Layers & Cutlines: The Right Way to Build Your Artwork

I check and fix thousands of artwork files every year before they reach the Graphic Warehouse production team. Most files are nearly there, but a small problem with a layer name, vector path or drill-hole position can create questions, slow down proofing or stop an order moving straight into production. The good news is that these problems are usually simple to avoid. This guide follows on from our first Print Clinic article, Cutlines & Drill Holes: How to Set Up Print-Ready Artwork . This time, I am taking you one step further and showing you how to organise your print and finishing information in layers. Don’t worry – once you understand the layer structure, it becomes second nature.

Meet Julia

Your Artwork Advice Expert

I am part of the Graphic Warehouse Customer Service team, and a big part of my role is checking customer artwork before it is produced. That means looking for missing bleed, low-resolution images, incorrect cut paths, misplaced drill holes and the layer issues covered in this guide.

“Layers are not just there to keep your artwork tidy. They tell our production system what to print, cut, crease or drill.”

My aim with Julia’s Print Clinic is to make artwork preparation feel less complicated. A few simple checks can save time, protect quality and help your orders move through production more quickly.

Today’s Print Clinic

Layers & Cutlines

When designers talk about layers, they often mean organising text, images and backgrounds so a file is easier to edit. In large-format print, layers can do something more important: they can act as clearly labelled production instructions. Think of your PDF as a neatly labelled set of instructions for our workflow and finishing equipment. The printed design tells us what should appear on the material. The finishing layers tell us where the item should be cut, creased or drilled.

Why Layers Matter in Production

Graphic Warehouse uses a conveyorised flatbed digital cutting table to finish printed products accurately and consistently. The cutter does not look at a design and guess where the edge should be. It follows vector information supplied within the artwork file.

Identify the intended finished shape.
Distinguish cutting from creasing and drilling.
Reduce artwork queries.
Check finishing positions during proofing.
Minimise the risk of duplicate or incorrect cuts.
Move approved files into production more quickly.

A well-built file is not just easier for us to process. It also gives you a much clearer opportunity to check that the finished product will be made as intended.

The Layer Sandwich Explained

Imagine your file as a sandwich of information. The printed artwork sits underneath. Registration information is used by our production workflow so the cutting table can locate the printed job accurately. Finishing instructions sit above the printed artwork and are applied after printing. CUT CREASE CUT2 (Drillholes) REGISTER PRINT

Diagram showing CUT, CREASE, DRILLHOLES, REGISTER and PRINT layers arranged as a production layer sandwich — The layer sandwich: separate instructions, combined in one print-ready PDF.

Not every job needs every finishing layer. A shaped sticker might only need PRINT and CUT. A folded display could need PRINT, CUT and CREASE. A rigid sign may need PRINT, CUT and DRILLHOLES. The important part is that every required operation is clearly separated and correctly named.

The CUT Layer

Use a layer named exactly CUT. This layer contains the vector path that defines where the item should be cut. Depending on the product and finishing option selected, this could be a through-cut or a kiss-cut.

Use a vector path.
Close the path where it defines an enclosed finished shape.
Remove duplicate or overlapping paths.
Align the path accurately with the artwork.
Include it in the same PDF as the print.
Place it on the correctly named CUT layer.

Printed artwork with a closed magenta vector path on the CUT layer — One clear vector path tells the cutter the intended finished shape.

The CREASE Layer

Use a layer named exactly CREASE. This layer contains the vector lines that show where the material should be creased, scored or folded. It is commonly used for folders, counter display units, leaflet dispensers, tent cards, boxes and other folded point-of-sale products. Keep crease lines separate from cut paths. A line on the CUT layer tells the finishing equipment to cut; a line on the CREASE layer tells it to create a fold or score.

Folded print artwork showing separate orange crease lines and a magenta cut path — Different finishing operations should always be separated onto the correct layers.

The DRILLHOLES Layer

Use a layer named exactly DRILLHOLES. This layer contains vector circles showing the required position and diameter of each drill hole.

Use vector circles.
Set the correct diameter.
Position every hole accurately.
Check the distance from each edge.
Include the outer finish-size cutline where required.

A set of drill-hole circles does not replace the outer cutline. We still need to know the finished size and shape of the product.

Rigid sign artwork with four vector drill-hole circles and an outer cutline — Vector circles communicate the required drill-hole positions and diameters.

PRINT and REGISTER Layers

PRINT

The PRINT layer contains the design that will appear on the finished product: images, colours, text, logos and backgrounds. Make sure the artwork includes the correct bleed and is supplied at the correct size or scale.

REGISTER

REGISTER information helps the finishing equipment locate the printed sheet accurately using camera scanning. Important: Graphic Warehouse’s existing workflow creates or manages registration information internally. Do not add unnecessary registration marks unless our team specifically asks you to do so.

The Correct Layer Order

A useful top-to-bottom order is: CUT CREASE DRILLHOLES REGISTER PRINT The exact combination depends on the job, but the principles remain the same: use the exact layer names, keep each finishing operation separate, keep finishing vectors above the print and supply everything in the same PDF.

Correct top-to-bottom artwork layer order for CUT, CREASE, DRILLHOLES, REGISTER and PRINT — Print and finishing instructions should be clearly separated but supplied together.

