Guide
Kiss cut vs die cut stickers: what's the difference?
Kiss cut goes through the sticker, not the backing. Die cut goes through both. When to use each, and how each changes your sheet layout and cut file.
By Optimas PrintUpdated 5 min read
Short answer
A kiss cut goes through the sticker material but not the backing, so the stickers stay on the sheet until they are peeled off. A die cut goes through the sticker and the backing, so each sticker comes out as a separate piece in its own shape. Kiss cut suits sticker sheets and easy peeling; die cut suits stickers sold or handed out one at a time.
The difference in one picture
A sticker sheet is made of layers: the printed face material (vinyl or paper), a layer of adhesive, and a backing liner. The two cuts differ in how deep the blade goes.
Kiss cut
Die cut
- Face material (vinyl or paper)
- Adhesive
- Backing liner
Kiss cut stickers
A kiss cut slices through the face material and the adhesive and stops at the backing. The sticker stays on the backing until someone peels it off, and the waste material around it can be peeled away (weeded) or left in place. The backing can be a shared sheet of stickers or a small square around a single sticker.
Kiss cut is the usual choice for:
- Sticker sheets with several designs on one backing
- Small stickers that would be fiddly as separate pieces
- Stickers that should be easy to peel, with backing around them to hold
- Labels applied by hand from a sheet
Watch the blade depth
Too deep and the blade cuts through the backing, or scores it so the sheet tears; too shallow and the stickers won't peel cleanly. Test on the material you use before a full run.
Die cut stickers
A die cut goes through the face material, the adhesive, and the backing, so each sticker comes out as a separate piece with backing in the same shape.
The name comes from die cutting, where a shaped steel die presses through the material. In label production the same dies can also kiss cut, so "die cutting" as a process covers both. Today many die cut stickers are cut with a digital blade instead, and some online printers use "die cut" for any custom-shaped sticker, so check what a supplier means.
Die cut is the usual choice for:
- Single stickers that are sold, packed, or handed out one at a time
- Stickers whose shape is part of the design
- Product and promotional stickers that need a finished look on their own
Watch the force and the spacing
Cutting through the backing takes more force than a kiss cut, usually with a different setting on your cutter. On a roll-fed cutter, pieces that are fully cut out can lift or drop while the sheet is still moving, so many shops use a perforated through-cut or a flatbed cutter instead. Small die cut pieces also need enough space around them to cut cleanly.
Kiss cut vs die cut at a glance
| Compare | Kiss cut | Die cut |
|---|---|---|
| What gets cut | Kiss cut: Face material and adhesive | Die cut: Face material, adhesive, and backing |
| Backing | Kiss cut: Stays whole | Die cut: Cut to the sticker's shape |
| Finished product | Kiss cut: Stickers on a larger backing: a shared sheet, or a square around each sticker | Die cut: Separate stickers with backing in the same shape |
| Peeling | Kiss cut: Easy: the sticker lifts off a larger backing | Die cut: Harder on small pieces: the backing is the same size as the sticker (a slit in the backing helps) |
| Typical use | Kiss cut: Sticker sheets, labels, small stickers | Die cut: Single stickers for sale, packs, and giveaways |
| Cutter setting | Kiss cut: Lighter: the cut stops at the backing | Die cut: Heavier: the cut goes through the backing |
How the cut type changes your layout and file
Both cut types need the same file setup: artwork with bleed on the print layer, and a cut line around each design on its own layer. What changes is the layout:
- Kiss cut: designs share one backing, so a full sheet can be the product, often with a cut around the outside of the sheet. Leave enough gap between stickers to peel them.
- Die cut: every piece has to come out whole, so leave room for the blade and for pieces to separate cleanly. Very small designs may work better as a kiss cut sheet.
- Both on one sheet: put the kiss cut lines and the through-cut lines on separate layers (or spot colors), so the cutter can use a different setting for each.
- Always: keep every design inside the work area and clear of the crop or registration marks.
New to cut files? See how to make a print and cut file, and how to nest stickers on a sheet for spacing.
Frequently asked questions
What is a contour cut?
Is a sticker sheet the same as a kiss cut sticker?
Can one sheet have both kiss cuts and die cuts?
Which cut is better for selling stickers online?
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