Packaging Guides for Brand Buyers

Rigid box vs folding carton: which should you choose?Construction, shipping, feel and typical uses of rigid boxes and folding cartons, side by side.
Spot UV vs hot-foil stampingHow spot UV and hot-foil stamping differ, and when to combine them on one box.
Gloss vs matte laminationWhat gloss and matte lamination do to printed packaging and how to choose.
How to prepare box artwork and dielinesA checklist for packaging artwork: dielines, bleed, foil and spot UV layers, file formats.
What is variable data printing on packaging?What variable data printing is and why pharmaceutical and supplement packaging uses it.
What affects the price of custom boxes?Structure, size, finishes, quantity, versions and assembly: the main cost drivers of custom boxes.
How a pharmaceutical carton differs from a regular boxVersion control, coding and leaflets: what makes medicine cartons different from other folding cartons.
Pharmaceutical carton printing checklistWhat to check before approving a pharmaceutical carton for print.
Why batch and serial codes matter on medicine packsWhat batch and serial codes do on medicine packs, and what to ask your printer.
How to choose a pharmaceutical packaging printerQuestions to ask a printer before giving them pharmaceutical cartons and leaflets.
Why printed colours vary, and how to keep them steadyCommon causes of colour difference between proof, sample and production run.
Why a spot colour can look different on the boxWhy a spot colour can shift on packaging and how to approve it.
CMYK vs RGB: what to send your printerWhy packaging artwork should be supplied in CMYK, not RGB.
CMYK vs spot colourWhen to use four-colour process and when to add a spot colour.
Hot-foil stamping: tips for artworkHow to prepare artwork that foils cleanly.
Combining foil with a raised finishHow foil and raised finishes work together on a logo.
What makes UV coating trickyRegistration, curing and board choice: what to watch with UV coating.
Varnish and coatings explainedWhat a varnish or coating does on a printed box and how it compares with lamination.
Automatic vs manual gluingWhy most folding cartons are glued on machines, and when hand work is still used.
Choosing paper for gift boxesHow to choose the wrap paper and board for a rigid gift box.
Paperboard weight for cosmetic boxesHow board thickness affects a cosmetic carton.
Quality checks for cosmetic boxesWhat to check on cosmetic boxes before approval.
How to make a gift box feel specialStructure, materials and finishes that change how a gift box feels.
Common finishing options for gift boxesLamination, spot UV, hot foil and more: the finishes used on gift boxes.
Festive food box design tipsPlanning artwork, structure and timing for seasonal food gift boxes.
Choosing paper for food packagingWhat to consider when choosing board for food boxes.
Designing a pastry gift boxStructure and finishing for pastry and snack gift boxes.
Designing a wine gift boxBottle inserts, structure and finishes for wine boxes.
Checklist for choosing an earbuds box supplierWhat to check before choosing a supplier for earbuds and accessory boxes.
Why phone brands use rigid boxes with fitted traysWhy rigid lid-and-base boxes with fitted trays are common for phones.
Why retailers like hanging-tab boxesHow hanging-tab boxes help small products on retail pegs.
Common problems in box printingColour shifts, cracked folds and misregistered finishes: causes and fixes.
Preventing mould on printed boxesWhy paper boxes can go mouldy in storage and how to prevent it.
How a lid-and-base box is madeThe steps from printed wrap to finished rigid box.
How a printed carton is madeThe seven steps a carton goes through in our factory.
Printing plates: what buyers should knowWhat printing plates are and why each version needs its own.
Why brands choose paper boxesPrintability, structure options and recyclability of paper packaging.
Printed paper shopping bagsWhat to decide when ordering printed paper bags.

Packaging guides

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