Great packaging starts with great artwork, but artwork that looks perfect on screen can still print badly. Here's what "print-ready" means and how to get your files right the first time.
Use the right file type
- Vector files (SVG, PDF, AI, EPS) are best for logos and text. They're made of shapes, not pixels, so they stay sharp at any size.
- High-resolution PNG is great for artwork with photos, textures or illustrations. PNG also supports transparent backgrounds.
- JPG works for photos but doesn't support transparency, and repeated saving can add blurry artefacts.
In the PakGenie studio you can upload PNG, JPG, WEBP or SVG files up to 8 MB. For the sharpest print, use a high-resolution PNG or an SVG.
Resolution: aim for 300 DPI
On screen, 72 pixels per inch looks fine. In print, you need about 300 dots per inch at the final printed size.
Quick check: if your design will print 4 inches wide, it should be at least 1,200 pixels wide (4 × 300).
Common mistake: taking a small logo from a website and enlarging it. It will look blurry or jagged. Find the original logo file, or recreate it as a vector.
Bleed and safe zones
Bleed is extra artwork that extends past the cut line. Cutting machines can shift by a tiny amount, so if your background stops exactly at the edge, a thin white line may appear. Extend backgrounds and colour blocks past the edge.
The safe zone is the area inside the cut line where important content should stay. Keep logos, text and key details away from edges, folds and seams.
On packaging, also watch for:
- Folds and glue flaps on boxes, where artwork can be hidden
- Seams on cups and sleeves, where the wrap joins
- Gussets and seals on pouches, which aren't flat surfaces
Colour: CMYK vs. RGB
Screens show colour in RGB (light). Printers use CMYK inks. Some very bright RGB colours, especially neon greens, electric blues and hot pinks, can't be exactly reproduced in CMYK and will print a little duller.
Tips:
- Expect bright screen colours to soften slightly in print.
- If an exact brand colour matters, design with its CMYK values and check it carefully on your proof. You can request changes before you approve.
- Remember that brown kraft paper changes colours. Ink on kraft looks darker and warmer. Where it's offered, choose the white underprint option to keep light colours bright.
Text and fonts
- Minimum text size: keep body text at least 6–7 pt, and larger on textured materials like kraft or fabric.
- Thin lines under about 0.25 pt may disappear in print.
- Outline or embed fonts in PDF and vector files, so your text prints in the right typeface.
- Proofread everything. Phone numbers, websites and ingredient lists are easy to get wrong and expensive to reprint.
Check your proof carefully
Before production, you'll receive a digital proof showing your design on the product's print area. Check:
- Spelling, phone numbers, URLs and legal text
- Logos and text inside the safe zone
- Placement on the front, back and sides
- Colours, keeping in mind screens vary
Nothing prints until you approve it, so take your time.
No designer? No problem
If you don't have print-ready files, describe what you want in the PakGenie studio and PakGenie AI will create designs sized for your product. You can add your logo, text and shapes, then check everything on your proof.
The takeaway
Use vector or high-resolution files, design at 300 DPI, extend backgrounds into the bleed, keep key content in the safe zone, and expect bright colours to soften in print. Then review your proof carefully before you approve.
