Artwork Submission Guidelines
Precision packaging starts with precision files. To guarantee sharp text, accurate color, and scannable barcodes on press, every final layout must follow the setup standards below before it reaches our prepress team.
Files that miss these specifications may cause production delays or incur additional file-correction fees. Two minutes of pre-flight saves days on the schedule.
Required file format & layout setup.
We enforce a strict native-vector standard to protect structural and visual integrity across our packaging lines. The master file is always a native Adobe Illustrator (.AI) document.
Native .AI master file
All die lines, structural markings, text layers, vector illustrations, and barcodes must remain live, unflattened vector elements within the Illustrator document. Packaging lines require crisp, mathematically defined lines — vector format guarantees legibility and barcode scanning compliance.
The 100% scale rule
Raster images (.PSD, .TIFF, high-res .PNG) placed in the layout must be built at 100% of their actual physical print size from the project’s inception — never scaled up inside Illustrator.
Resolution: 300 DPI minimum
Placed images need a minimum effective resolution of 300 DPI at final physical dimensions. For intricate graphics or small detailed imagery, 600 DPI is preferred.
Asset management
Explicitly Embed all placed images into the .AI file, or supply the raw assets in a separate “Links” folder with your submission.
Upscaling a low-resolution graphic — like placing a 72 DPI web image or stretching a small file to fill a panel — causes pixelation and an immediate rejection of the print run.
Fonts, text & die lines.
Lock down all type before saving the final file — this prevents typographic shifts, missing-font errors, and layout alterations on our prepress workstations.
Convert all text to outlines
Select every text layer and run Type → Create Outlines (⌘⇧O / Ctrl+Shift+O). This converts type to vector shapes and removes all font dependencies.
Die lines on a dedicated layer
Structural die lines live on a completely separate, clearly labeled layer at the top of the layers panel.
Spot color + overprint
The die line must be designated as a spot color and set to Overprint so it never prints onto the physical artwork.
Color modes & profiles.
Screen color (RGB) does not translate directly to physical ink. Files submitted in the wrong color mode undergo automatic conversion — which can drastically alter the printed result.
Design in CMYK from day one
Set the Illustrator document color mode to CMYK before design work begins — not as a last-minute conversion.
Pantone for brand-critical color
For precise replication of corporate branding, logos, or specific packaging zones, specify exact Pantone Matching System (PMS) Solid Coated codes within your vector layers. Never rely on CMYK approximations for critical brand colors.
RGB files are auto-converted to CMYK at prepress. Vibrant on-screen colors — especially bright greens, oranges, and blues — can shift dramatically.
Bleeds, safety margins & tolerances.
Packaging production involves mechanical cutting, creasing, and folding. Artwork must compensate for slight structural shifts during manufacturing.
Bleed allowance — 0.125″
Extend all background graphics, colors, and placed images at least 1/8″ (0.125″) past the physical cutting/die line on all sides.
Safety margin — 0.125″
Keep all critical text, logos, nutritional facts, and regulatory icons at least 1/8″ (0.125″) inside the die line boundary to avoid clipping during die-cutting and folding.