Start from the dieline
A dieline is the flat, unfolded outline of your box. It shows where the board will be cut, where it will be folded and where glue will be applied. Always place your artwork on the dieline supplied by your manufacturer for your exact box size and style — never on a template downloaded for a different box.
Keep the dieline on its own layer, in a spot colour, set to overprint, so it can be switched off for printing.
Bleed and safe zone
- Extend background colours and images 3 mm beyond the cut line (bleed), so no white edges appear after cutting.
- Keep text, logos and barcodes at least 3 mm inside cut and fold lines (safe zone).
- Remember that panels are folded: check which way up each panel will be when the box is assembled.
Colours: CMYK and Pantone
Offset and digital printing use CMYK. Convert RGB images to CMYK before sending files, as colours will shift otherwise. For brand colours that must match exactly, use Pantone (spot) colours and tell us the Pantone reference — we can match it and show you a colour proof.
- Set rich black for large dark areas, but only 100% K for small text
- Avoid very thin lines or small text in four-colour mixes
- Keep total ink coverage within the limit your printer specifies
Images, fonts and file format
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Images | At least 300 dpi at final size, in CMYK |
| Fonts | Converted to outlines, or embedded in the PDF |
| File format | Print-ready PDF (preferred) or AI with linked images |
| Barcodes | Dark bars on a light background, at 100% size, not placed across folds |
| Minimum text size | About 6 pt; larger for reversed-out text |
Separate layers for finishes
Hot foil, embossing, spot UV and window cut-outs each need their own layer or separate file, drawn as 100% of a named spot colour in exactly the position where the effect should appear. Do not mix these shapes into the printed artwork.
Final checklist before sending
- Artwork placed on the correct dieline, with dieline on its own layer
- 3 mm bleed on all sides and a safe zone around folds and cuts
- CMYK images at 300 dpi; Pantone references listed
- Fonts outlined or embedded
- Finish layers (foil, embossing, spot UV) separated
- Texts proofread, including legal and barcode information
