The short answer: a vector PDF, AI or EPS built in CMYK, with bleed, outlined fonts and the dieline on a separate layer. The longer answer is that most artwork problems are not format problems, they are resolution, colour and bleed problems that a format change will not fix.
Formats, ranked by how much rework they cause
| Format | Use it? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Print ready PDF (vector, fonts outlined) | Best | Portable, preserves spot colours, universally readable |
| Adobe Illustrator (AI) | Yes | Fully editable, keeps layers and the dieline intact |
| EPS | Yes | Older but reliable vector exchange |
| Photoshop (PSD or TIFF) at 300 dpi | Only for images | Fine for photography, poor for logos, text and barcodes |
| JPG or PNG | Not for print | Compressed, usually RGB, no spot colour, no bleed |
| Word, PowerPoint, Canva screenshots | No | Rebuilt from scratch, which costs you time at proof stage |
The five checks that catch most files
- Resolution at final size. 300 dpi measured at the size it prints on the box, not at the size it sits in your document.
- Colour mode. CMYK for process work. If a brand colour must match exactly, give the Pantone number rather than a CMYK approximation, and say whether it is coated or uncoated.
- Bleed. 1/8 in (3 mm) past every trim and fold edge. Cutting is accurate but not perfect, and art that stops exactly at the trim line will show a white sliver.
- Fonts. Outline them, or supply the font files. A missing font substitutes silently and the substitution is often only noticed on the printed box.
- Safe area. Keep logos, legal copy and barcodes at least 1/8 in from trim, folds and glue tabs. Art that crosses a fold will distort at the crease.
The dieline is not artwork
The dieline is the cutting and creasing template. It must sit on its own layer, be named clearly, use a distinct spot colour set to not print, and it must not be flattened into the art. If you flatten it, the cut lines get printed on the box, which is a genuine reprint.
If you do not have a dieline, do not try to draw one. Send the internal dimensions and we will produce it as part of the included design support, then you lay the artwork onto our template.
Details worth getting right for packaging specifically
- Barcodes should be vector, at a size the scanner can read, with the quiet zone either side left clear. Do not stretch one to fill a panel.
- Rich black for large solid areas rather than 100% K alone, which can look grey next to a photo. Small text stays 100% K so it does not misregister.
- White ink on kraft or clear substrate is a separate spot channel, not an absence of colour. Flag it explicitly.
- Panel orientation. Say which panel is the front. On a flattened dieline it is not always obvious, and a box printed sideways is a reprint.
The proof stage exists for this
Every order includes a digital proof before anything prints, along with design support, the die and plates, and US shipping. The proof is the moment to check the panel order, the barcode, the legal copy and the colour call out. Nothing runs until you approve it.
Timing and ordering
Minimum order is 100 units, from about $0.48 per unit at bulk volumes, confirmed on your written quote. Turnaround runs in three lanes: rush (expedited production with air freight), standard (air) and cost saver (sea), from about 7 business days plus 2 to 5 for delivery, with specialty imported items up to about 12 weeks. Rush adds about 7 to 25% depending on the job. Note that the clock starts at proof approval, not at file submission, so a file that needs rebuilding costs you days at the front of the schedule.
If you are still deciding on finish, our explainer on UV coating covers what gloss, matte and spot treatments do to a printed surface, and our list of questions to ask a packaging supplier covers what else to nail down before you commit.
Send whatever you have, even if it is a rough layout, and request a quote. We will tell you exactly what needs fixing before it costs you a print run.
