Before you can use overlays, you must enable Custom guides.
Go to Settings.
Select Custom guides.
Toggle Enable custom guides on.
Once enabled, you can create guide groups and guides.
Guide groups organise related overlays.
Examples include guides for specific product types or templates.
Go to Settings → Custom guides.
Click New guide group.
Enter a name.
Optionally add a description.
Click Save.
Box templates
Feather flags
Bottle labels
Guides are overlays that appear on artwork to show trim lines, folds, margins, cut paths and other production references.
Open a guide group.
Click New guide.
Enter the guide details described below.
Use a clear and descriptive name so users can easily identify the guide.
Examples:
XL Feather Flag Cut Path
A4 Tri-Fold Leaflet Fold and Trim Guide
A4 Glue Bound Presentation Folder Die Line
Rounded Corner Business Card Trim Guide 85 × 55 mm (6 mm Radius)
Round Vinyl Sticker Kiss Cut Path 75 mm
Oval Jar Label Die Line 210 × 70 mm
Round Hang Tag Die Line 70 mm (4 mm Drill Hole)
Stand Up Pouch Die Line 200 × 130 × 70 mm
Contour Cut Window Vinyl Graphic Path 300 × 200 mm
Curved Coffee Cup Sleeve Die Line 120 × 40 mm
Die Cut Pizza Box Lid Die Line 320 × 220 mm
If you use internal product codes or references, you can include them in the guide name.
Set the width and height to match the intended artwork size.
The guide will display at this exact size relative to the artwork. This helps confirm:
the artwork is scaled correctly
elements align with trim, folds and cut paths
Choose a preset size or enter custom dimensions.
Upload the SVG file that defines the guide.
The SVG contains the visual elements shown over the artwork, such as:
trim lines
folds
safe areas
cut paths
When preparing the SVG, follow these guidelines.
Use different stroke colours to distinguish guide types.
Example colour conventions:
Red for trim lines
Blue for folds
Green for safe areas
Magenta for cut paths
Consistent colours help users quickly understand what each line represents.
Use thin stroke widths, for example 2 pt, so the guide does not obscure the artwork.
Different stroke styles can communicate priority.
Solid lines for required boundaries such as trim or cut paths
Dashed lines for reference boundaries such as folds or safe margins
This makes it easier to identify which guides must be followed.
Do not use filled shapes in guides.
Use transparent fills or no fill so the artwork underneath remains visible.
If a region needs to be indicated, use an outline rather than a filled block.
Enable this option if the guide should flip horizontally on even pages.
This is useful for publications where inner and outer margins differ.
Enable Crop artwork to guide to prevent artwork extending beyond the guide boundary.
When enabled, any artwork outside the guide size will be cropped. This ensures the artwork matches the guide dimensions and removes any excess elements.
When disabled, artwork can extend beyond the guide.
Click Save to create the guide.
