# Die-Cut Stickers — Plotter Cutting to Any Contour | Craftarea > Source: https://www.craftarea.ge/en/stikeri/formaze-amochrili-stikeri > Format: text/markdown variant of the HTML page at the same URL > Site: Craftarea — Printing and advertising production in Tbilisi: business cards, stickers, signs, branded clothing and corporate gifts. Discuss your project with Craftarea. # Die-Cut Stickers Short answer Die-cut stickers are plotter-cut to any vector contour — round, oval, a logo silhouette or a fully custom shape. The artwork needs a separate contour line and 2 mm of bleed beyond it. A minimum 2 mm radius at corners is preferred. Rectangular stickers are everywhere — which is exactly why a die-cut sticker gets noticed. When the contour follows the shape of the logo, the sticker stops reading as 'printed paper' and reads directly as a brand mark. Plotter cutting does this on any vector shape. Die-cutting has its own technical rules, though, and almost every problem traces back to the same handful of artwork mistakes. This page sets those rules out. [Get a quote](https://www.craftarea.ge/en/contact)[Stickers and Labels — all pages →](https://www.craftarea.ge/en/stikeri) ## Key facts Technology Plotter (contour) cutting Shape Any vector contour Cutting mode Full cut or kiss-cut Contour line Separate layer in artwork Bleed 2 mm beyond the contour Minimum radius 2 mm at corners Material Vinyl, paper, clear film Quote Specify sticker dimensions, material, cutting contour, quantity and finishing. ## The three areas in contour cutting Just as with a business card, a die-cut sticker has three areas. The outer one is bleed: the printed image must extend 2 mm beyond the contour line so no white sliver appears if the cut drifts. The middle one is the contour line itself, where the plotter cuts. The inner one is the safe area, 3 mm inside the contour, where all text and important detail must sit. Plotter cutting has a slightly wider tolerance than mechanical guillotine cutting, so these areas matter even more here. - Bleed: 2 mm beyond the contour - Contour line: where the plotter cuts - Safe area: 3 mm inside the contour - Text near the contour — the most common mistake ## Which shapes work and which do not A plotter cuts almost any shape, but two limits are real. First, very narrow necks: if a shape has a thin bridge between two wider parts (a fine element of a letter, say), it can tear during cutting or weeding. Second, sharp points: a tip narrower than 90 degrees often lifts during cutting and frays over time. So we recommend a minimum 2 mm radius at corners — practically invisible, but it extends the sticker's life considerably. - Narrow bridges in a shape — tearing risk - Sharp points — lift in use - Minimum 2 mm corner radius - Very complex contours increase cutting time ## Kiss-cut or full cut — which when In kiss-cut mode the blade cuts only the top, printed layer and the backing stays intact — stickers remain on a sheet and peel off individually. This is ideal when stickers are handed over as a set (a sticker pack, an insert in an order parcel, event material). With a full cut each sticker is a separate piece — better when stickers are used one at a time or applied in different places. Kiss-cut has an extra advantage: the sticker stays protected on its backing and is easier to store. ## Cutting modes and their uses | Mode | What it cuts | Result | When to choose | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Kiss-cut | Top layer only | Stickers on a sheet | Sets, sticker packs | | Full cut | The whole material | Individual stickers | One-at-a-time use | | Round / oval | Standard contour | Clean edge | Product labels | | Logo silhouette | Vector contour | Brand shape | Maximum visibility | | Rounded rectangle | Straight lines + radius | Durable edge | Most practical option | ## How It Works 1. 1 ### Define the contour We agree the shape the sticker should be cut to — logo silhouette, round, or something else. 2. 2 ### Prepare the artwork We check for a separate contour layer, bleed and safe area, and create the contour ourselves where needed. 3. 3 ### Printing Printing runs on the chosen material in CMYK, bleed included. 4. 4 ### Lamination (where needed) Apply a compatible protective film where specified before contour cutting. The cut edge is not automatically sealed against moisture. 5. 5 ### Plotter cutting The plotter follows the contour in the chosen mode — kiss-cut or full cut. ## Frequently Asked Questions I have no contour line — is that a problem? No. Send vector artwork and describe the shape you want — we will create the contour and send it for approval. If the image is raster, a contour can still be created, but accuracy depends on the quality of the original. How complex can the shape be? A plotter follows very complex contours, but the more complex the shape, the longer the cut takes and the greater the risk of lifting at fine points. Practical advice: simplify the contour relative to the artwork itself. How is a sticker pack made? In kiss-cut mode: several different stickers print on one sheet and each is cut through the top layer only. The sheet stays intact while the stickers peel off individually. How is a round sticker's size defined? By diameter. Common sizes run from 3 to 10 cm, though any size is possible. Text legibility falls quickly at small diameters — below 3 cm only a logo and a short word will fit. What is the cutting tolerance? Plotter cutting is slightly less precise than guillotine cutting because the material shifts during the cut. That is exactly why 2 mm bleed and a 3 mm safe area are essential — they absorb the deviation. How much does die-cutting add to the price? Standard shapes (round, oval, rounded rectangle) have minimal impact on cost. A complex custom contour increases cutting time and therefore price — we can quote the exact difference once we have seen the artwork. ## Related Services [Sticker printing](https://www.craftarea.ge/en/stikeri/stikerebis-bechdva)[Vinyl stickers](https://www.craftarea.ge/en/stikeri/vinilis-stikeri)[Packaging stickers](https://www.craftarea.ge/en/stikeri/shefutvis-stikeri)[Advertising stickers](https://www.craftarea.ge/en/stikeri/sareklamo-stikeri) ## Ready to order? 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