Creasing and Scoring

Controlled fold lines, cut to a partial depth

Creasing and scoring solve the same problem, a clean fold, with two different methods matched to your material and part. Creasing compresses a fold line into the material using a crease rule built into our die-cut tooling, best for lighter stock that needs to bend without any cut through the surface. Scoring cuts partway through the material's thickness on our digital flash cutter, giving a more defined fold on thicker or heavier board. Both are available through Rapid Die Cut, we match the method to your material and fold requirements rather than asking you to specify which one you need.

We build these fold lines into the same digital cutting workflow used across our other capabilities, so packaging and display parts come out ready to fold and assemble without a separate step.

Alt text Creasing and Scoring

Why creasing and scoring

A clean, consistent fold line means less cracking, less wasted material, and a part that assembles the same way every time, critical for packaging and retail displays that get folded by hand on the line.

Because fold lines are cut in the same pass as the part's outer shape, there's no added step or handoff between operations.

What We Cut With Creasing and Scoring

Packaging and Carton Structure

Clean, repeatable fold lines built directly into carton and packaging blanks.

Retail Displays and POP

Point-of-purchase and retail display structures that fold and assemble consistently on the sales floor.

Folding Cartons

Precise crease placement for cartons that fold flat for shipping and assemble cleanly at the point of use.

Corrugated Structural Components

Scored fold lines on corrugated board for inserts, dividers, and structural packaging pieces.

Multi-Panel Assemblies

Multiple crease and score lines placed on a single part for complex, multi-fold assemblies.

Prototype Development

Fast-turn score samples validated on our flash cutters, up to 59.5" x 119.5" at 0.75" thick on the large flash cutter, or 59.5" x 59.5" at 2" thick on the small flash cutter, so fold behavior can be checked before a production run.

Materials

Creasing and scoring runs on paperboard, cardstock, and corrugated board, the sheet stocks that hold a controlled fold cleanly.

Browse materials for creasing and scoring ›

Industries We Serve

Creased and scored parts fold and assemble the same way every time across these industries.

Why Choose Rapid Die Cut

Precise Fold Placement

Crease and score lines cut to exact CAD-defined positions, run after run, for consistent assembly.

Wide Size Range

Up to 59.5" x 119.5" at 0.75" thick on our large flash cutter, or 59.5" x 59.5" at 2" thick on our small flash cutter, whichever best fits your part.

Instant Online Quoting

Get pricing in minutes through our online configurator, no waiting on a manual quote for standard jobs.

More from Rapid Die Cut

Our automated digital manufacturing platform rapidly reviews your CAD files and identifies the best tool for the job from our 8 industrial cutting technologies.

Die Cutting

Digital Cutting

Kiss Cutting

Adhesive Lamination

CNC Knife Cutting

Die Cut Tooling

Laser Cutting

Roll Slitting

Waterjet Cutting

Frequently Asked Questions

What is creasing and scoring?

Creasing compresses a fold line into the material so it bends cleanly along an exact path. Scoring cuts partway through the material's thickness to control where and how it folds. Both are used to prepare paperboard, cardstock, and corrugated board for accurate, repeatable folding.

What's the difference between creasing and scoring?

Creasing compresses the material along the fold line without cutting through it, best for lighter stock. Scoring cuts partway through the material's thickness, giving a more defined fold on thicker or heavier board. We match the method to your material and fold requirements.

What materials can be creased and scored?

Paperboard, cardstock, and corrugated board, the sheet stocks that hold a controlled fold cleanly without cracking.

Do I need a CAD file to get started?

Yes. Creasing and scoring runs from your CAD file. Get started by selecting your desired material, choosing our Cut to Shape service, and walking through the steps to configure your part. Need a little guidance? A step-by-step video is available.

How fast can I get a creased and scored prototype?

Prototyping can ship in as fast as 1 day; production runs typically ship in about 10 business days.

What tolerances can I expect from creasing and scoring?

Creasing and scoring runs on roll and sheet stock, falling under our standard roll and sheet stock material thickness tolerance: ± 0.005″–0.010″, depending on material type and manufacturer.

Precision Fold Lines for Clean, Repeatable Packaging and Display Assembly

Controlled fold lines, cut to a partial depth

Why creasing and scoring