Design Tutorial•7 min read
How to Prepare Print-Ready Cut Lines & Bleed for Acrylic Merchandise
Step-by-step tutorial on setting up cut lines, white ink layers, 2mm bleeds, and hole punch placements in Photoshop and Illustrator.
Written by Skivyn Engineering & Prepress Team
Preparing files properly ensures your factory proof is approved on the first pass without delays. Here are the core specifications used by our automated laser CNC cut line machines:
### Step 1: Canvas Resolution & Color Profile
- **Resolution**: Minimum 300 DPI at 100% target physical size.
- **Color Mode**: CMYK (U.S. Web Coated SWOP v2 or FOGRA39) or high-gamut RGB.
### Step 2: Setting the 2mm Bleed
Because laser cutting has a tolerance of ±0.2mm, keep all critical text and artwork details at least 2mm inside the outer edge.
### Step 3: Designing the White Ink Layer
On clear acrylic, transparent inks allow light to pass through. If you want your illustration opaque, create a separate layer named "White" filled with 100% black silhouette. Any areas without white ink will render translucent.
### Step 4: Keyring Hole Position
Leave a circular tab of at least 4mm diameter with a 2.5mm hole for the keyring clasp, positioned at least 1.5mm from the outer perimeter.
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