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Design & ArtworkHow to Set Up Label Artwork & Dielines for Print
A crisp label starts with a correctly built file, not with the printer. Setting up artwork and a dieline right takes a few minutes and avoids a round of revisions — and if you’d rather not, our designers will handle it for you free.
Here’s the short prepress checklist we use.
Start with vector art
Vector files (AI, EPS, SVG, or PDF) scale to any size with sharp edges and give a clean cut. If you only have a raster image, provide it at 300 DPI at final size — or send whatever you have and we’ll recreate it print-ready at no charge.
Set the dieline and bleed
A dieline is the exact cut shape of the label, drawn as a separate vector path. Extend your background about an eighth of an inch past the dieline (bleed) so no white slivers show after cutting, and we’ll cut precisely to the line.
Keep a safe margin and mind the wrap
Keep important text and logos about an eighth of an inch inside the cut so nothing critical gets trimmed, and for cylindrical containers, account for the curve and overlap seam so your design lands where you expect on the bottle.
| Element | Spec | Why |
|---|---|---|
| File type | Vector (AI/EPS/SVG/PDF) | Sharp at any size, clean cut |
| Dieline | Separate vector path | Exact cut shape |
| Bleed | ~0.125 in past dieline | No white edges |
| Safe margin | ~0.125 in inside cut | Nothing important trimmed |
No print-ready file? Don’t worry about any of it — send what you have and our designers will build the dieline and set it up free before you approve.
Send your artwork and container in any format and we’ll return a print-ready, proofed mockup within one business day — revisions always free.
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