What are cut line and bleed?
For professional lettering, two elements are essential: the cut line (cut contour) and the bleed. The cut line tells the cutting plotter exactly where to cut the material. The bleed provides extra space around the design, preventing white edges from minor shifts during the cutting process.
With cut line and bleed, your designs are instantly production-ready for cutting plotters and sign companies. No manual adjustments needed!
Why do you need this?
Without cut contour and bleed, white edges may appear during production or important details may be cut off. Professional printers and sticker manufacturers require these elements for perfect results.
Plotter-ready
The cut contour tells the machine exactly where to cut
No white edges
Bleed prevents white borders caused by slight shifts
Production-ready
Ready to use without manual adjustments
How does it work?
The cut contour and bleed work together to guarantee a perfect end result:
1. Cut Contour
A special line that tells the cutting plotter exactly where the material should be cut.
- Visible as a separate layer in the file
- Usually displayed as a special spot color
- Follows the contour of your design perfectly
2. Bleed
Extra space (usually 2-3mm) around your design that extends slightly beyond the cut line.
- Compensates for small shifts during production
- Prevents white edges when cutting
- Ensures a professional end result
When do you need this?
Cut line and bleed are essential for all cut lettering such as window film, vehicle graphics, facade letters and advertising signs. We deliver vector files with separate layers that can easily be toggled on and off.
Order your lettering production-ready
We deliver your logo with perfect cut line and bleed, ready for lettering production.
Order now