What a Dieline Is

A dieline is a two-dimensional technical drawing of a folded three-dimensional package. It marks cut lines, fold lines, glue tabs, bleed and safety zones, and sometimes windows, hang holes or perforations. Think of it as both an engineering drawing and a placement guide: the factory uses it to build cutting dies and set up machines, while your designer places logos, copy and barcodes inside it. Every structure — paper bag, folding carton, rigid box, sleeve, header card or display tray — has its own dieline. Because dimensions shift when material thickness changes, the file should always be issued or confirmed by the party producing the package, not adapted from an unrelated pack.

Material thickness is easy to underestimate. A folding carton drawn around the product on screen can become a tight fit once real board is scored and folded, because folds consume small amounts of space and inserts add their own volume. A dieline that was correct for one paper grade may need adjustment when the grade, liner or coating changes. That is why structural confirmation belongs with the converter, even when an experienced in-house designer can apply artwork competently.

Files You Should Send

The structural dieline

The supplier-issued dieline in an editable vector format is the master template. If you already have packaging from a previous program, send the original source file together with the physical product details; a measured sample is useful, but it is not enough to rebuild a precise die.

The artwork file

Artwork should be built directly on the dieline, with cut, fold and artwork layers separated. Include all legal copy, barcode placeholders, recycling marks and care text exactly as you want them printed, in every language version the market needs.

Supporting references

Brand guidelines, color references, approved logo files, fonts and photos of reference packaging help prepress interpret your intent. Website links and screenshots are not substitutes for source files.

How to Set Up the Artwork File

Bleed, safety and fold zones

Extend background colors and images beyond the cut edge by the amount stated on the supplier template — never guess a value. Keep critical logos and text inside the safety margin, away from folds, glue tabs and edges, and avoid placing key elements across fold lines unless the effect is deliberate.

Color mode and resolution

Print is produced in CMYK, while most screen designs start in RGB. Convert deliberately rather than letting the printer guess, specify Pantone references for brand-critical colors, and make sure raster images are high resolution at final size. Vector text and shapes stay sharp at any scale.

Fonts, linked images and layers

Embed or outline fonts, include linked images, and keep labeled layers for dieline, artwork and notes. A flattened file may print, but it cannot be corrected efficiently, and rebuilding it raises the chance of shifted brand elements.

A Step-by-Step Preparation Workflow

1. Confirm the product: dimensions, weight, material preference, how it sits inside the pack, and how many units go in each master carton.
2. Receive the supplier dieline and check panel positions against a folded dummy before designing.
3. Build artwork on the dieline in CMYK with Pantone callouts, correct bleed and embedded fonts.
4. Send the editable file plus a PDF preview; run all prepress questions against one controlled version.
5. Review the printed proof and, for custom structures, the white dummy or pre-production sample.
6. Approve the final sample in writing — that approved sample becomes the reference standard for the bulk run.

Common File Mistakes That Delay Sampling

Most delays come from a short list: artwork built on the wrong dieline, RGB files converted at the last minute, missing fonts, low-resolution logos, barcodes placed too close to folds, and several "final" versions circulating by email. Version control sounds administrative, but it prevents the factory from producing against obsolete artwork.

How Great Union Supports File Preparation

Great Union Packaging works as a brand supply-chain partner rather than a single-factory sales desk. Our packaging engineers issue or confirm dielines across paper bags, color boxes, rigid boxes, sleeves and retail display structures, and coordinate prepress review, sampling and QC under one schedule. Materials and structures are matched to production partners in mainland China and Southeast Asia based on the program's process and volume; certification or third-party requirements can be coordinated per brand requirements. Exact specifications, lead times and costs are confirmed in the quotation for your specific project.

