Artwork guidelines

Quick checklist

• [ ] Artwork placed on the dieline for your exact size
• [ ] Bleed of 1/8 in (3 mm) beyond every cut line
• [ ] Important text and logos inside the safe zone, 1/8 in inside cuts and folds
• [ ] Vector logos and text (AI, PDF, EPS or SVG)
• [ ] Images at 300 ppi at printed size (150 ppi for flexo on corrugated)
• [ ] Color mode CMYK, with brand colors given as Pantone references
• [ ] Fonts outlined or embedded
• [ ] Finishes (foil, spot UV, emboss) on separate layers in 100% of one spot color
• [ ] Dieline on its own layer, set to overprint, not printed
• [ ] Barcodes tested and placed away from folds

Not sure? Send what you have. Our team checks every file for free and tells you what to fix.

1. Start with the right dieline

A dieline is the flat template of your box. It shows cut lines (solid), fold lines (dashed), bleed and safe zones. Always design on the dieline for your exact style and size; even a 1/8 in difference changes where panels fall. We send a production dieline with every quote, and you can generate one instantly with the Dieline Generator.

Keep the dieline on its own layer named "Dieline", set to overprint, so it can be removed before printing.

2. Bleed and safe zones

• Bleed: extend background colors and images 1/8 in (3 mm) past every cut line. Cutting has small tolerances; bleed prevents thin white edges.
• Safe zone: keep text, logos and important details at least 1/8 in inside every cut and fold line. On folds, also allow for board thickness, especially on corrugated.
• Glue areas: keep glue flaps free of ink and coatings unless we tell you otherwise.

3. File formats

Canva designs are fine: export as PDF Print with crop marks and bleed. Check your images with our Artwork Checker.

4. Resolution

Raster images need enough pixels for their printed size:

• 300 ppi for offset and digital printing on paperboard and E-flute
• 150–200 ppi for flexographic printing on corrugated and large panels

Divide the image width in pixels by the printed width in inches to find effective ppi. Upscaling a small image does not add detail. Logos should always be vector.

5. Color

Printers use CMYK inks: cyan, magenta, yellow and black. Screen colors (RGB) can be brighter than CMYK can reproduce, especially vivid greens, blues and oranges. Convert to CMYK early and review colors.

For brand colors that must be exact, use Pantone spot colors (for example PMS 186 C). Specify them in your file and quote.

Rich black

For large black areas on paperboard, use a rich black such as C60 M40 Y40 K100 for deeper color. Keep small text in 100% K only to avoid registration blur.

Total ink coverage

Keep total ink coverage under about 300% to avoid drying and set-off problems.

Printing on kraft

Kraft is brown, so colors print darker and less saturated, and white is not printed unless specified. Bold, simple designs in dark colors work best. Our 3D Builder can preview kraft board.

6. Text and fonts

• Outline fonts or embed them in the PDF.
• Minimum text size: about 6 pt on paperboard, 8 pt on corrugated; minimum line weight 0.25 pt (0.5 pt reversed out of color).
• Avoid thin serif text reversed out of dark backgrounds.

7. Finishes

Create a separate layer for each finish, using a 100% spot color named for the finish (for example "Foil_Gold", "Spot_UV", "Emboss"). Keep finish details at least 1/16 in (1.5 mm) apart and avoid hairlines under 0.5 pt in foil and emboss.

Learn more about foil, spot UV and embossing.

8. Barcodes

• Use a GS1-registered UPC/EAN for retail.
• Print at 80–200% of nominal size, dark bars on a light background.
• Keep the quiet zones clear and the barcode away from folds and edges.
• Test before final approval.

9. Required labeling

If your product needs regulated information (ingredients, net quantity, warnings), plan space for it early. See our labeling guide. Labeling compliance remains the brand's responsibility.

10. Sending files

Upload files through the quote form (up to 25 MB per file) or email them to hello@custompacka.ing. For larger files, send a cloud link.

Read the full artwork & dieline guide.