How to Prepare Artwork for Custom Printed Packaging Bags

Good artwork files are the fastest way to shorten your custom printed packaging lead time. Most production delays we see are artwork issues — missing fonts, wrong color mode, no bleed. Use this checklist and your bags go to plate-making without a single back-and-forth.

1. Send the Right File Type

Vector files are the standard: Adobe Illustrator (.ai) or editable PDF. Convert all fonts to outlines before sending so text prints exactly as designed. If parts of your design are photographic, embed images at 300 dpi at final print size.

2. Design on the Dieline

The dieline is the flat template of your bag — front, back, gussets, seal areas, and zipper position. Ask the factory for the dieline of your exact bag size first, then place your design on it. Keep text and logos at least 5 mm away from seal lines and edges, and extend background colors 3 mm beyond the cut line as bleed.

3. Set Colors for Gravure Printing

Packaging bags are printed by gravure, which reproduces both CMYK and spot colors. For exact brand colors, specify Pantone (PMS) numbers rather than screen values — what you see on a monitor is RGB and will shift in print. On clear or frosted film, plan a white ink base layer under logos so colors stay solid.

4. Approve Proofs in Two Steps

First comes a digital proof to confirm layout, spelling, and colors. For new designs or strict brand standards, also request a pre-production sample from the actual cylinders before the full run. It adds a few days and removes essentially all print risk.

No Design Team? We Can Help

If you only have a logo and a reference photo, our team can build the dieline layout for you — this is part of the OEM/ODM service most of our clients use. See how the process works on our custom packaging page, browse finished examples, or send your artwork for a free pre-check — we usually reply within one working day.