What to expect when ordering custom printed boxes

Custom printed boxes are becoming more and more popular as people are wanting to add their brand to their packaging materials. Not only does it make the packaging look more professional, but it gives companies a chance to get their logo into the hands of more people. Since this box will be handled by so many, and then sit in the hands of customers, companies want their imprint to be immaculate.

However, with boxes, the crispness you see on the screen and in the proof will not translate the way you might expect it to. Here are some thing to keep in mind when ordering custom printed boxes:

1. Corrugated boxes do not have a flat surface.
If you run your hand over a corrugated box, the surface is uneven or wavy. Corrugated boxes are made up of three different layers of paper: an inside liner, fluting, and an outside layer. The middle layer, the fluting, is what makes the surface feel ribbed. Without these three layers, the corrugated box wouldn’t be strong enough for shipping.

Because the box does not have a flat surface, printing on them isn’t as smooth as it would be on a sheet of paper.

2. Not all boxes are created equal
Boxes are sometimes not cut or scored perfectly (due to the material) but unless you’re looking for imperfections, most people will not notice. And those that do notice, understand that it is a box. It is meant to be tossed around and flung into trucks for shipping.

Because not all boxes are created equal, the imprint may appear crooked. This is why we like to print at least 2 inches away from all sides because then you are less likely to notice.

3. Fine details will not print
Some logos just will not print on boxes. If your logo has very thin lines or small details, those details will not print well on an uneven surface.

The best practice is to use large, bold fonts that are spaced out and to minimize fine details.

4. All artwork must be in vector format
Because of the materials and the process used to print on the boxes, we cannot print photographs or gradients. All artwork must be converted into a one-color vector image or line art.

Below is an example of a proof that would be sent out:

Notice how bright and vibrant the colors are? And how straight and perfect the lines appear? Because you’re viewing your proof on an RGB monitor, it isn’t possible to accurately show the true colors of the printed product.

This is what the final product will look like:

1. The blue is much darker on this sample. Since these are done by hand, the darkness of the blue can be different from one box to another.

2. Notice how the edges on the graphic aren’t as crisp as the proof? This is due to the fact that the box is porous and it’s not a flat surface.

3. Know that your box is going to be viewed at a distance. At a distance, this box is readable and the lines look great.

Categorised in: Blog Posts

This post was written by shawn