A lot of shops think that digital die cutting starts and ends with labels, cartons, and basic paper stocks. But with the FINISHpro AF series and FINISHpro AF Max series, you can do a lot more than that.
From packaging and decals to signage, tags, and specialty products, the FINISHpro line gives you room to expand your offering and keep more work in-house. The main thing to know is that the AF Max series can handle thicker materials thanks to its EOT oscillating tool. So if you’re cutting materials over 1.4 mm thick, that’s usually an AF Max application.
Here are 15 materials you can cut with FINISHpro digital die cutters.
1. Cardstock
Great for greeting cards, hang tags, invitations, inserts, and folding cartons. This is one of the easiest materials to turn into polished, short-run products that look custom without needing traditional dies.
- Good fit for: FINISHpro AF and AF Max machines
2. Paper / Cardboard
Useful for product sleeves, presentation folders, mailers, cartons, and promo pieces. If you already print these products, digital cutting gives you more freedom with shape and short-run versioning.
- Good fit for: FINISHpro AF and AF Max machines
3. Corrugated Board
A strong option for box prototypes, sample kits, display stands, and short-run packaging. This is a great material for shops that want to offer packaging mockups or low-volume custom boxes.
- Good fit for: FINISHpro AF for thinner board; AF Max for thicker corrugated
4. Vellum
Nice for invitation wraps, overlays, packaging inserts, and presentation pieces. It is a simple way to add a more premium look to finished print products.
- Good fit for: FINISHpro AF and AF Max machines
5. Chipboard
Works well for backer cards, rigid tags, packaging inserts, and specialty boxes. It gives you a sturdier finished piece without moving all the way into heavier rigid substrates.
- Good fit for: FINISHpro AF Max machines
6. Adhesive Vinyl
Ideal for decals, stickers, window graphics, wall graphics, and branding elements. Depending on the job, this may involve kiss cutting or through-cutting, which makes it a versatile material for custom-shaped products.
- Good fit for: FINISHpro AF and AF Max machines
7. Heat Transfer Vinyl
Used for apparel graphics, uniforms, promotional shirts, and team gear. This is a practical way to branch into wearable products without adding a completely different workflow.
- Good fit for: FINISHpro AF and AF Max machines
8. Label Stock
Perfect for product labels, short-run labels, seasonal versions, and private-label packaging. If you want fast-turn, repeatable work, label stock is an easy category to build around.
- Good fit for: FINISHpro AF and AF Max machines
9. Polycarbonate & Polycarbonate Film
Used for overlays, durable labels, control panel graphics, and specialty industrial-style applications. This is a good material category for shops that want to move into more durable, higher-spec products.
- Good fit for: FINISHpro AF for thinner films; AF Max for thicker materials
10. PVC
A good choice for durable tags, signs, retail graphics, and display pieces. It helps you offer longer-lasting products for customers who need something more rigid than paperboard.
- Good fit for: FINISHpro AF for thinner PVC; AF Max for thicker PVC
11. Polyester (PET/BOPP)
Commonly used for durable labels, decals, and moisture-resistant graphics. These films are useful when customers need something tougher than standard paper label materials.
- Good fit for: FINISHpro AF and AF Max machines, depending on thickness
12. Cork
Great for coasters, tags, packaging accents, and specialty promo items. Cork is one of those materials that helps finished pieces feel more unique without being hard to sell.
- Good fit for: FINISHpro AF for thinner cork; AF Max for thicker cork
13. Styrene
Useful for signs, menu boards, inserts, and display graphics. If you serve retail, events, or hospitality customers, this can be a strong add-on material.
- Good fit for: FINISHpro AF for thinner styrene; AF Max for thicker styrene
14. Magnetic Sheets
Good for vehicle magnets, branded handouts, and retail promo pieces. If you want to offer durable, easy-to-sell specialty products, magnetic material is a solid add-on category.
- Good fit for: FINISHpro AF Max machines
15. Wood Veneer
A nice option for premium tags, packaging accents, invitation pieces, and specialty branded products. This is the kind of material that helps customers create something that feels more custom and memorable.
- Good fit for: FINISHpro AF for thinner veneer; AF Max for thicker veneer
A quick note on tools
Not every material uses the same setup. Some jobs need kiss cutting, while others need
through-cutting, creasing, or perforating. Blade choice, holders, clamps, and tools
all depend on the substrate and the final product.
Skandacor offers the blades, blade holders, clamps, and other accessories
needed for FINISHpro digital die cutters on its website.
Final thoughts
This list is by no means exhaustive. The real benefit of the FINISHpro line is that it gives you more ways to say yes. Whether you want to produce labels, cartons, decals, display graphics, packaging prototypes, or specialty products, the FINISHpro AF series and AF Max series can help you take on a wider range of work without relying on conventional dies for every job.
Ready to expand what you can produce in-house? Request a quote or request samples to see what’s possible with FINISHpro digital die cutters.