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Artwork

Trim

Trim is the intended finished boundary of printed work after excess material is cut away.

Updated

What it means in packaging

On shaped packaging, the cut contour defines the finished blank rather than a simple page rectangle. The trim boundary separates retained artwork from bleed. A PDF page size alone may not describe the actual die-cut shape.

A practical example

A circular label is cut along its circular boundary even though its PDF page can be rectangular.

What to check

Identify the actual finished contour, not just the artboard or crop marks, before sizing and exporting the artwork.

Use it in your project

Cut line
A cut line indicates a path where material is intended to be cut through, such as a package outline or window.
Bleed
Bleed is artwork extended beyond the intended cut boundary so small cutting variations do not expose an unprinted edge.
PDF
PDF is a document format used to exchange fixed-layout pages containing artwork, text and production information.