Guide
Read cut lines and fold lines
Read the line style and legend before turning the flat drawing into a paper object.
Reviewed October 27, 2026
Cut the continuous outline
The outer continuous contour is the boundary of the paper part. Follow it around tabs and closure flaps. A line passing through the middle of an otherwise connected panel is more likely a fold or annotation; check its style before using a blade.
For a two-piece box, identify the separate Base and Lid outlines. Do not join them together simply because both appear in one SVG layout.
Score the dashed creases
Dashed lines indicate where the material bends. Score them before folding, using a method appropriate to the stock. A score compresses or guides the bend; it should not cut through the sheet. Curved folds on a pillow box need a different hand movement from straight panel folds.
Try a small scrap first. A coating may crack even when the geometry is correct. The generator cannot determine a safe scoring pressure from a GSM label.
Keep construction and measurement apart
Hatching identifies glue areas. Thin arrows and extension lines describe dimensions; they are not cutting instructions. Registration crosses belong to page joining, and the separate 100 mm ruler checks print scale.
These meanings remain distinct in a grayscale print: solid cut, dashed fold and patterned glue. If an editor changes line styles or hides layers after SVG import, restore the legend and inspect the output before cutting.
Ready to make something?
Set the dimensions. Check the folds. Make a small test box.