Good files mean a sharp logo, accurate colours and no delays. Poor files can mean a blurry foil logo, a colour that does not match your brand, or a week lost going back and forth. The good news: you do not need to be a designer. You only need to know what to ask your designer for, or what to look for in the files you already have.
This guide covers everything we need to make your custom box.
The short version
If you only read one section, read this. Please send:
- Your logo as a vector file (AI, EPS, SVG or PDF)
- Your brand colours (Pantone references or colour codes)
- Any text you want on the box, with fonts converted to outlines
- A rough sketch or reference image of where everything goes
Then we take care of the rest and send you a design proof for approval.
Vector files: the best choice
A vector file describes your logo with lines and shapes rather than pixels. That means it can be made any size, from a tiny logo on a tester to a large logo on a display box, without going blurry.
Vector file types: AI (Adobe Illustrator), EPS, SVG and PDF (if it was saved from vector artwork).
Vector files matter most for foil stamping, embossing and debossing, because these finishes use a metal die made directly from your artwork. A clean vector file gives a clean, sharp die.
How to check: open the file and zoom in as far as you can. If the edges stay perfectly sharp, it is vector. If they become blocky, it is not.
Image files: fine if they are large
A PNG or JPG can work if it is large and sharp. For printing, we need around 300 dpi at the size it will be printed. In simple terms:
- A logo that will be 5 cm wide on the box should be at least about 600 pixels wide.
- A full printed lid of 20 cm should be at least about 2,400 pixels wide.
Send the biggest version you have. A logo copied from your website or a social media profile is usually too small. We check every file and tell you honestly if it will print cleanly.
A PNG with a transparent background is better than a JPG with a white box around the logo.
Colours
Screens and printers create colour differently, so the colour on your monitor may not match the printed box exactly. To get as close as possible:
- Pantone references (for example Pantone 7406 C) are the most accurate way to tell us a colour.
- CMYK values are the next best for full-colour print.
- HEX or RGB codes from your website are fine as a starting point. We will match them as closely as we can.
For foil, simply tell us the foil colour: gold, silver, rose gold, copper, black and so on.
Remember that the same colour looks different on different papers. A colour printed on soft-touch paper looks deeper and softer than on gloss paper. A paid sample is the best way to check colours in real light.
Fonts and text
If your artwork contains text, please either:
- Convert all text to outlines (in Illustrator: Type, then Create Outlines), or
- Send the font files with your artwork
Otherwise, the computer opening the file may replace your font with a different one.
Check the spelling of every word carefully, including your website address, social media handles and any ingredients or legal text. Once you approve the proof, the text is printed exactly as shown.
Dielines: we provide them
A dieline is the flat template of your box, showing where it is cut and folded. You do not need to create one. Once we confirm your box size, we can send you the dieline so your designer can place the artwork in the right position.
When you send back the finished artwork on our dieline:
- Keep important text and logos at least 3 mm inside the fold and cut lines
- Extend background colours 3 mm beyond the cut lines (this is called bleed)
- Put foil, embossing and spot UV on separate layers, each in one solid colour
Finishes need their own layer
If your design uses foil, embossing, debossing or spot UV, each one needs its own layer or separate file, in solid black, showing exactly where that finish goes. Our guide to foil, embossing and spot UV explains what each looks like.
A checklist before you send
- Logo is vector, or a large PNG
- Brand colours as Pantone or colour codes
- Text converted to outlines, or fonts included
- Spelling checked
- Finishes on separate layers
- Bleed and safe margins added (if using our dieline)
Not sure? Send what you have
You do not need everything to be perfect before you contact us. Send what you have through Get a Quote or WhatsApp. We check every file before production, tell you if anything needs fixing, and always send a design proof for your approval first.
