Optical registration
The press prints small registration marks alongside your artwork. The Summa cutter's OPOS sensor finds those marks physically on the material rather than trusting the machine's coordinates, which cancels out any stretch or skew in the vinyl. That is how we hold ±0.1 mm across a full roll.
Shape limits
There is no template library and no die charge. Any closed shape works. Practical limits:
- Interior cutouts (a hole through the middle) are fine but weeding gets fragile below about 1/4 inch
- Very thin spikes or hair-thin tendrils can tear when the backing is peeled; we will round them slightly and flag it in the proof
- Multi-design kiss-cut sheets need a hand-drawn path, which carries a one-time $30 cutline fee
Kiss cut vs die cut
Die cut means the blade cuts through the vinyl and the backing, giving you individual stickers. Kiss cut means it cuts only the vinyl, leaving the design on a square or rectangular backing sheet, which is easier to peel and better for sheets or packaging inserts.