A request for perforated labels can describe two very different jobs. You may want to tear the backing between complete labels, or you may want a particular section of the printed label to separate. Those requests change the construction and the approval process. Define the intended action in plain language before adding a dotted line to the artwork.
01
Name the layer and the user action
For a hand-packing roll, the aim might be to tear off one backed label while leaving the label itself untouched. Avery’s WePrint guidance describes between-label perforations on paper liners, with restrictions for specific film constructions. That is a service-specific example of why the liner must be identified when asking for this finish.
A detachable label section is a separate brief. Describe who pulls it, when they pull it and what information needs to stay with the product afterward. Avoid using a vague request such as easy tear if it leaves the printer to guess whether the face, liner or entire web should separate.
02
Use a marked drawing, not a decorative dotted line
Create a reference drawing with the cut position clearly distinguished from printing. Ask the converter how they want that information supplied and how the approved feature will be shown on the proof. Do not leave a visible guide in the customer-facing artwork unless the printer confirms it is intended to print.
An illustrative sampler operation needs four separate backed labels to travel with four packing stations. The useful request is a separation between labels on the liner, not four weakened printed faces. Mark the station sequence on a paper strip and compare it with the intended dispensing direction so the finish supports the workflow.
| Intended result | Clarify with converter |
|---|---|
| Separate backed labels | Liner perforation between labels |
| Detach printed section | Layers crossed and remaining section |
| Signal opening | Approved purpose and evaluation |
| Print a visual guide | Ink only unless finishing is specified |
03
Let the supplier choose the working perforation
Avery Dennison’s technical bulletin distinguishes perforation design and separation behavior, including how substrate construction affects the result. Use that as background for a technical conversation rather than selecting a blade specification from a generic chart. A setup suitable for one stock need not produce the same behavior on another.
Share the actual pack, expected handling and dispensing method. Ask which samples represent the final material and finishing process. If a feature must survive packing but separate later, state both actions in the brief. The converter can then identify an evaluation plan appropriate to that specific sequence.
04
Approve separation without losing identification
Follow the supplier-agreed sample evaluation using representative packages. Observe where separation begins, what is left behind and whether the remaining identity stays readable. Record observations rather than claiming a formal strength result from an informal trial. Do not improvise perforations through supplied label stock or printer-fed sheets.
Keep the approved construction reference beside the final design file. A coordinated digital template can help organize the printed content, but it does not supply a converted tear feature or establish security performance. If your purpose is tamper evidence, explain that requirement separately and obtain appropriate supplier advice instead of treating every perforation as a security seal.
BEFORE YOUR NEXT STEP
Your practical checklist
- State the intended tear action in words.
- Identify face, liner and other layers.
- Use the converter’s finishing-file convention.
- Check what remains after separation.
Questions & answers
Does a dotted line in Canva create a perforation?+
No. It creates a printed graphic. The converter needs a separate, approved instruction for physical finishing and may require a particular technical file setup.
Are perforations available on every liner?+
Do not assume so. Availability depends on the supplier, material and equipment. Confirm the exact construction and finishing option before ordering.
Sources & further reading
Official references for the technical points in this guide. Check current specifications before production.
