How to Prepare Print-Ready Artwork Files for Custom Packaging
Artwork errors are one of the most common (and most avoidable) causes of production delays in custom packaging. Getting the file spec right before you submit it — rather than fixing it after a proof comes back wrong — saves real time. Here’s exactly what a print-ready file needs.
File format: PDF 1.3
Submit artwork as a **PDF version 1.3** file. This older, simpler PDF standard is widely used in commercial print specifically because it flattens complexity that can cause errors in print production — later PDF versions can carry features (like live transparency or certain color profiles) that don’t always translate predictably to a printing press.
Color mode: CMYK, not RGB
Use **CMYK**, not RGB. RGB (red-green-blue) is a screen color model, built for how monitors emit light; CMYK (cyan-magenta-yellow-black) is a print color model, built for how ink is layered on a physical surface. Designing or exporting in RGB and expecting it to print correctly is one of the most common sources of color mismatch between what a designer sees on screen and what comes off the press — colors, especially bright blues, greens, and some oranges, can shift noticeably when converted from RGB to CMYK late in the process. Set your file to CMYK from the start of the design process, not just at export, so you can see accurate color as you work.
Resolution: 300 DPI
Keep image resolution at **300 DPI** (dots per inch) at the artwork’s actual print size. Images pulled from a website or social media are usually far below this — often 72 DPI, built for screens, not print — and will look visibly blurry or pixelated when printed at full size. If you’re using a photo or logo file, check its resolution at the actual output size before submitting, not just its file size or screen appearance.
Fonts: embed them
**Embed all fonts** in your PDF before submitting. If fonts aren’t embedded, the printer’s system may substitute a different font that happens to be installed, which can silently change your layout, spacing, or brand typography without anyone catching it until proofs come back looking wrong.
Transparency: flatten it before saving
**Flatten transparency** before saving your final file. Live transparency effects (drop shadows, opacity layers, blending modes) can render unpredictably in commercial print production even when they look correct in your design software. Flattening converts those effects into their final, fixed appearance before the file is submitted, removing that unpredictability.
A quick pre-submission checklist
- File saved as PDF 1.3
- Color mode set to CMYK (not RGB)
- All images at 300 DPI at actual print size
- All fonts embedded
- Transparency flattened
- Dimensions match the confirmed die-line/template for your box or bag style
What if you don’t have print-ready artwork yet?
You don’t need finished artwork to request a quote — share your product idea, dimensions, and quantity, and pricing can be based on that. If you’re not ready to prepare a print-ready file yourself, free design support is available once you’re ready to move forward, so your logo and product photos can be built into a proof rather than requiring you to produce the final press-ready file independently. Upload your artwork or request design support when you get a quote.
FAQ
What happens if I submit an RGB file by mistake?
It will typically need to be converted to CMYK before production, and colors may shift somewhat in that conversion — this is exactly why designing in CMYK from the start, rather than converting at the last step, gives you a more accurate preview of the final printed color.
Do I need to know how to use design software to order custom packaging?
No — if you don’t have print-ready artwork, sharing your logo, product photos, and general design direction is enough to get started, and design support will turn that into a print-ready proof for your approval.
Can I submit a JPEG or PNG instead of a PDF?
PDF 1.3 is the preferred format for production files since it preserves vector elements (like logos and text) at full quality and supports the flattening and embedding steps described above. If you only have a JPEG or PNG, that’s fine for design support purposes — it just isn’t a substitute for a final print-ready PDF.
