Author: mmcmmaster

Kiss cutting is a popular print-finishing technique used by manufacturers to produce any non-woven material that will be peeled off of any backing base like paper, foam, adhesive-backed foils, rubber, cork ,vinyl or any other non-woven media. The cut in kiss cutting technique does not go all the way through the backing material, as it only cuts through the layer that will be peeled off. There are specific instructions that need to be followed during the design-making process for the computer-guided cutter to perform the cut.

This article will help you have a basic understanding of the design guidelines for kiss cutting.

A Step-by-Step Guide On Designing For Kiss Cutting

Creating a design for kiss cutting could be tricky at first. Kiss-cut design entails two layers: the graphic design and the kiss-cut layer. Manufacturers typically adhere to the following steps that adhere to standard formatting in kiss cut design.

Prepare The Artwork

Once the graphic design is ready, it should be resized in design software like Adobe Illustrator and labeled as either “Design” or “Artwork.” Remember that the artwork should be precisely the size of the actual workpiece to be printed. Wrong size dimensions can distort the artwork perspective. To ensure graphic quality, keep the resolution of the design to 300 DPI or more and change the color mode to CMYK.

Moreover, the artwork size should be at most 11×15 inches, and the text size should be at least 6 pt. to ensure the text readability when printed.

Create A Kiss Cut Layer

Once the artwork or graphics is set, the next step is to create a kiss cut layer. This layer determines the shape of the design when peeled off of the backing material. To do this, duplicate the artwork layer, rename the replica as “Kiss Cut,” and place it under the artwork layer.

To convert the kiss cut layer to a solid shape, click Window > Pathfinder > Unite tabs in Illustrator. Then, select the solid shape, set the fill color to none, and the stroke color to 100% magenta.

Offset The Kiss Cut Line

The next step is to establish a space between the artwork and the trim line for kiss cutting. There should be a space of at least 0.125” inches between the sticker and the kiss cut line, and the line stroke should be as thin as 1 pt. Note that the line will not be visible on the finished design, as it will merely serve as a guide for the laser cutting part.

Use the Offset Path feature to identify the proper distance and ensure precise proportions. We recommend selecting “Round” joint to create a shape with rounded edges. Work on your kiss cut layer and go to Object > Path > Offset Path to set up your kiss cut line.

Hit Save With The Right File Format

A vector-based design software like Adobe Illustrator supports vector images that the laser cutting machine can read to perform the cut. It is recommended to save your kiss cut outline or the cutting guide file in PDF to support the format required for laser cutting.

For the design file or actual artwork, a PNG image format is recommended for a cleaner and quality finish. Other image formats like JPEG can also be acceptable.

Once the artwork and kiss cut files are set up and saved in the required formats, the next step is submitting them to a printing bureau to perform the kiss cut process.

Send Your Designs To MCMILLANCO For A High-Quality Kiss Cutting Job!

Here at MCMILLANCO, we use top-notch in-house machinery that offers a wide variety of services, including kiss cutting! Our technology allows us to achieve a broader range of customer requests with a minimal turnaround time.

If you are looking for a manufacturer to mass-produce products for kiss cutting, you have found the right team for the job! We do precision kiss cutting services for various industries, including medical, military, and automotive, to name a few.

MCMILLANCO’s kiss cutting solutions can work on several materials, including but not limited to paper, cloth, non-woven fabrics, foams, polymer films, rubbers, foils, adhesive laminates, and more!

Contact us to learn more about our kiss cutting services, or you may also request a quote today.

Kiss cutting helps businesses enhance the handling of their manufactured components, resulting in a more accurate and exact product and increasing convenience and efficiency. This dynamic process for producing parts can be used in many materials and thicknesses, so cooperating with a kiss cutting manufacturer offers significant benefits to businesses in various industries.

Here are the advantages of finding a kiss cutting manufacturing partner for your products:

1. Increases Productivity

Your assembly process can be made quicker and more effective using kiss cutting. Specifically, selecting the best kiss cutting manufacturer can reduce the risks of costly mistakes and enhance your business operations.

Kiss cut components eliminate the need for manufacturers to spend unnecessary time sorting through a bag or a box, separating parts held together by static or adhesives, and removing the liner. Thus, it may lower your overall labor and production costs.

