Bambra Basics: What Is Forme-Cutting?

Don’t be so square, add a bit of shape to your next project with forme-cutting!

Forme-cutting is one of our specialties and something we do every day. Forme-cutting allows you to easily cut a huge range of substrates, from paper, card and much more. It’s most commonly used for creating custom-shaped products such as presentation folders, packaging, labels, swing tags, stickers and even the drink coasters at your local cocktail bar.

The creative applications that form-cutting allows are endless. Take your business cards to the next level by embellishing with foil and then adding a custom cut. Create a serious visual impact with shaped labels or add a fancy folded, perforated or tearaway section to your next brochure.

Holey forme-cut details, designed by Lattitude Group for Glenvill Homes.

Forme-cut invitations for The University Of Melbourne & forme-cut tear strip for On Northbourne designed by InkLab .

Forme-cutting vs die-cutting

Die-cutting is a term that is often misused for forme-cutting. Getting technical, there are a few key differences between forme-cutting and die-cutting.

Forme-cutting uses shaped metal blades embedded in a block which creates your forme, hence the name. This is loaded into our press which then processes a single sheet at a time. The main benefit of using a forme is that multiple tasks can be performed at the same time. These can be any combination of cutting, scoring, perforating and even punching holes.

Die-cutting uses a solid metal die which completely cuts or punches a shape out of a material. Because it doesn’t use bent knives it leaves no nicks or joins around the edge of the cutout. An advantage of die-cutting is that a large volume of materials can be cut at the same time such as a stack of labels. Die-cutting is also the prefered method used to cut out heavier materials such as leather in our bindery.

Custom forme-cut packaging designed by JAC& for Nicole England’s Resident Dog project.

Loading a swing-tag forme into our Heidelberg Cylinder Press & a very small portion of our forme library.

Lets get-cutting!

Once a forme has been made, it can be used repeatedly. You can save precious time and money by using one of our existing formes which we have in a variety of custom shapes. We might already have what you are looking for!

A few of our most popular forme-cutting designs can be found on our website, choose a design and then let us do the magic! Check them out here.

If you would like any information on forme-cutting options, just give us a call! We thrive on providing unique solutions and helping you to push the boundaries on your next project.