What Is Dieline?
Updated · Vorex Packaging
A dieline is the flat, unfolded template of a box that shows where it will be cut, folded and glued. Designers place artwork on the dieline so every panel prints in the right place and orientation. It is the starting point for any custom printed box and is made for the exact size and style you order.
A dieline is a vector drawing, usually supplied as a PDF or Adobe Illustrator file, that shows the outline of the box laid flat. Different line styles or colors mark the cut lines, fold (crease) lines, glue areas and the bleed and safe zones.
Why it matters
- Each panel's position on the flat sheet decides which way your artwork faces once the box is folded.
- Text and logos placed across a fold or too close to a cut line can be cropped or bent.
- Every style and size has its own dieline, so a template for one box rarely fits another.
Tips for buyers
Ask your packaging supplier for the dieline built to your exact dimensions before you start designing. Keep the dieline on its own layer, set to overprint or clearly marked as non-printing, and do not move or resize it. Extend background colors past the cut line into the bleed, and keep important text inside the safe area.