什么是刀模图

刀模图是折叠后三维包装的二维技术图纸，标注裁切线、折线、粘合位、出血区与安全区，有时还包括开窗、挂孔或撕裂线。它既是工程图，也是排版参照：工厂据此制作刀模、调试机器，设计师则在对应位置放置 Logo、文案和条码。纸袋、折叠彩盒、精装盒、套封、卡头或展示托盘，每一种结构都有各自的刀模图。材料厚度变化会引起尺寸变化，因此刀模图始终应由实际生产方出具或确认，而不能拿不相干的包装自行套用。

你应该提供哪些文件

结构刀模图

供应商出具的可编辑矢量刀模图是主模板。如果你有既往项目的包装，请提供原始源文件以及产品实物信息；只有实测样品有一定帮助，但不足以精确重建刀模。

版面设计文件

版面应直接做在刀模图上，并把裁切层、折叠层与设计图层分开。所有法规文字、条码位、回收标识和注意事项，都要按你希望印刷的样子完整提供，包括市场所需的每一种语言版本。

辅助参考资料

品牌规范、色值参考、已授权的 Logo 文件、字体以及参考包装照片，能帮助印前团队理解你的设计意图。网站链接和截图不能替代源文件。如果刀模由上一家供应商持有，请索要原始矢量刀模图，而不是去测量旧样品；实测样品有助于核对比例，但微小的测量误差会在各个面之间累积。再附一份简短的书面说明，写清目标市场、所需语言、上市日期和任何零售商规则，技术问题就能被准确回答，而不必猜测意图。

条码与受监管标识

条码要放在折叠后仍可扫描的平面单层面板上，不能跨过角部、折线或粗糙纹理。回收标识、原产地文字、年龄警示或食品接触用语应由品牌提供，尺寸清晰可辨并放在安全区内；这些内容绝不应由工厂自行编造，因为它们体现的是目的市场的法律义务。

版面文件应如何设置

出血、安全区与折叠区

背景色和图片应超出裁切线，超出量以供应商模板上的标注为准，绝不能凭感觉取值。关键 Logo 和文字要放在安全距内，避开折线、粘合位和边缘；除非有意设计，不要让关键元素跨过折线。

色彩模式与分辨率

印刷以 CMYK 成色，而多数屏幕设计始于 RGB。应主动完成转换，而不是让印刷厂去猜；品牌关键色要指定 Pantone 色号，位图在成品尺寸下须具备足够分辨率。矢量文字与图形任意放大都保持清晰。

字体、链接图与图层

字体应嵌入或转曲，链接图片要一并打包，刀模、版面、备注分别用命名图层管理。扁平化文件也许能印，但无法高效修改，重排时更容易造成品牌元素位移。

文件准备步骤

1. 确认产品信息：尺寸、重量、材质偏好、产品在包装内的摆放方式，以及每个外箱的装入数量。
2. 收到供应商刀模图后，先对照折叠白样确认各面位置，再开始设计。
3. 在刀模图上制作 CMYK 版面，标注 Pantone 色号，正确出血并嵌入字体。
4. 发送可编辑文件与 PDF 预览；所有印前问答只围绕一个受控版本进行。
5. 审核印刷样；定制结构还要审核白样或产前样。
6. 书面签核最终样品——该样品即成为大货生产的对照标准。

最常拖慢打样的文件错误

大多数拖期来自同一份清单：版面建在错误的刀模上、临时才把 RGB 转成 CMYK、缺字体、Logo 分辨率不足、条码离折线太近，以及多个"最终版"通过邮件来回流传。版本管理看似行政琐事，却能防止工厂按过期版面生产。

Great Union 如何配合文件准备

Great Union Packaging 是品牌供应链合作伙伴，而非单一工厂的销售窗口。我们的包装工程师可为纸袋、彩盒、精装盒、套封和零售展示结构出具或确认刀模图，并把印前审核、打样与 QC 统一在同一进度内协调。材料与结构依据项目工艺和数量，匹配至中国大陆与东南亚的生产伙伴；认证或第三方要求可按品牌要求配合。具体规格、交期与费用，以你项目的报价确认为准。