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How to add a cutline to artwork

Guidelines to help you setup your CUTLINE before sending to us to reduce problems.

Artwork setup guide

How to Create a Cutline for Contour-Cut Artwork

Create the correct CutContour spot colour in Illustrator, Affinity Designer, CorelDRAW and Canva-ready artwork.

YOUR ARTWORKCutContour spot-colour path

What is a cutline?

A cutline is a closed vector path that tells our cutting equipment where your printed item should be cut. The line is not intended to print. It must be supplied as a correctly named spot colour so the production software recognises it as an instruction rather than ordinary artwork.

This guide explains how to create a production-ready CutContour path in Adobe Illustrator, Affinity Designer and CorelDRAW. In the illustrations below, the cutline closely follows the printed shape to show how contour-cut artwork should be supplied. It also explains the limitations of Canva and the safest Canva workflow.

Swatch nameCutContour
Colour typeSpot colour
Swatch setupNamed spot colour
PathClosed vector outline
The name is critical. Type CutContour exactly, including the capital C letters and no spaces. A normal magenta process colour is not sufficient.

Adobe Illustrator

  1. Place the artwork at final size and add any required bleed.
  2. Create a clean outer path. For simple objects, duplicate the shape. For irregular artwork, use Object > Path > Offset Path or draw a path with the Pen Tool.
  3. Open Window > Swatches, select New Swatch, name it CutContour, and set Color Type: Spot Color.
  4. Create the swatch as a spot colour named CutContour. You may give it a bright visible appearance for easy identification, but it must remain a spot colour. Apply the swatch to the path’s stroke only; set the fill to none.
  5. Place the cutline on a top layer named CUTLINE – DO NOT PRINT. Set the stroke to approximately 0.5–1 pt for visibility.
  6. Save as a press-quality PDF and ensure spot colours are preserved.

Affinity Designer

  1. Create or draw a closed vector path around the printed shape.
  2. Open the Swatches panel and create a Document Palette if one is not already available.
  3. Add a new Global Colour, enable the Spot option, and name it CutContour. You may choose a bright visible appearance for clarity, but the important part is that it is set as a spot colour.
  4. Apply the spot swatch to the stroke only and remove the fill.
  5. Keep the path on its own top layer and check that it is closed and smooth.
  6. When exporting the PDF, use a print preset and enable Honor spot colours.

CorelDRAW

  1. Create a closed curve around the artwork. Use the Contour tool or Shape tool to refine the path.
  2. Open Window > Dockers > Palettes and create or open a custom palette.
  3. In the Palette Editor, add a new colour, set Treat as: Spot, and rename it CutContour. You may give it a bright visible appearance for clarity.
  4. Select the cut path and apply the swatch to the outline, not the fill. In CorelDRAW, right-clicking a palette colour normally applies it to the outline.
  5. Keep the cutline on a separate top layer and export a print-ready PDF with spot colours retained.

Canva: the safe workflow

Canva limitation: Canva does not provide the same professional control over named spot-colour separations as Illustrator, Affinity Designer or CorelDRAW. A visible line drawn in Canva will normally export as printable artwork, not as a production CutContour spot-colour path.
  1. Create the design at the exact finished size and enable print bleed where appropriate.
  2. Keep important text and logos at least 3 mm inside the intended cut edge.
  3. You may add a bright visible outline on a separate page or duplicate design as a visual reference, but do not assume it is a working cut path.
  4. Download the artwork as PDF Print, with crop marks switched off unless specifically requested.
  5. Upload the PDF with your order and state: “Please create/check the CutContour path to follow the supplied outline.”

For simple circles, squares and standard shapes, tell us the finished dimensions and we can generally create the cut path during artwork checking. Complex shapes may require chargeable artwork preparation.

Final artwork checklist

The cutline is a vector path, not a bitmap image.
The path is completely closed with no gaps.
The swatch is named exactly CutContour.
The swatch colour type is Spot, not Process.
The CutContour is applied to the stroke only.
The cutline sits above the printed artwork.
Important content is at least 3 mm inside the cut edge.
The exported PDF still contains the spot colour.
Recommended file: a print-ready PDF at final size. Keep an editable original in case the path needs adjustment.

Cutline questions

Should the CutContour line print?

No. When correctly created as a named spot colour, it is interpreted by the production workflow as a cutting instruction.

Can I simply use a normal magenta line?

No. The line must be a vector stroke using a spot-colour swatch named exactly CutContour. A standard process-colour magenta line is not enough.

How much space should I leave around the design?

Allow approximately 3 mm between critical artwork and the cut edge. Small cutting tolerances can occur, so avoid placing text or fine details directly against the path.

Can the cutline contain sharp corners?

Gentle curves and rounded corners cut more reliably. Avoid unnecessary anchor points, very tight corners and intricate details that are too small for the material or cutting method.

Can Fantasy Prints add the cutline?

Yes. Supply the highest-quality artwork available and explain the required finished shape. Straightforward paths can often be added during artwork preparation; complex redraws may incur an artwork charge.

Unsure whether your cutline is correct?

Upload your artwork or contact the Fantasy Prints team before ordering. We can check whether the path is suitable for contour cutting.

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Our Process

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Consultation

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Design & Proofing

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