Packaging · Studio journal
How to prepare packaging artwork for a printer
A practical handoff guide for organising dielines, artwork, product variants and proof approvals before packaging production.
Begin with the printer’s dieline
Ask the printer for the current production template before laying out the artwork. Confirm the finished dimensions, folds, cuts, glue areas and any non-printing zones. Keep the structural guide separate from the artwork and avoid resizing it casually. A visually convincing mockup is useful for discussing the concept, but it is not a replacement for a verified production template.
Agree the output specification
Ask which file format, colour setup, bleed, image resolution and finishing layers the printer needs. Requirements vary by substrate, printing process and supplier. Record the answers in the project brief so the designer and printer work to the same instructions. Keep special finishes such as foil or spot varnish on clearly labelled layers when requested.
Review each product variant separately
Create a checklist for the product name, flavour or variant, quantity, barcode and approved text. Use the same sequence for every item in the range. Similar-looking files are easy to confuse, so include the product, variant, size and revision in each filename. Have the responsible product team approve ingredients, translations, claims and other required copy before final artwork approval.
Check at the intended size
Print a size-accurate proof to review text hierarchy, legibility and placement around folds. Test the supplied barcode on an appropriate proof and confirm verification requirements with the supplier. Check that important details have not drifted into trim or seal areas. A screen preview alone cannot establish how colour, contrast and fine detail will reproduce on the final material.
Make the approval traceable
Send one clearly identified final revision with the agreed exports, linked assets where needed, and notes for the printer. Ask for a production proof appropriate to the process. Record who approved it and which file they approved. Archive older versions separately so an outdated label cannot be mistaken for the release file.
A simple handoff checklist
Before release, confirm the dieline version, dimensions, approved copy, variant details, artwork file names, colour instructions, finishing layers and proof approval. This gives everyone a shared reference when questions come up. For support preparing a packaging design project, share your current artwork, printer template and product information with Multivers Creation.