Custom Die-Cut Flyers

Simple Cuts Versus Full Custom Outlines

There are two broad ways to shape a flyer. The first is a subtle cut, such as rounded corners, a scalloped edge or a notch, applied to a standard size. It adds polish at little extra cost and keeps the flyer easy to fit into envelopes and bags. The second is a full custom outline that follows a drawing, which turns the flyer into an object in its own right.

Full outlines work best with bold, simple silhouettes. Very thin points and narrow necks can tear when the flyer is handled or posted, so we may suggest thickening some parts of the shape on the proof. Inside cut-outs, such as a hole through the middle of a doughnut shape, are also possible, though they reduce the space for text. If in doubt, sketch the shape by hand and we will turn it into a clean cutting line. p1 The simpler cuts are shown on our printed postcards page with rounded corners.

Card Weight, Sides and Finishes

A die-cut flyer needs a little more body than a plain leaflet, because a thin sheet cut into a shape curls and creases easily. A mid-weight silk or matt card holds its outline well and still folds into a pocket. Heavier card turns the flyer into something closer to a postcard, which suits invitations, menus and anything people are likely to keep.

Double-sided print is almost always worth it. The front carries the hook, the image and the headline, and the back carries the details: times, prices, a map reference or a booking link. Gloss lamination makes photographs shine, matt lamination feels calm and premium, and a soft-touch coating gives a velvety finish that people notice the moment they hold it. Spot gloss or foil on a single word draws attention to the offer. p1 The finishes are compared in the guide to print and finish options.

• Silk or matt card for everyday handouts
• Heavier card for invitations and keepsakes
• Gloss, matt or soft-touch lamination
• Spot gloss or foil to highlight a headline

Laying Out Artwork for an Unusual Shape

Designing for a shape means keeping important words well inside the cutting line. We mark a safe area on the proof, and anything outside it may be trimmed. Background colours and images should extend past the line into the bleed area, so that tiny movements during cutting never leave a white edge.

Keep text short. A shaped flyer has less usable space than a rectangle of the same size, and the outline is already doing much of the talking. One headline, one supporting line and a clear next step, such as a web address or a scan code, usually works better than a paragraph.

Colour choices deserve a moment too. A shaped flyer usually reads best with a strong background colour that fills the whole outline, so the silhouette is obvious even from a few steps away. Pale backgrounds on white card can make a clever shape disappear, especially under bright event lighting. p2 Shaped cards that fold are covered on our folded greeting cards page.

Getting the Most From a Flyer Run

Think about how the flyer will be handed out before you settle on its size. Street teams need something that fits a palm and a jacket pocket. Letterbox drops need a size that slides through a flap without bending the outline. Bag inserts and table cards can be larger. If you plan to post flyers in envelopes, check the envelope size against the widest part of the shape first.

It is also worth printing a small code or unique offer on each design so you can tell which shape or location brought in the most responses. That insight makes the next run sharper and cheaper.

Finally, brief whoever is handing flyers out. A shaped flyer is a conversation starter, so a street team that says one sentence about the offer as they hand it over will see far more people turn it over and read the back. Keep spare stock dry in a box rather than loose in a bag, because bent points spoil the effect of a carefully cut outline. p2 Event teams that need a pass as well as a flyer order our printed event tickets in the same colours.

Sketch the Outline on Paper and Cut It Out

The quickest way to brief a die-cut flyer is with scissors. Draw the shape at the size you have in mind, cut it from paper and hold it: if any point is narrower than about 8 mm it will tear in a pocket, and if the silhouette is not obvious at arm's length the shape is doing nothing. Photograph the paper cut beside a ruler and send it with the wording; we draw the cutting line from it.

Then decide how the flyer is handed out, because a letterbox drop needs a shape that slides through a flap and a street team needs one that fits a palm. Tell us the card weight and the quantity, and the custom quote arrives by email within one working day, from £0.25 a flyer on larger runs.

The free proof shows the cutting line, the safe area and the bleed. Production takes 4 to 7 working days after approval and the flyers reach UK mainland addresses by free tracked delivery; allow two weeks before the event. Promoters who want a flyer that hangs on a handle usually add our door hangers cut to shape in the same run.