| Dies are widely used materials in different | | | | printouts or marketing materials, this is used to |
| industries, from steel manufacturing to offset | | | | modify the shape of print products, functioning in |
| printing. These tools function to cut or form | | | | the same mechanism as a cookie cutter. For |
| materials in order to add to a product’s | | | | instance, instead of having a plain rectangular |
| aesthetic value or to complete product | | | | birthday postcard, you can ask your printer to cut |
| components. | | | | it following the outline of a cake with candles. |
| In the field of printing, processes that involve dies | | | | 2. Embossing |
| are primarily done to enhance the appearance of | | | | With this die-assisted effect, the images or print |
| print products such as business cards and | | | | components are raised. The male die (raised |
| postcards, or to make them functional, like | | | | mold) is positioned at the bottom. The female |
| pocket folders. These processes are die cutting, | | | | die (deep mold) is placed on top, facing downward |
| embossing and debossing. | | | | in such a way that when it is lowered, the male |
| Although they all require dies, embossing and | | | | and female die will lock together. The paper to |
| debossing differ from die cutting in that nothing is | | | | be embossed is sandwiched between the dies, |
| removed during these procedures. | | | | and then heat and pressure are applied. |
| How dies are formed and used | | | | Embossing can be done on an entire image or on |
| The key to a successful die use is the precision | | | | the texts, or on selected parts of the print only. |
| involved in preparing the dies. There are some | | | | There are times when embossing is done without |
| projects that require intricate details so the same | | | | ink and this is called blind embossing. The text or |
| are expected from the dies. | | | | image becomes apparent with proper lighting, and |
| Dies for cutting are made by bending metal pieces | | | | the shadows casted help make the embossed |
| with sharp edges to facilitate trimming of | | | | impression appear. |
| undesired paper sections. These dies are | | | | 3. Debossing |
| mounted onto an object that will keep it in a fixed | | | | Debossing follows the same principle as embossing |
| position during cutting to prevent it from moving | | | | but the positions of the male and female die are |
| during trimming. | | | | reversed to create a sunken image. |
| For embossing and debossing, on the other hand, | | | | Such processes easily add character and appeal |
| two metal dies which serve as molds are used, | | | | to the print product. This is particularly helpful if |
| none of which have sharp edges since the whole | | | | you are targeting high audience impact, as in the |
| paper has to remain intact. The objective in | | | | case of marketing campaigns. Creativity in the |
| these processes is to create a raised or | | | | design and accuracy in execution can contribute |
| submerged impression using a female die and a | | | | to the success of your marketing approach. |
| counter die (male), along with the application of | | | | However, do note that die cutting, embossing and |
| heat and pressure. | | | | debossing can make your printing cost increase |
| The die processes | | | | quite considerably. If you really want to have |
| 1. Die cutting | | | | these procedures done, try to scout for a good |
| This procedure is done to trim away edges and | | | | deal so you would not have to spend so much, |
| certain areas of the paper. For more impressing | | | | apart from your offset printing costs. |