Cut Files & the Design Editor
Design die-cut shapes with bleed and safety margins in Proofed's editor, and export Roland VersaWorks-compatible CutContour PDFs — with a live playground.
Proofed's built-in cut editor turns a source image into three production-ready outputs — the customer-facing proof, a die-cut PDF for your plotter, and a cropped print PDF — without leaving Shopify.
Play with the controls#
This playground mirrors the real editor's shape controls. Drag the sliders and watch the cut line, bleed, and safety gap respond.
Play with the cut editor
→ 60 × 60 mm cut file (PDF) + proof PNG
Opening the editor#
From an order's detail page, choose the cut editor on a line item. You can load a source image three ways:
- Upload a file — PNG, JPG, WEBP, GIF, PDF, or PSD (up to 20 MB; PSDs need Maximize Compatibility)
- Pick a customer file — any image the customer attached at checkout via line-item attributes appears as a one-click source
- Reuse the image from a previous version when revising
Shapes#
| Shape | Notes |
|---|---|
| Square | 1:1, with optional corner radius |
| Rectangle | Free width × height, with optional corner radius |
| Circle | Perfect circle |
| Oval | Free-form ellipse |
| Auto | Suggested from the order — Proofed reads size and shape hints (like "circle", "60 x 40") in the product title, variant, and attributes |
| Custom | Contour tracing — Proofed traces the outline of your artwork automatically for shaped die-cuts |
The controls#
- Output size — physical width × height in your preferred unit (mm, cm, or in — set the default in Settings)
- Corner radius — for squares and rectangles
- Bleed — extra artwork beyond the cut line so trimming never leaves white edges (default 2 mm)
- Bubble — a safety gap inside the cut line, keeping critical artwork clear of the blade
- Image position & scale — drag and resize the artwork inside the shape on the live canvas
- Material preview — apply a material effect and see it rendered in real time, exactly as the customer will
The three outputs#
Saving generates all three files at once:
1. Proof PNG#
The customer-facing preview — artwork, cut line, and material finish. This is what appears on the approval portal.
2. Cut PDF (VersaWorks-ready)#
The artwork composited with bleed, plus the die-cut path drawn in the industry-standard CutContour spot colour (Separation colour space, 100% magenta). Roland VersaWorks and compatible RIP software pick up the cut path automatically — no manual path work.
3. Cropped PDF#
The artwork trimmed to the cut shape without the contour line — useful for print-only workflows or when the cutter runs separately.
All three download from the order page, and the cut files are also linked in your approval notification email the moment the customer signs off. Filenames follow your filename template.
Put Width and Height attributes on your line items (or embed dimensions in variant names like "60 x 40 mm") and the editor will suggest the right size and shape before you've touched a slider.
Related guides#
- Filename Templates — name outputs to match your production workflow
- Message Templates & Materials — the material preview library
- Uploading Proofs — file formats and limits
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