Most packaging deadlines are missed not on press, but where design meets production: artwork arrives with a die-line nobody reconciled, an RGB logo, or copy running into a fold. Below is the order of checks we run before a file is released to print.
Geometry and die-line
- The flat layout matches the die-line drawing, including flaps and the glue area.
- Cut, fold and perforation lines sit on separate layers and never print.
- Bleed is at least 3 mm on every side, with significant elements kept clear of the trim.
- Copy and fine graphics do not cross folds or the glue area.
Colour
- Every object is converted to the target print colour space; no RGB is left in the file.
- Spot colours are named against the reference catalogue and never duplicated under different names.
- Total ink coverage stays within the limit the printer sets for this substrate.
- Black text overprints, and knockouts carry trapping agreed with the printer.
Images and fonts
- Effective resolution of raster images is 300 ppi at final size; line art stays vector.
- All fonts are embedded or outlined, with no substitutions.
- Transparency and effects are checked after flattening so hairlines and gradients survive.
Copy and mandatory information
- A final proofread after every revision: contents, weight, compliance marks, manufacturer address.
- Barcodes verified for contrast, quiet zone and readability on the chosen substrate.
- Language versions reconciled, so one correction reaches every SKU in the range.
What the printer receives
The final package is more than a print-ready PDF. It ships with separation previews, a spot-colour map and a control-mark sheet, so the press operator can see the intended result before the run starts.
The pass takes a few hours and saves days: a correction at prepress stage costs a fraction of a reprint.