dieline

A dieline is a flat, two‑dimensional representation of a three‑dimensional package that shows where material will be cut, folded, scored, and assembled. It serves as the production blueprint for packaging such as cartons, boxes, and wrap‑around labels, aligning artwork with the physical constraints of the substrate and finishing processes. The dieline marks key features including the trim line (the final cut), fold or score lines (where panels bend), glue tabs or flaps, and the bleed and safe areas that protect important artwork from trimming or misalignment. It may also indicate perforations, embossing, debossing, varnish, and color separations or other finishes, as well as material specifications and thickness.

Dielines are typically created by packaging designers in vector graphics software (for example, Adobe Illustrator or CorelDRAW) or generated from 3D packaging tools, and are provided to printers and manufacturers as a deliverable. They are commonly paired with artwork files that include print-ready content and color separations. The dieline guides production by showing where die cuts and folds occur and by helping to verify tolerances, layering, and compatibility with chosen substrates and finishes. Multiple variants may be included to accommodate different sizes, regional requirements, or finishing options.

Best practices for dielines include keeping all critical artwork within the safe area away from trim and folds, avoiding important logos or text on the trim line, and accounting for substrate thickness and manufacturing tolerances. Designers should confirm specific printer requirements, die line conventions, and tolerances with the production facility to ensure accurate execution.