Kiss Cutting Services | Rapid Die Cut

Precision cuts that peel clean off the liner

Kiss cutting produces a precision-shaped cut through the top layer of a material while leaving the backing liner underneath intact, so the finished piece peels off cleanly. It's the standard method for labels, stickers, and other adhesive-backed parts that need to separate from their liner without cutting all the way through.

Because cut depth is controlled precisely rather than tooled into a fixed die, kiss cutting stays accurate and consistent run after run, with faster turnaround than switching dies for every design change.

Alt text Kiss Cutting

Why kiss cutting

Kiss cutting solves a problem traditional cutting can't: separating a printed or adhesive top layer for easy removal, without cutting through the liner that holds it in place during printing, handling, and application.

It scales from small prototype runs to full production without new tooling, and adapts to fine detail and complex label or component shapes that would be difficult to cut cleanly with a physical die.

What We Cut With Kiss Cutting

Six specific capabilities, all run from your CAD file with no tooling required.

Precision Kiss Cutting

Controlled top-layer cuts that leave the backing liner untouched, built for tight-tolerance shapes and clean, repeatable peel-off.

Laser Kiss Cutting

Combines laser precision with kiss-cut depth control for delicate materials that a blade alone would distort.

Kiss Cutting for Labels and Adhesives

Purpose-built for label sheets, stickers, and adhesive-backed components that need clean, uniform peel-away pieces.

Prototype Development

Fast-turn kiss-cut samples with no tooling to wait on, shipping in as fast as 1 day, so a design can be validated before committing to a full production run.

Slitting

Precise width conversion for roll-good and sheet materials, cutting large rolls down to narrower, usable widths.

Kiss Cutting Foam and Soft Materials

Depth-controlled cutting on foam, felt, and rubber for peel-away liners and layered gasket or cushioning assemblies.

Materials

Kiss cutting works best on lower-durometer, flexible stock, adhesives, felt, foam, rubber, hook and loop (reclosable fastener) material, and other materials with a backing or liner layer, including thin films and laminates used in labels and adhesive components.

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Industries We Serve

Label, adhesive, and component precision matters most where the part has to peel clean the first time.

Why Choose Rapid Die Cut

Advanced Technology

Fully automated kiss cutting backed by 35+ years of manufacturing experience and ISO 9001:2015 certification.

Production Versatility

The same kiss cutting process scales from a single prototype to full production runs, with no minimum order quantity.

Instant Online Quoting

Get pricing in minutes through our online quoting tool, 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.

Adhesive Lamination

CNC Knife Cutting

Creasing and Scoring

Die Cutting

Die Cut Tooling

Digital Cutting

Laser Cutting

Roll Slitting

Waterjet Cutting

Frequently Asked Questions

What is kiss cutting?

Kiss cutting is a partial-depth cut that goes through the top layer of a material, such as a label or adhesive-backed film, while leaving the backing liner intact underneath. The finished piece peels off cleanly, it's the standard cutting method for die-cut labels, stickers, and adhesive-backed parts.

What's the difference between kiss cutting and die cutting?

Kiss cutting cuts through only the top layer of material, leaving the liner underneath for peel-off use, ideal for labels and adhesive parts. Full die cutting cuts all the way through every layer.

Can kiss cutting be used on foam or rubber, not just labels?

Yes. While kiss cutting is most common on labels and adhesive-backed films, the same depth-controlled process can kiss cut foam, felt, and rubber for applications like peel-away liners or layered gasket assemblies.

Does material hardness or density affect kiss cutting?

Yes. Rubber is rated by durometer, a hardness scale, while foam's firmness comes mainly from its density. Softer, lower durometer rubber and lower-density foam kiss cut differently than firmer stock. We match blade depth and pressure to your material's properties for a clean cut through the top layer without cutting into the liner.

Do I need a CAD file to get a kiss-cut part?

Yes. Kiss cutting 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 kiss-cut 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 kiss cutting?

Kiss cutting runs on roll and sheet stock, so it falls under our standard roll and sheet stock material thickness tolerance: ± 0.005″–0.010″, depending on material type and manufacturer.

Kiss Cutting

Kiss Cutting Control for Labels, Adhesives, and Custom Components

Precision cuts that peel clean off the liner

Why kiss cutting