Welcome to the Dieline Generator! This powerful tool helps you create precise, printable dielines for all your game manufacturing needs. Whether you're designing boxes, boards, punchboards, or cards, we've made it simple and accessible for everyone.
What is a Dieline?
A dieline is a technical drawing that shows where your product will be cut, folded, and assembled. Think of it as a blueprint for your physical game components. Our tool generates professional-grade dielines with proper bleed areas, margins, and cut lines—ready to send to your manufacturer.
Getting Started
Step 1: Access the Tool
Navigate to Tools → Dieline Generator from your account dashboard. You'll see a clean interface with two main sections:
Template Settings (left side) - where you configure your design
Preview (right side) - where you see your dieline in real-time
Step 2: Choose Your Template
Start by selecting the type of dieline you need from the Template dropdown menu. We offer templates organized by category:
Boards & Punchboards:
Cardboard Mat - For protective mats that hold game components
Game Board - For foldable game boards with various fold configurations
Punchboard - For sheets with punch-out tokens (circles, rectangles, hexagons)
Boxes:
Two Piece Box - For standard game boxes with separate top and bottom
Cards & Paper:
Card - For playing cards with standard or custom sizes
Paper Booklet - For multi-panel booklets and rulebooks
Paper Pad - For notepads and scoring sheets
Paper Sheet - For any custom paper product
Each template automatically loads with sensible default dimensions, so you can start customizing right away!
Step 3: Configure Your Dimensions
Enter the dimensions for your product in millimeters (mm). Most templates require:
Width (X) - The horizontal dimension
Height (Y) - The vertical dimension
Depth - For boxes, this is the internal depth
Tip: The preview updates instantly as you type, so you can see your changes immediately!
Step 4: Toggle Visual Guides
You'll see two helpful toggles at the top of the settings panel:
Bleed Lines (Cyan) - Shows the extra area needed for printing to ensure color reaches the edges
Margin Lines (Green) - Shows the safe area where important content should stay
These lines help you understand how your design will look when printed. Toggle them on or off based on what you need to see.
Step 5: Customize Template-Specific Options
Each template has unique settings that appear when selected:
For Cards:
Choose between Standard sizes (with preset options) or Custom dimensions
Set Corner Radius for rounded corners
For Game Boards:
Select Folds - Choose from no fold, half fold, third fold, quarter fold, or sixth fold
Enable Double Sided if your board prints on both sides
For Paper Booklets:
Choose a Layout - Options include 1x1, 2x2, 3x4, and more
The tool automatically calculates folded dimensions
For Punchboards:
Add Tokens - Create circles, ovals, rectangles, or hexagons
Set Gutter spacing between tokens
Specify the Count for each token type
For Two Piece Boxes:
Set Depth for the box height
Choose Material thickness (1mm, 1.5mm, 2mm, or 2.5mm)
Working with Punchboard Tokens
Punchboards are one of our most flexible templates! Here's how to add tokens:
Adding Ellipse Tokens (Circles & Ovals)
Expand the Ellipse Tokens section
Click "+ Add ellipse token"
Enter the Diameter (for circles) or Width and Height (for ovals)
Set the Count - how many of these tokens you need
Toggle Circle on if you want a perfect circle (width = height)
You can add multiple ellipse token groups, each with different sizes and counts.
Adding Rectangle Tokens
Expand the Rectangle Tokens section
Click "+ Add rectangle token"
Enter Width and Height
Optionally set Corner Radius for rounded corners
Set the Count
Adding Hexagon Tokens
Expand the Hexagon Tokens section
Click "+ Add hexagon token"
Enter the Diameter (the distance across opposing corners)
Set the Count
Managing Token Layout
The tool automatically arranges your tokens efficiently within the available space. If you see a warning message, it means some tokens don't fit. Try:
Reducing the number of tokens
Making tokens smaller
Increasing the punchboard dimensions
Adjusting the gutter spacing
Pro Tip: The preview shows exactly how your tokens will be arranged, so you can experiment freely!
Understanding the Preview
The preview pane shows a real-time visualization of your dieline:
Magenta lines - Cut lines (where the material will be cut)
Cyan lines - Bleed lines (printing safety area)
Green lines - Margin lines (content safety area)
Yellow lines - Fold lines (for game boards and booklets)
Watch the preview as you adjust settings—it updates instantly to show your changes!
Generating Your PDF
Once you're happy with your design:
Review the preview to ensure everything looks correct
Click the "Generate PDF" button in the top right corner
Wait a moment while the PDF is created
Your browser will download the PDF file
That's it! Your dieline is ready to send to your manufacturer.
Tips for Success
For First-Time Users
Start simple - Begin with a basic template like a Card or Paper Sheet
Use standard sizes - Many templates offer preset sizes that work well
Keep bleed and margin lines visible - They help you understand the printable area
Experiment in the preview - Adjust dimensions and see changes immediately
For Advanced Users
Custom dimensions - All templates support custom sizes in millimeters
Multiple token types - Mix and match different token shapes on punchboards
Material considerations - For boxes, choose material thickness based on your needs
Layout optimization - Try different booklet layouts to maximize paper usage
Common Use Cases
Creating a Standard Deck of Cards:
Select Card template
Choose Standard mode
Select "63 x 88mm (standard)" preset
Generate PDF
Designing a Game Board:
Select Game Board template
Enter your board dimensions
Choose fold configuration (quarter fold is popular)
Enable double-sided if needed
Generate PDF
Making a Punchboard with Tokens:
Select Punchboard template
Set your board size
Add ellipse tokens for circular pieces
Add rectangle tokens for square pieces
Adjust gutter if needed
Generate PDF
Troubleshooting
The preview looks wrong:
Check that all dimensions are positive numbers
Ensure you've selected the correct template
Try refreshing the page
Tokens don't fit:
Reduce the number of tokens
Make tokens smaller
Increase the punchboard dimensions
Check the warning message for specific guidance
PDF won't generate:
Make sure all required fields have valid values
Check that dimensions are greater than zero
Look for any error messages in the preview
The preview is blank:
Verify your dimensions are correct
Try adjusting the width and height
Check that you've selected a template
Need More Help?
If you have questions or encounter issues:
Check that all your dimensions are valid positive numbers
Review the preview pane for visual feedback
Try resetting to default values and starting over
Contact support if you need assistance with specific requirements
Ready to Create?
You're all set! The Dieline Generator is designed to be intuitive and powerful. Start with a simple template, experiment with the preview, and you'll be creating professional dielines in no time. Happy designing! 🎲