Packaging Artwork &
Print Guidelines
Follow our simple technical prepress specifications to ensure your boxes, paper carrier bags, greaseproof wraps, and swing tags print with razor-sharp clarity and perfect color reproduction.
4 Essential Artwork Rules
Adhering to these specifications guarantees that your brand colors match across production runs and lines remain crisp without blurry pixelation.
Accepted File Formats
We require print-ready vector artwork or uncompressed high-resolution master files to ensure razor-sharp edges on cutting dies and print cylinders.
Color Space & Ink Limits
Computer screens emit light using RGB, whereas packaging printing presses apply physical CMYK inks or spot Pantone inks to paper substrates.
Bleeds & Safe Margins
High-speed industrial die-cutting machines experience minute paper shifts (up to 1mm). Bleeds and quiet zones ensure no crucial design details are accidentally trimmed.
Fonts & Stroke Weights
Missing fonts can cause unexpected substitution errors. Outlining typography turns characters into universal vector shapes that print identically on every machine.
Understanding Dieline Guide Lines
When opening our Adobe Illustrator dieline templates, you will find color-coded vector paths. Here is how each line guides our CNC cutters and scoring cylinders:
Solid Red / Magenta Line: Cut & Trim Line
The physical boundary where the steel rule die cuts and shears the flat cardboard sheet.
Dashed Blue Line: Crease & Fold Line
The creasing matrix that indents the board for clean, accurate folding without paper fibre cracking.
Solid Green Line: Bleed Line (+3mm)
Outer guide where background artwork should extend to avoid unsightly unprinted white board edges.
Dotted Amber Line: Safe Margin (Quiet Zone)
Keep logos, barcode lines, and typography 5mm inside this line to ensure they never sit uncomfortably near folds.
Special Finishes: Hot Foil, Spot UV & Embossing Layers
If your design incorporates luxury embellishments (such as metallic gold foil, high-gloss spot UV, or blind debossing), supply each finish on a separate named layer in your artwork file (e.g. layer named FOIL_GOLD or SPOT_UV) filled with 100% Solid Black (K) vector elements with zero halftones.
Printing on White Board vs Natural Brown Kraft
The base color of the paper substrate has a significant impact on final printed color tones. Here is what to anticipate:
White Coated & Uncoated Board
Max VibrancyWhite Solid Bleached Sulphate (SBS) and white kraft provide an unadulterated bright canvas. What you see on your calibrated monitor translates directly into true-to-life CMYK fidelity.
- Exact Pantone PMS shade reproduction
- High contrast for photographic imagery
- Compatible with high-gloss and soft-touch finishes
Natural Brown Recycled Kraft
Rustic • EarthyBecause brown kraft paper has a warm ochre background tone, translucent CMYK process inks blend with the underlying brown. Colors appear warmer, darker, and more muted.
- Dark inks (Black, Navy, Forest Green) look magnificent
- Pastel and yellow inks will look brownish without white underprint
- We offer White Ink Underprinting for vibrant pop on brown kraft
Don't Have Print-Ready Files? Don't Worry!
If you only have a PNG logo or basic brand guidelines, our in-house packaging prepress team will place your artwork onto dielines, convert colour spaces, check resolution, and send you a complimentary 3D digital proof before production starts.
Artwork Frequently Asked Questions
Helpful answers regarding resolution, proofs, dielines, and color matching.
Ready to Bring Your Packaging Design to Life?
Submit your logo or artwork files today. We will provide a free pre-flight check, 3D proof, and competitive quote within 24 hours.