Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 17 total)
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  • Mary Rios
    Participant
    @maryrios
    12 years, 5 months ago

    I want to make so fancy label for my soap. So i’m thinking i’ll LP them. But then i decided a fun shape would make it more interesting. 

    Let’s say i print first, then cut the shape. I have a C&P 8×12. Do i order a die in the shape just a little larger than my outside black printed area?

    I have never had a die to cut  – can someone explain how I’d go about this challenge?

    Is there such a thing as premade dies that i can order? Or are they all custom?

    Thanks very much for any insight to a novice printer.

    Mary

     

     


    Sarah Almond
    Participant
    @sarahalmond
    12 years, 5 months ago

    Hi Mary,

    I have all of my dies made – that way you know exactly what shape to expect. There are lots of different diemaking companies out there (I use Atlas), just find one near you and call them. They’ll want to know your type height (usually 0.918″) and if you want a crease line, stuff like that. Then you just send them an eps file, the same as you would for Boxcar, and it’s usually done in less than a week. 

     

    For your C&P, do you have or need a die jacket? I have a Windmill and it comes with one, but you might want to see if you need one before you get started. Also, when designing the die, it’s good to leave a tiny bit of the die out, so that the paper isn’t falling out of the cut area while it’s still on press! Does that make sense? If not, I can send you a pdf of some dies that I’ve designed so you can see what I mean.

     

    Hope this helps,

    Sarah

    Shed Letterpress


    Mary Rios
    Participant
    @maryrios
    12 years, 5 months ago

    I’m not even sure if i my press can do this. I don’t have a die jacket. Thanks for the suggeston of Atlas – i’m off to see what they offer!

    Mary


    Sarah Almond
    Participant
    @sarahalmond
    12 years, 5 months ago

    I don’t know this for sure, but it would *seem* to me that any platen press can die cut. Let me know what you find out!

     

    Also, you can have things die cut for you; it’s very inexpensive. See if you can find a local bindery.

     

    Good luck!

    Sarah


    Kseniya Thomas
    Keymaster
    @kseniya
    12 years, 5 months ago

    Your C&P can do this! Just take care to protect the platen and press bed from being marked by the die; as it cuts, the cutting rule will be pushed back and can make marks on your bed. Put a piece of red press board behind the die so that the rule of the die won’t leave a mark when you’re cutting. You don’t need a whole jacket–a piece of shim steel, taped to the tympan, will work. (I use McMaster-Carr item # 9014K61) Start with no packing first, since the press board and steel might be sufficient for a nice clean cut. Let me know if you need photos!


    Mary Rios
    Participant
    @maryrios
    12 years, 5 months ago

    Kseniya, thank you. I would appreciate any photos as I’ve never seen it done, thank you!

    Mary

     


    Kseniya Thomas
    Keymaster
    @kseniya
    12 years, 5 months ago

    I took some photos the other day of the process, so will post tomorrow or Saturday!

     


    ramon Ortiz
    Participant
    @ramonortiz
    12 years, 5 months ago

    that is the way to learn, don’t worry… later you become the best…..

     


    Michael Seitz
    Participant
    @michaelseitz
    12 years, 4 months ago

    You would pretty much create a die line that is 5 or 10 percent larger than your art and have a steel rule die made.  When die cutting, if you can do it right, you can “kiss-cut” the label stock so that you have a waste lip that can be peeled back, rather than a full cut out label that you have to separate the adhesive layers on.  Of course a lot (but not all) label stock is split on the back to make removal of the backing paper easy.

    Generally all steel rule dies are custom,  unless the die maker has some generic shapes (circles, squares),l in stock, however they will probably all cost about the same.


    Kseniya Thomas
    Keymaster
    @kseniya
    12 years, 4 months ago

    Posting tomorrow–bad pics and all! 🙂


    Sharon Braun Hutton
    Participant
    @sharonbraunhutton
    12 years, 3 months ago

    Hi all – I just looked into ordering a couple dies (from Atlas) to make a rounded corner business card and they wanted $350 for one! Wow – is that normal? Thanks – Sharon


    Kseniya Thomas
    Keymaster
    @kseniya
    12 years, 3 months ago

    That seems really really high. I order from Micon Steel Rule die in MA, and sometimes a local guy, and their prices range from around $45 for a simple shape to $140 for a complicated scalloped one.


    Sharon Braun Hutton
    Participant
    @sharonbraunhutton
    12 years, 3 months ago

    Thanks I though so.. I’ll tell them to hold off.


    Elaine
    Participant
    @elaine
    12 years, 3 months ago

    I’d love to see some pics too as I may need to create a die bed myself w/ my c&p!!

    mine has been sitting in my garage for 2 months – untouched.. i need to get on this thing..


    Kseniya Thomas
    Keymaster
    @kseniya
    12 years, 3 months ago

    I posted a how-to in the blog a while back–have a look!

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