Preparing Your Artwork for Print
From bleed and colour to file format and fonts — this section covers the essentials. Whether you're designing yourself or working with a freelancer, follow these steps to make sure your artwork is ready to print.
Orientation of Design Elements
When designing your packaging, it’s important to ensure each panel is positioned the right way up. This avoids any artwork appearing upside down or misaligned once the box is folded and assembled. Open your dieline in Adobe Illustrator. Locate the la
Converting Text to Outlines
Before submitting your artwork, make sure all text has been converted to outlines. This ensures we can process your file without needing the original fonts — preventing any delays or design issues at print stage. Select all text layers in your design
Embedding All Files in Your Artwork
Before saving and uploading your artwork, make sure all placed images are embedded — not linked. This prevents missing assets and ensures your file is complete and ready for print. Missing or linked images can cause delays and require manual fixes, s
Saving Your File for Upload
Once your design is final, save it as a PDF file before uploading it to our platform. This ensures your artwork is flattened, embedded, and ready for print. We also accept Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop files if you're unable to export a PDF — just b
Using the Correct Layers to Apply Your Design
When working within our design templates, it's important to place your artwork in the correct layers to ensure everything prints as expected. Each template file includes the following key layers:. Information – Contains technical details and specs. L
Creating a Clipping Mask (Optional)
A clipping mask is a great way to visualise your design within the shape of the box. While not required for production, it can help you preview how colour or imagery wraps to the final structure. In the Layers panel, unlock the Template layer. Select
Designing in the Correct Colour Space
To ensure your artwork prints accurately, it’s important to work in the CMYK colour space — not RGB. This allows you to preview colours more closely to how they’ll appear once printed. RGB is intended for screens, and using it can result in colour sh
Extending Artwork to the Bleed Lines
To avoid unprinted edges on your final packaging, make sure your design extends all the way to the bleed lines in the template. The bleed area (usually marked by a blue outline) allows for slight shifts in the trimming process — anything outside this