{"id":88,"date":"2014-07-19T08:34:47","date_gmt":"2014-07-19T08:34:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.deprintedbox.com\/blog\/?p=88"},"modified":"2021-07-26T06:51:05","modified_gmt":"2021-07-26T06:51:05","slug":"how-to-create-a-dieline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.deprintedbox.com\/blog\/how-to-create-a-dieline\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Create a Dieline"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Here we explain the basics of paper box dielines and how to create one in Illustrator from a pre-existing package. For this tutorial, I used a small gum pack. A dieline template is a flattened outline of the cut and fold lines for a package; it serves as a template. Designers often receive dielines from their printer; however, if your client wants a new style of package or a package structure for which the printer does not have a template, you might need to create one from scratch. If the client gives you a package to use, it\u2019s pretty easy to scan it in and create dielines over it in a program such as Illustrator.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/handmade-packaging-creating-a-dieline-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-95 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.deprintedbox.com\/dewebp\/handmade-packaging-creating-a-dieline-1.webp\" alt=\"handmade-packaging-creating-a-dieline-1, paper box dieline template\" width=\"503\" height=\"443\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Setting up your file<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Create a new file in Illustrator big enough to hold your dieline, PMS swatches, and design notes.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/setting-up-your-file.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-101 aligncenter\" src=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/setting-up-your-file.jpg\" alt=\"setting up your file, paper box dieline template\" width=\"502\" height=\"442\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.deprintedbox.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/setting-up-your-file.jpg 896w, https:\/\/www.deprintedbox.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/setting-up-your-file-300x264.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 502px) 100vw, 502px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Creating layers<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Create four layers: one titled \u201cDieline\u201d, one \u201cArtwork,\u201d one \u201cOriginal package\u201d and one \u201cNotes.\u201d Your Dieline layer should be on top.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/creating-layers.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-90 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.deprintedbox.com\/dewebp\/creating-layers.webp\" alt=\"creating layers, paper box dieline template\" width=\"499\" height=\"446\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Make a template layer<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When you create the Original package layer, check the Template option. This will allow you to always see the original packaging, but as a light tint so that you can clearly see your dieline and new artwork in the foreground.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/make-a-template-layer.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-98 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.deprintedbox.com\/dewebp\/make-a-template-layer.webp\" alt=\"make-a-template-layer, paper box dieline template\" width=\"499\" height=\"448\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Placing your artwork<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>For this small template, I used an 11 \u00d7 81\u20442in (28 \u00d7 21.6cm) artboard. Gently open out your package and scan it. Place this scan on the Original package layer and then lock that layer by clicking on the padlock icon.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/placing-your-artwork.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-99 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.deprintedbox.com\/dewebp\/placing-your-artwork.webp\" alt=\"placing your artwork, paper box dieline template\" width=\"597\" height=\"309\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Drawing lines<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Use either Shapes or the Pen tool, whichever you are most\u00a0comfortable with, to draw your guidelines. Either is fine, as long\u00a0as you are making clean, accurate lines.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/drawing-lines.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-93 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.deprintedbox.com\/dewebp\/drawing-lines.webp\" alt=\"drawing lines, paper box dieline template\" width=\"499\" height=\"446\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Check measurements<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When you work from a pre-existing template, you\u2019ll need to check your accuracy by taking measurements from your template and comparing them to the in-progress dieline.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/check-measurements.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-89 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.deprintedbox.com\/dewebp\/check-measurements.webp\" alt=\"check-measurements, paper box dieline template\" width=\"499\" height=\"447\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Cut lines<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Cut lines are indicated with solid red lines, typically .25 or .50pt.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/cutlines.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-92 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.deprintedbox.com\/dewebp\/cutlines.webp\" alt=\"cutlines, paper box dieline template\" width=\"511\" height=\"462\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Fold lines<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Folds are indicated with solid or dotted red lines. (I use dotted lines in this tutorial.)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/fold-lines.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-94 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.deprintedbox.com\/dewebp\/fold-lines.webp\" alt=\"fold-lines, paper box dieline template\" width=\"510\" height=\"460\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Safe margin lines<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Safe margins are shown either with guides or blue lines.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/safe-margin-lines.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-100 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.deprintedbox.com\/dewebp\/safe-margin-lines.webp\" alt=\"safe-margin-lines, paper box dieline template\" width=\"513\" height=\"461\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Labels<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Identifying labels, such as \u201cFront Panel,\u201d \u201cGlue Panel,\u201d \u201cTuck Flap,\u201d etc., should be put on your Notes layer.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/labels.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-96 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.deprintedbox.com\/dewebp\/labels.webp\" alt=\"labels, paper box dieline template\" width=\"506\" height=\"448\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Lock Original package layer<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Once you have created your dielines, lock that layer by clicking the padlock icon.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/lock-original-layer.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-97 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.deprintedbox.com\/dewebp\/lock-original-layer.webp\" alt=\"lock-original-layer, paper box dieline template\" width=\"610\" height=\"449\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Creating a prototype<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Once you have a basic dieline, you can place your art on the Artwork layer. Create a hardcopy prototype of your package by printing out and assembling your design.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/creating-a-prototype.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-91 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.deprintedbox.com\/dewebp\/creating-a-prototype.webp\" alt=\"creating-a-prototype, paper box dieline template\" width=\"473\" height=\"459\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This will show you any errors in orientation, measurement, text or art placement and give you the opportunity to fix them. Once your dieline is ready, send it to the printer and ask for a proof. If you receive this in digital rather than printed form, print and assemble it in order to check one last time for orientation, spelling, placement errors, and so on. If you can\u2019t print out your dieline to full size, assembling a miniature version will work as, by this point, your measurements should be perfect.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/index.php\">Shanghai DE Printed Box<\/a> is a\u00a0 leading China paper box manufacturer and packaging solution provider with facilities around 100,000 square meters in total. The company exclusively specializes in the supply and export of the custom paper boxes, including the <a href=\"\/printed-paper-box.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">paper printed box<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/corrugated-printed-box.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">corrugated printed box<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"\/cosmetics-packaging-box.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cosmetic paper box<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"\/cardboard-gift-box.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rigid paper box, cardboard gift box<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"\/custom-paper-bag.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">custom paper bag<\/a>. Email us to get a <a href=\"\/free-dieline-template-paper-box.php\">free paper box dieline template<\/a> or get a price quote.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here we explain the basics of paper box dielines and how to create one in Illustrator from a pre-existing package. For this tutorial, I used a small gum pack. A dieline template is a flattened outline of the cut and fold lines for a package; it serves as a template. Designers often receive dielines from [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-88","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-packaging-design","category-paper-packaging-printing-and-finish"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.deprintedbox.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.deprintedbox.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.deprintedbox.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.deprintedbox.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.deprintedbox.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=88"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.deprintedbox.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2176,"href":"https:\/\/www.deprintedbox.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88\/revisions\/2176"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.deprintedbox.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.deprintedbox.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.deprintedbox.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}