2. Reduces Waste

A well-established company must maintain a tidy workplace; thus, it makes sense to collaborate with a kiss cutting manufacturer to do the necessary work cutting materials for the company. Businesses can drastically reduce material waste by using appropriate kiss cutting procedures, enabling manufacturers to repurpose leftover materials.

3. Delivers Faster Assembly

Kiss cut pieces can significantly increase productivity and speed up assembly if you build a product at or near your location. In addition, if you need to complete your project by a certain date, the manufacturers can assist you in completing your project on time. Even for big projects, MCMILLANCO’S kiss cutting provides high tolerances, outstanding precision, and quick turnaround times depending on the material and the technology used.

4. Upgrades Printed Materials

Kiss cut labels have their paper backing preserved and are merely sliced through the vinyl. Thus, you may print on the vinyl surrounding a kiss cut label to give your design more flair. Additionally, since the backing helps preserve it during travel, kiss cut labels are perfect for delicate designs.

Moreover, kiss cuts in labels, or logos give the products a neat appearance and a professional appeal. Kiss cut manufacturers enable businesses to design their labels in a way that gives them an elegant appearance that is simple to read and then have it cut to achieve their desired outcome.

MCMILLANCO: Your Expert Kiss Cutting Partner

MCMILLANCO’s kiss cutting can help you get a competitive advantage in your business! Our kiss cutting is incredibly precise, and we will collaborate with you at every step. We can also fulfill your orders quickly and with high-quality manufacturing.

We ensure accurate production and faster delivery with our new multifunctional in-house machine for kiss cutting and laminating electronics and medical devices! So whether you are searching for a dependable lamination system, deciding between in-line and freestanding construction, or considering hot or pressure-sensitive adhesive solutions, our kiss cutting services will work for your applications!

Contact us to discuss your kiss cutting needs or request a quote today! Our experts would be happy to answer any questions about our services and capabilities.

Kiss-cut and die-cut products are popular promotional materials for business gatherings and product launches. While they have similarities in procedure and finished output, each cut has distinct features, benefits, and particular purposes.

This article will cover the similarities and differences between kiss cutting and die cutting and find out what is suitable for your next project.

Defining Kiss Cutting vs. Die Cutting

In kiss cutting, the tool pierces the upper layers but leaves the back layer intact. It is a common manufacturing process used to create labels, felt pads, hanging hooks, and more. The word “kiss” refers to how the blade makes contact with the upper layers of the material and applies enough force to leave a pattern or cut but not too much to penetrate through the back. This produces a final cut product on a removable layer of paper or foil.

Die cutting is a fabrication technique that uses specialized equipment and machine tools to cut, mold, and shear stock material into unique forms and patterns. The die-cutting method is flexible and adaptable to various materials, including metal, plastic, wood, and composites. This technique can also be incorporated in various sectors for die-cutting neoprene, die-cutting paper, packing, filter material and generating die-cut foam.

Kiss Cutting vs. Die Cutting: Which Should You Use?

Here is a list of the advantages and ideal applications for die-cut and kiss-cut products for you to know which one to pick:

Die Cutting

Below is a list of advantages and applications of die-cutting for your next project:

• This method cuts output costs by lessening the need to trim the products.
• This technique allows you to see how your product will appear on the surface on which it is being applied.
• This process is ideal for producing eye-catching labels for computers, phones, bikes, or water bottles.

Kiss Cutting

The following are the advantages and applications of kiss-cutting for your next project:

• This method creates a product with an additional backing paper around the edge of your label.
• This technique is easily customizable to add your company name, website, or contact information.
• This process is ideal for delicate artwork since the extra backing paper preserves the label until it’s applied.
• This method facilitates convenience with easy label

MCMILLANCO: High-Quality Kiss Cutting and Die Cutting Services

When choosing between kiss cutting and die cutting, it comes down to personal preference and what works best for your application. Both techniques are excellent ways to add a personal touch to any printed product.

If you haven’t explored the advantages of die or kiss-cut labels , business cards, or other products representing your business, now is the time to do so. At MCMILLANCO, we can assist you in determining which kiss cut or die cut products best suit your needs and craft that item for you!

Contact us or request a quote today to learn more about our products, services, and solutions! Our expert team is looking forward to assisting you.

Aside from providing essential information and instructions, labeling plays a vital role in making products stand out and increasing brand retention. There are two types of labels: primary and secondary. Primary labels are crafted to draw consumers’ attention; these commonly include high-quality images and colors to increase their appeal, capture buyers’ eyes, and represent the company’s brand. On the other hand, secondary labels are supplemental — found on the back and contain valuable product information.

