In today’s world, consumers are bombarded with messaging at every turn – at home, at work, at the store, even driving home. It is a marketer’s job to figure out how to break through the clutter and deliver their message to their audience. For many marketers who rely on display graphics and signage, this means creating unique, eye-catching graphics. One way for their messages to stand out from the crowd is to incorporate contour cuts in the design.

Why design with contour cuts?

• Add style and dimension to the design
• Increase the effectiveness of the message
• Enable a graphic to fit any space, regardless of shape

Advances in technology now allow graphics to break free from traditional square dimensions. Machines have automated the tedious hand cutting or trimming of thick substrates or thin, delicate decals. Additionally, digital technology’s impact on the graphics production industry allows for higher accuracy, more complexity, and streamlined efficiency.

Designing with contour cuts can be challenging for a designer who’s less familiar with production capabilities. Plan for the entire scope of the project before beginning the design and consider these three main points:

Complexity

The simpler the profile of the cut, the more likely it will be durable and easily supported in its final resting spot. For example, if you were to contour cut a shape of a human profile with an arm holding a ball, you need to be aware of the position of the arm and how it may need to be supported.

Complexity also comes into play during the cut path creation. Simpler contour cuts, such as a star shape, can often be made very quickly within programs such as Adobe Illustrator. Cutting an intricate lattice pattern could take significantly more time to create. As the cut path becomes more complex, be sure to check with your print service provider to ensure their equipment can cut your pattern. This includes looking at things such as radiuses in the cut. Depending on substrate, some types of cuts may not be achievable.

Substrate

Find the right substrate to fit the structural needs of your final product, and determine the price point you have in mind. Substrate type will often go hand in hand with complexity, so it’s important to find the right substrate for the desired cut. Thick substrates, while often having more structural strength, may have limitations in the intricacy of the cuts that can be made. On the flip side, thin substrates or vinyl can lack the structural strength to maintain the integrity of the design. However due to cutting methods used, the detail can often be a higher degree of difficulty on these thinner substrates. Finding the right combination will lead to the best result.

Overall size

Be sure to consider how the overall size may affect the design. Something with a high degree of detail may need to be enlarged in order to achieve the level of detail desired. If a larger size is not what was intended, however, then a size reduction to a more forgiving material may be necessary. There are many substrates - all having their strengths and weaknesses - so finding and ideal solution is almost always achievable.

Contour cuts bring a unique look and feel to a product. Since display graphics and signage already go through a digital cutting process, consider taking advantage of this additional service. The minor cost associated with contour cuts is well worth the potentially larger return. For more information on creating contour cuts, go to Client Tools on Suttle-Straus.com and expand the Wide Format section.

Learn more about designing for wide format and environmental graphic projects in a free on demand webinar.