What Does Die-Cut Mean?

The term "die-cutting" has many different meanings depending on which industry is using it. For industrial fabrication, a die is a specialized tool used in metal stampings. Die-cutting is also used to cut longer versions of a material, such as cardboard, into an appropriate shape so it can be folded into a box.

Historically, most materials and items we would call die-cut were made by sharp metal instruments that would trim, shear or physically cut out the desired shape. Think of it like a cookie cutter: you roll out the dough, flatten it with a rolling pin and then use the cookie cutter to remove the shape of your desired cookie. You could reasonably call those die-cut cookies! It's a very similar process with stickers.

Defining Die-Cut Stickers

Die-cut stickers follow along with all of those definitions and examples. While most stickers have a uniform shape — typically a circle, rectangle or square — die-cut stickers have a unique shape that works to further enhance the design elements of the sticker itself. Think about a sticker of an animal where the outline of the sticker follows the outline of the animal's body. That would be an example of a die-cut sticker.

Traditionally, die-cut stickers were made using a special tool to cut out the shape of the sticker after they had been printed and bonded to the sticker backing. In modern times, die-cut stickers are cut using all sorts of advanced techniques from laser cutting to digitally controlled cutting tools.

Who Uses Die-Cut Stickers?

Custom die-cut vinyl stickers are popular items for a number of different uses. A die-cut sticker can help you stand out from the crowd by giving you a unique appearance that is special to you, your company or your brand. Die-cut stickers attract attention because they are personalized, eliminating a lot of the empty white space you get with standard sticker shapes. Here are a few uses for die-cut vinyl stickers from our customers:

• Product labels
• Custom stickers for resale
• Giveaways at job fairs and trade shows
• Customer rewards for product orders
• Band merchandise
• Custom bumper stickers

Die-Cut Stickers Vs. Regular Stickers

If you are wondering whether you should get some custom die-cut vinyl stickers or regular ones, we have a few guidelines we recommend. If you are planning to use your stickers for things like customer giveaways or to advertise your company in outdoor spaces, die-cut vinyl stickers are durable, memorable and special. If you enjoy the design of a sticker but don't want a lot of empty space surrounding it, we would highly recommend a die-cut sticker design process for you. For small, disposable stickers that are not intended to last or are used for internal business purposes, regular stickers will perform just as well and are more cost-effective options than die-cut stickers.