Kiss cutting is one of the most popular methods for creating pressure-sensitive labels, stickers, and decals. It is a common manufacturing technique that involves leaving the finished part on a removable layer of paper or foil. This layer then holds the part until it is peeled off and used, making it ideal for practical uses.

This article will explore how the kiss-cutting process is used in creating labels, stickers, and decals and their applications in various industries.

Kiss Cutting for Labels, Stickers, and Decals

Kiss cutting offers more convenience than other methods because it only requires the removal of a part from a large back sheet. Thus, it is more effortless than peeling the backing off a similar-sized part. It also allows the assembly of several finished parts onto a single backing layer if the goal is keeping many parts together.

When using kiss cutting to create stickers, vinyl plotters are made to “kiss” the top adhesive layer of a sticker sheet. The plotter perceives how much pressure must be applied to keep the paperback intact and undamaged. Unlike a die-cut sticker with no paper border, kiss cutting labels and stickers have a paper border around and behind them.

In addition, the kiss-cut sticker sheet allows for both similar-shaped and sized stickers and different ones. This is the reason why kiss cutting is popular for producing a large number of stickers on a single sheet. As long as the shapes fit on the page, the number of stickers does not matter.

Applications of Kiss Cutting Labels, Stickers, and Decals

Kiss cutting labels, stickers, and decals serve various purposes and applications in several industries. Here are some examples of how they are used:

Automotive

Automotive labels are made up of badging (stickers on the vehicle’s exterior identifying its model and features) and labels (barcode, estimate, and VIN labels). They usually display component information, the company’s name and logo, technical specifications, and other important details. The following are the commonly used stickers and labels in the automotive industry:  

• Auto label categories by end-use (asset, branding, warning, dome labels)
• Auto label categories by identification method (barcode, radio-frequency identification)
• Auto label categories by application process (glue-applied, heat transfer)
• Auto label categories by vehicle component application (chassis, engine components)

Medical

Healthcare labels are applied to a wide range of medical products, such as bottles, containers, vials, devices, and more. They convey critical information on instructions, warning signs, barcodes, evaluations, and variable information printing (VIP). The following are some common uses of labels and stickers in the medical industry: 

• Vials, syringes, and ampules
• Over-the-counter medicines and pills
• Concealing labels for clinical trials
• Blood and plasma labels
• Cryogenics and cold-chain products

Packaging

Packaging is a significant part of the appeal for various kinds of merchandise in multiple industries. The vibrant colors and sharp graphics printed on different materials help in giving specific types of products identity and character. The most important labels and stickers that must be attached to the product include the following:

• Manufacturer
• Expiry date
• Ingredients
• Product instructions
• Product certifications
• Trademarks

Electrical

Electrical safety stickers give detailed instructions for the operation and handling of electrical equipment, such as instructing workers on operating the equipment safely or not using damaged or malfunctioning equipment. Some examples of electrical safety labels and stickers are as follows:

• Conduit and voltage labels
• Energy source identification stickers
• Arc flash warnings
• Panel identification
• Transformer labels

Superior Kiss-Cutting Services and Solutions From MCMILLANCO

MCMILLANCO is a jack of all trades when it comes to manufacturing parts. We provide a wide range of production services thanks to our new multipurpose in-house machine for kiss cutting and laminating electronics and medical products.

In addition to our kiss-cutting services, our new die-cutting machine enables us to meet a broader range of customer requirements in less time. So whether you are looking for a dependable lamination system or mass-produced graphical promotional labels and stickers, we have you covered!

Contact us today to learn more about our services or request a quote to start your next project with us!

When we buy consumer products, we tend to read the labels for more product information. Manufacturers nowadays prefer to use adhesive or sticker labels to make their labeling more efficient and appealing. Printing industries use different machines to produce adhesive tags or stickers for art, sealing or packing, marketing, and advertising, to showcase a brand’s personality and consistently attract customers.

Kiss cutting is one of the processes in making mass-produced graphical promotions or stickers. This article will tackle what kiss cutting is all about and what materials can be used for this method.

What Is Kiss Cutting, And How Does It Work?

Kiss cutting is a great way to add style, purpose, and intrigue to your printed materials. Imagine how you peel off stickers – you get the designed part and discard the film it is attached to, then decorate the sticker to your mug, laptop, or notebook; that sticker you peeled off is an example of a kiss-cut finished product.

