We recommend avoiding the use of borders or frames in your files, as a mechanical shift of 1-2 mm during the cutting process is inevitable for all products. In the printing industry, this is known as a "mechanical shift," a natural part of the trimming process where the paper may move slightly.
If your file contains a border, this slight shift (otherwise almost unnoticeable) could become very noticeable. The smaller the printed area and the thinner the border, the higher the risk of an uneven result: for example, with a border of only 2 mm, if the cut shifts by just 1 mm on one side, the difference will be very noticeable.
When you decide to include a border in your file, you must always make sure to respect the Safe Area indicated in the template. It is important to place any border (as well as important text and graphics) within the safe area to ensure they are not cut off or misaligned on the final product, which could lead to an undesirable appearance.
Read this article about the safe area to learn more.
Here’s an example of a file with the border placed inside the safe area (the first one) and another where the border is outside the safe area (second), along with the corresponding print results. In the second case, since the frame is too close to the outer edge, even a mechanical shift during cutting makes it obvious that the distance between the border and the edge is not even:
Opting for a thicker border (which extends from the bleed into the Safe Area) helps reduce the off-center effect that can be visible with a thinner border, especially if it is placed outside the safe area.
Even when using our online Designer, follow the same rules, always keeping the Safe Area in mind:
If your file contains a border, place it within the safe area (at least 3 mm from the cut line) to ensure a high-quality result.
If you still have any doubt, please contact us: we'll be happy to help you!