What does die cut means in printing press?

In printing industry various types of printing methods are used which not necessary always produce printed products. One of them is die cutting - though a part of printing method but does not involves ink and press machines. Instead it deals with machines that cut, score, stamp, emboss and deboss. 

Die cutting is a process of cutting pieces of paper out of paper sheets. The process use steel rules die which when applied to the paper sheet with required pressure cut out the piece in desire shape. This type of printing is used to produce greeting cards, wedding cards, business cards, designer boxes, and so on. Door-hangers, pocket folders and tabs are just other products which use die cut method.

Mostly, this printing process is applied when digital or offset printing press job is over. It can be called as a part of post press stage. To carry out this process a steel rule is required that has two different types of rules – one is cutting rule, to sharply cut the paper; two is scoring rule having round shape at the top to crease and fold the paper with ease and accuracy. After the cutting process is over, die cut pieces are separated from the rest of the sheet. 

Since, the process needs well experienced labor and special machineries, small scale printing companies often don’t include this into their services. In other case, even large scale companies don’t prefer to bear the burden of die cutting services as it is expensive to have those machines and next not all printing projects need die cutting. Hence, such projects are handed over to the third party having specialization in this method. So far it was not a wide spread service, but they are gradually becoming a part of services offered by printing press company.