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.