Kiss cutting is a method of cutting into a flat layered material where the top part is pierced, but the back layer is left intact. The term “kiss” refers to how the blade touches the upper layer of the material and leaves a pattern or cut with sufficient force to peel the top but not too forceful to cut through the backside. The blade gently “kisses” only the second layer and does not cut through it.

Is Kiss Cutting The Same As Die Cutting?

Kiss cutting is technically a die cutting method, and die cutting refers to using a machine to mass-produce cut-out shapes. Although their process is the same, and their outputs appear to be closely identical, they have a very slight difference. Unlike kiss cutting, which only cuts on the top layer, die cutting is like a cookie cutter that precisely cuts specific shapes straight to your materials’ top and bottom layers.

What Are The Materials For Kiss Cutting Process?

Kiss-cut finished products are primarily found in the packaging and printing industries and require a laminated material, such as plastic, cork, felt, silicon, or paper, with an adhesive backing. Here are the typical kiss cutting materials:

Stickers

Stickers are the most common kiss-cut material and are often seen on smooth surfaces such as vinyl, paper, plastic, some fabrics, or other adhesive-backing media, which have been printed and kiss-cut. They can be used as brand indicators, stamps, car and toy stickers, product labels, and annual license plate stickers.

Vinyl

Vinyl is a familiar kiss cutting material that can endure the heat in the kiss cutting process. Many businesses and clients prefer this material for its superior durability compared to other kiss cutting materials. Industrial vinyl kiss cutting uses computer-controlled machinery with a coarse roller to track the feeding process in a conveyor feed system.

Butyl Rubber

Butyl rubber material can absorb shock and vibration, block light, and serve as a seal. It is commonly used for gaskets because it is tear-resistant, less porous, and remains flexible at sub-zero temperatures. Kiss-cut gaskets can be rolled up like paper towels, making them easy to handle and dispense. Peeling the designed, cut part off the liner is considerably faster to perform, thus, enabling production efficiency.

Viton Rubber

Like butyl rubber, the viton rubber material is used for gaskets. However, it is more high-grade and is ideal for extreme applications due to its excellent sealing capabilities against gases and chemicals like those used within the oil and gas industry. It offers perfect sealing performance against petrochemicals, hydrocarbons, and acids. Viton can be manufactured as single or double-sided adhesive gaskets, with a finger lift or a tabbed liner if required, to ensure easy assembly.

Foil

Foil kiss cutting requires more care and precision than other kiss cutting materials because of the sensitivity and flexibility of the foil material. Foil’s lustrous quality contributes to its upscale appearance, making it an ideal material for promotional stickers or wine and cosmetic product labels.

Foam

Foams are well-known for their ease of formability, which comes in handy for effortlessly kiss cutting them to an exact desired dimension, shape, and size. Kiss-cut foam parts are peel-and-stick products equipped with pressure-sensitive adhesives that are flexible. They can come in tidy rolls, as the backing paper protects the kiss-cut foam parts from deforming during transit. Kiss-cut foam can also improve productivity and faster assembly while reducing the cost of production.

Closed Cell Sponge Rubber

Expanded rubber is the simplified term for closed cell sponge rubber. It contains balloon-like cells filled with nitrogen gas, which block the flow of air, water, and chemicals at low pressures. It is ideal to use as gaskets. Appliances, automobiles, construction, sports equipment, electrical enclosures, HVAC, marine, lighting, and more use closed cell sponge rubber gaskets. Closed cell sponge rubber can have an adhesive backing and are resilient, high-temperature stable, and inert. They come in soft, medium, firm, and extra firm and can be customized in many colors.

Precise Lamination And Mass-Produced Graphical Promotions And More With MCMILLANCO

MCMILLANCO‘s kiss cutting services can put you at the forefront of the manufacturing industry. With our new multipurpose in-house machine for kiss cutting and laminating electronics and medical products, we can turn your orders at speedy but quality manufacturing while ensuring precise production and low turnaround time. Whether you are looking for a reliable lamination system, selecting between in-line or freestanding construction, or thinking about choosing between pressure-sensitive or heated adhesive methods – our kiss-cutting services will suit you. Additionally, ISO9001 and PAPP inspections verify the quality of our machines. Contact us today to learn more about our services and get a quote.