How to Set Up Layers in Your Design Software

Adobe Illustrator

Setting Up CUT, CREASE and DRILLHOLES Layers

Open the Layers panel.
Create a new layer for each finishing operation you need.
Name the layers exactly CUT, CREASE or DRILLHOLES.
Create or select the relevant vector path.
Move the path onto the correct finishing layer.
Keep the printed design on the PRINT layer.
Check for open, duplicate or overlapping paths.
Export one print-ready PDF using the settings shown in the video.

Open the Adobe Illustrator video on Vimeo Adobe InDesign

Keeping Print and Finishing Information Organised

Open the Layers panel.
Create and name the required finishing layers.
Draw or import the finishing vectors.
Make sure each vector sits on the correct layer.
Keep printed design elements on the PRINT layer.
Export the complete job as one print-ready PDF using the video settings.
Check the finishing overlay during proofing.

Open the Adobe InDesign video on Vimeo CorelDRAW

Creating Production Layers in the Objects Panel

Create a separate layer for each finishing process.
Use the exact names CUT, CREASE and DRILLHOLES.
Move the correct vector objects onto each layer.
Keep the printed artwork separate.
Check for duplicate objects and open paths.
Export one print-ready PDF.
Review the extracted finishing information during proofing.

Open the original CorelDRAW video on Vimeo

What Happens When You Upload the Artwork?

Upload your PDF through the normal Graphic Warehouse ordering process. The system extracts the finishing information from the file and prepares it for review. During the Proof and Approve stage, you will see the finishing information overlaid on the printed artwork.

Workflow from creating layered artwork to exporting, uploading, checking the proof, approving and producing the job — Create, name, export, upload, check, approve and produce.

Check the Proof Carefully

Confirm the finished shape.
Check internal cut-outs.
Check the location and diameter of drill holes.
Check the position of crease lines.
Check the relationship between finishing paths and the printed design.

Do not treat the proof as a formality. A careful check at this stage is one of the simplest ways to prevent avoidable errors.

Common Layer and Cutline Mistakes

Common artwork mistakes including wrong layer names, raster cutlines, open paths and duplicate vectors — The most common issues are usually simple to correct.

Comparison of correct print artwork layers and common incorrect layer and cutline setups — Correctly named layers and clean vectors help the file move smoothly into production.

Incorrect Layer Names

Use CUT, CREASE and DRILLHOLES exactly. Names such as “Cut Line”, “Cutter”, “Fold” or “Drill” may not match the expected workflow.

Raster Cutlines

A JPEG, PNG or pixel-based line is not a usable cutting path. Finishing information must be supplied as vectors.

Open or Duplicate Paths

Close paths that define enclosed shapes and remove vectors sitting directly on top of one another.

Finishing Information on the PRINT Layer

Keep cut, crease and drill information separate from the printed design.

Cutlines Supplied on Another Page

Print and finishing instructions should be supplied together in the same PDF, not as separate pages that have to be matched manually.

Adding Registration Marks

Graphic Warehouse’s workflow manages REGISTER information internally. Do not add marks that have not been requested.

Approving Without Checking the Overlay

Always check that the displayed finishing paths match the intended finished product before approving the proof.

Before You Upload

Julia’s Final Artwork Checklist

Julia’s checklist for checking layers, vectors, bleed, cutlines, drill holes and proof approval

Artwork is built at the intended finished size or stated scale.
The required bleed has been added.
Layers are named CUT, CREASE and DRILLHOLES where needed.
All finishing paths are vectors.
The outer cutline is clear, closed and not duplicated.
Drill-hole circles are correctly sized and positioned.
Crease lines sit on the CREASE layer.
Print and finishing information are supplied in one PDF.
No unnecessary registration marks have been added.
The proof overlay has been checked carefully before approval.

Julia’s Pro Tip

Vector or Raster?

“If you can select a line and see editable anchor points, it is probably a vector. If it becomes blocky when you zoom in, it is probably a raster image.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What should my cutline layer be called?

Name the layer exactly CUT and place the required through-cut or kiss-cut vector path on that layer.

What layer names does Graphic Warehouse use?

The workflow uses CUT for cutting, CREASE for fold or score lines and DRILLHOLES for drill-hole vectors. PRINT contains the printed artwork, while REGISTER information is managed within the production workflow.

Should I add registration marks?

Do not add unnecessary registration marks unless Graphic Warehouse specifically asks you to. The existing workflow creates or manages registration information internally.

Can I supply the cutline on a separate PDF page?

No. Print and finishing information should be supplied together in the same print-ready PDF, with finishing vectors on correctly named layers.

Do cutlines need to be vectors?

Yes. The cutting system follows vector paths. Raster or pixel-based lines cannot be used as reliable cutting instructions.

Can one file contain CUT, CREASE and DRILLHOLES?

Yes. A job can contain more than one finishing operation, provided each set of vectors is placed on its own correctly named layer and the final proof is checked carefully.

What happens after I upload the PDF?

Graphic Warehouse’s system extracts the finishing information and displays it over the printed artwork during the Proof and Approve stage, allowing you to check the intended cut, crease and drill positions.

Need a Hand?

Need Help Building Your Artwork?

Unsure whether your CUT, CREASE or DRILLHOLES layers are set up correctly? Send your artwork to our team before placing the order, or use Graphic Warehouse’s artwork setup service from £15. ASK JULIA’S TEAM GET AN INSTANT QUOTE

Next Time in Julia’s Print Clinic

Why Do My Colours Look Different?

Julia explains RGB, CMYK and colour expectations in plain English, with practical tips to help you achieve more consistent print results.