138 139

1
2 3 5 6
4
GOING PRO TUTORIALS AND PROFILES CHAPTER 12PRACTICAL SKILLS
CREATING A DIELINE
This tutorial explains the basics of dielines and how to create one
in Illustrator from a pre-existing package. For this tutorial, I used
a small gum pack. A dieline is a attened outline of the cut and
fold lines for a package; it serves as a template. Designers often
receive dielines from their printer; however, if your client wants
a new style of package or a package structure for which the
printer does not have a template, you might need to create one
from scratch. If the client gives you a package to use, its pretty
easy to scan it in and create dielines over it in a program such
as Illustrator.
Setting up your le
Create a new le in Illustrator big enough to hold your dieline,
PMS swatches, and design notes.
Make a template layer
When you create the Original package layer, check the Template
option. This will allow you to always see the original packaging,
but as a light tint so that you can clearly see your dieline and
new artwork in the foreground.
Placing your artwork
For this small template, I used an 11 8
1
2in (28 21.6cm) artboard.
Gently open out your package and scan it. Place this scan on
the Original package layer and then lock that layer by clicking
on the padlock icon.
Creating layers
Create four layers: one titled Dieline, one Artwork, one Original
package and one Notes. Your Dieline layer should be on top.
Drawing lines
Use either Shapes or the Pen tool, whichever you are most
comfortable with, to draw your guidelines. Either is ne, as long
as you are making clean, accurate lines.
Check measurements
When you work from a pre-existing template, youll need to check
your accuracy by taking measurements from your template and
comparing them to the in-progress dieline.
OK
Cancel
Templates...
NewDocument
Color Mode: CMYK
PPI: 300
Align to Pixel Grid: No
Name: Dieline Tutorial
New Document Profle: [Custom]
Number of Artboards: 1
Spacing: 7.06 mm Columns: 1
Size: [Custom]
Width: 363 mm Units Millimeters
Height: 333 mm Orientation:
Top Bottom Left Right
Bleed: 0 mm 0 mm 0 mm 0 mm
Advanced
OK
Cancel
Layer Options
Name: Original package
Color: Light Blue
Template Lock
Show Print
Preview Dim Images to: 50 %
LAYERS ARTBOARDS
Dieline
Notes
Artwork
Original package
4 Layers
YK/Preview)
X: 127.346mm Y: 62.787 mm W: 124.884 mm H: 114.4 mm
Style:
Dieline Tutorial* @ 90% (CMYK/Preview)
Opacity 2 pt. Oval No Selection
Illustrator File Edit Object Type Select Efect View Window Help
New... N
NewfromTemplate... N
Open... O
Open Recent Files
Browse in Bridge... O
Share My Screen...
Device Central...
Close W
Save S
Save As... S
Save a Copy... S
Save as Template...
Save for Web & Devices... S
Save Selected Slices...
Revert F12
Place... P
Save for Microsoft Office...
Export...
Scripts
Document Setup...
Document Color Mode
File Info... I
Print... P
Cutter/Dieline Tab
Closure
Score/Fold lines
Base Panel
Front Panel
Side
Panel
Glue
Flap
Dust
Flap
Back Panel
Tab Lock
Side
Panel
Glue
Flap
Dust
Flap
Dust
Flap
140 141
8
12
7 11
9 10
GOING PRO TUTORIALS AND PROFILES CHAPTER 12PRACTICAL SKILLS
Fold lines
Folds are indicated with solid or dotted red lines.
(I use dotted lines in this tutorial.)
Creating a prototype
Once you have a basic dieline, you can
place your art on the Artwork layer. Create
a hardcopy prototype of your package by
printing out and assembling your design.
This will show you any errors in orientation,
measurement, text or art placement
and give you the opportunity to x them.
Once your dieline is ready, send it to the
printer and ask for a proof. If you receive this
in digital rather than printed form, print and
assemble it in order to check one last time
for orientation, spelling, placement errors,
and so on. If you cant print out your dieline
to full size, assembling a miniature version
will work as, by this point, your
measurements should be perfect.
Cut lines
Cut lines are indicated with solid red lines, typically .25 or .50pt.
Lock Original package layer
Once you have created your dielines, lock that layer by clicking
the padlock icon.
Safe margin lines
Safe margins are shown either with guides or blue lines.
Labels
Identifying labels, such as Front Panel, Glue Panel, Tuck Flap,
etc., should be put on your Notes layer.
STROKE GRADIE TRANSP
Weight:
Cap:
Corner:
Align Stroke:
Dashed Line
Arrowheads:
Scale: 100 % 100 %
Align:
Profle: Uniform
Limit: 10 x
0.5 pt
dash gap dash gap dash gap
STROKE GRADIE TRANSP
Weight:
Cap:
Corner:
Align Stroke:
Dashed Line
Arrowheads:
Scale: 100 % 100 %
Align:
Profle: Uniform
Limit: 10 x
0.5 pt
dash gap dash gap dash gap
STROKE GRADIE TRANSP
Weight:
Cap:
Corner:
Align Stroke:
Dashed Line
Arrowheads:
Scale: 100 % 100 %
Align:
Profle: Uniform
Limit: 10 x
0.5 pt
dash gap dash gap dash gap
LAYERS ARTBOARDS
Dieline
Notes
Artwork
Original package
4 Layers
LAYERS ARTBOARDS
Dieline
Notes
Artwork
Original package
4 Layers
Front Panel
Base Panel
Side
Panel
Dust
Flap
Dust
Flap
Glue
Flap
Front Panel