| Ever wonder how printers cut odd or irregular | | | | shapes. This is done by mounting the steel |
| shaped products like pocket folders out of | | | | rule die on the platen of a diecutting press. |
| paper? It is a process called diecutting and | | | | The platen is a flat surface that can be |
| it uses a steel rule die to actually cut | | | | locked down to hold the steel rule die. The |
| through the surface of the paper. The steel | | | | paper is then fed to make contact with that |
| rule die is made of cutting rules and scoring | | | | platen and pressure is applied to cut through |
| rules. Scoring rules are metal with a rounded | | | | the paper. Nicks are usually put in the sheet |
| edge where cutting rules are metal with | | | | to hold the diecut portion in the rest of the |
| beveled sharp edges. These are usually | | | | sheet so it does not fall out in the press. |
| mounted on a base made of wood. | | | | The diecut piece is then removed from the |
| | | | press in lifts and the diecut piece is |
| The common products that are diecut are: | | | | "scrapped out" of the remaining sheet. |
| pocket folders, door hangers, store signage | | | | |
| and brochures to name a few. Any product can | | | | A few of the most common diecutting machines |
| be diecut in any shape you can dream up in | | | | are: Kluge's, Heidelberg Windmills and |
| your head. We have diecut cowboy hats, | | | | Cylinder presses. |
| popcorn, cars and many other non conventional | | | | |