Perforation

Perforation creates a controlled line of weakness so part of a swing tag can be detached. It is useful for price stubs, claim checks, vouchers, inventory references or care information that must separate from the main branded panel.

Plan the detachable section first

The stub needs enough area for its purpose and enough remaining card around it to stay attached during printing, packing and display. Put duplicate references on both sections when staff must match the removed part to the product.

Artwork and construction checks

Show the perforation as a separate technical line.
Keep small type and barcodes away from the tear line.
Allow grip space so the stub can be removed cleanly.
Test grain direction, card weight and laminate combination.
Confirm whether numbering or variable data must align across both sections.

Perforation is not a fold

A score compresses fibres to help card fold; a perforation partially cuts the sheet to enable tearing. Using the wrong technical line can create an unwanted weak point or a fold that cracks. Label both clearly when the design uses them together.

Decision context

Design the retained tag and tear-off part together

Perforation creates a controlled tear line between connected areas. Decide what the customer removes, what the retailer retains and which identifiers need to appear on both parts. The tear-off function should solve a pricing, claim, inventory or promotional task rather than divide the layout arbitrarily.

Position the perforation with enough material on each side for handling. The line interacts with board weight, grain, printing, folds and nearby drill holes. A very small stub or dense lamination can change how cleanly the section tears and how the remaining tag looks.

Keep text and barcodes clear of the perforation itself. If the two parts need matching references, plan them as fixed or variable fields and verify the source data. Test scanner performance and tear direction on the actual finished dimensions rather than an enlarged screen proof.

Mark the perforation as a separate production path and state whether it is straight, shaped or combined with a cut. Approve a physical reference where tear behaviour is important, and include the finished main size, stub size, stock, print and quantity in the brief.