Artwork Guidelines
Preparing artwork correctly helps prevent production delays, printing errors, and unexpected differences in the finished packaging. Please follow these guidelines before submitting files to The Sky Packaging.
Accepted Artwork File Formats
For the best printing results, submit editable, print-ready artwork in one of the following formats:
Adobe Illustrator: AI
Editable PDF
Encapsulated PostScript: EPS
Adobe Photoshop: PSD
High-resolution TIFF
JPG and PNG files may be accepted as references, but they are generally unsuitable for final production unless provided at the required size and resolution.
Use the Correct Dieline
Artwork must be created on the approved dieline supplied by The Sky Packaging. Do not resize, stretch, crop, rotate, or otherwise modify the dieline.
Keep the following structural elements on separate, clearly labeled layers:
Cut lines
Crease and fold lines
Bleed lines
Glue areas
Perforation lines
Safe zones
Artwork
Special finishes
Dieline guides are for production reference only and should not appear in the final printed artwork.
Document Size and Scale
Create artwork at 100% of the final packaging size whenever possible. If the file must be prepared at a reduced scale, clearly identify the scale used.
All dimensions should match the approved packaging specifications. Changes to the box size after artwork approval may require a revised dieline and updated artwork.
Bleed Requirements
Extend all background colors, images, patterns, and design elements at least 0.125 inches beyond the trim line on every applicable side.
Bleed prevents unprinted edges from appearing after cutting. Artwork that ends directly at the trim line may produce visible white borders due to normal production tolerances.
Safe Area
Keep logos, text, barcodes, icons, and other important elements at least 0.125 inches inside cut lines, folds, creases, perforations, and panel edges.
For small boxes, complex structures, or designs requiring special finishes, additional clearance may be recommended. Our team will identify any concerns during artwork review.
Image Resolution
Raster images should be at least 300 DPI at their final printed size.
Low-resolution images copied from websites, screenshots, social media, or messaging applications may appear blurry or pixelated when printed. Increasing the resolution setting of a low-quality image does not restore missing image detail.
Color Mode
Prepare all artwork in CMYK color mode. RGB colors are intended for digital screens and may change when converted for commercial printing.
If your design requires a specific brand color, provide the correct Pantone Matching System color reference. Pantone printing may involve additional production requirements or charges.
Colors displayed on monitors and mobile devices may differ from printed colors because screens use light, while printing uses ink on physical materials.
Rich Black and Small Black Text
Use 100% black for small text, fine lines, barcodes, and other detailed black elements.
For large solid black areas, a suitable rich-black formula may be used to achieve a deeper appearance. Our prepress team may recommend an appropriate CMYK combination based on the material and printing method.
Fonts and Typography
Convert all text to outlines before submitting the final artwork. This prevents missing fonts, substitutions, and formatting changes.
If editable text must remain in the file, include all licensed font files used in the design. Customers are responsible for obtaining permission to use fonts included in their artwork.
Avoid extremely small text and thin lettering that may become difficult to reproduce. A minimum font size of 6 points is generally recommended, although the appropriate size depends on the typeface, material, ink, and printing process.
Line Thickness
Fine lines should generally be no thinner than 0.25 points. Reversed or light-colored lines placed over dark backgrounds may require additional thickness.
Very thin lines can break, fill in, or become inconsistent during printing, coating, and finishing.
Linked Images and Graphics
Embed all linked images, logos, textures, and graphics in the final artwork file. If embedding is not possible, include every linked asset in a clearly organized folder.
Before submission, verify that:
No links are missing
Images are high resolution
Fonts are outlined
Layers are properly named
Unused elements are removed
Hidden objects are reviewed
The file opens without errors
Transparency and Effects
Flatten complex transparency, shadows, glows, gradients, and blending effects when necessary. Carefully review flattened artwork to ensure that visual quality has not changed.
Raster effects should be set to a suitable production resolution, preferably 300 DPI.
Overprint Settings
Review all overprint settings before submitting artwork. Incorrect overprint settings may cause text, graphics, or colors to disappear or print differently than expected.
Do not apply overprint unless it is intentionally required. Our prepress team may adjust technical settings when necessary for production.
Barcodes and QR Codes
Barcodes and QR codes must be supplied as clear, high-contrast vector graphics whenever possible.
Place codes on a flat, unobstructed panel and avoid positioning them across:
Folds
Creases
Corners
Perforations
Seams
Curved surfaces
Textured finishes
Customers are responsible for supplying accurate barcode data and confirming that every code scans correctly. The Sky Packaging does not create, register, verify, or guarantee barcode numbers unless this service is separately agreed upon in writing.
Printed proofs, coatings, surface materials, resizing, and production conditions can affect scanning. Final scanning tests should be completed on production samples when barcode performance is critical.
Legal and Regulatory Content
Customers are responsible for the accuracy, completeness, placement, size, and legal compliance of all information printed on their packaging, including:
Product names
Ingredient lists
Allergen statements
Nutrition information
Warning statements
Age restrictions
Country-of-origin statements
Net quantity declarations
Recycling symbols
Certification marks
Regulatory disclosures
Manufacturer and distributor information
UPC and barcode data
Trademark and copyright notices
Bilingual labeling where required
Requirements may vary by product, industry, state, province, territory, and sales location. Customers should have all packaging content reviewed by an appropriate legal or regulatory professional before approving production.
Trademarks, Copyrights, and Licensed Content
Only submit artwork, photographs, logos, characters, fonts, patterns, and other content that you own or are legally authorized to use.
By submitting artwork, the customer confirms that the materials do not infringe any copyright, trademark, patent, privacy right, publicity right, or other third-party right.
The Sky Packaging may decline artwork that appears unlawful, misleading, offensive, unauthorized, or unsuitable for production.
Foil Stamping
Create foil elements as vector artwork and place them on a separate layer labeled clearly, such as “Gold Foil” or “Silver Foil.”
Use a single solid spot color to identify foil areas. Do not use gradients, transparency, shadows, or photographic effects within foil artwork.
Keep foil details away from cut lines, folds, creases, and glue areas. Extremely fine details may need to be simplified for reliable production.
Spot UV and Varnish
Place Spot UV or selective varnish elements on a separate vector layer labeled “Spot UV.”
Use a solid spot color to indicate coated areas. Avoid gradients, transparency, and very fine details unless approved by our production team.
Slight registration movement can occur between printed artwork and finishing applications. Designs should allow reasonable tolerance around small text and narrow elements.
Embossing and Debossing
Embossed and debossed elements must be supplied as vector graphics on separate, clearly labeled layers.
Use solid shapes without gradients, shadows, textures, or transparency. Avoid placing detailed embossing or debossing too close to folds, cut lines, corners, perforations, or glued sections.
Separate dies may be required when embossing, debossing, and foil stamping are used together.
White Ink
For clear, metallic, holographic, colored, or kraft materials, white ink may be required beneath certain artwork.
Place white ink areas on a separate vector layer labeled “White Ink” and identify them with a dedicated spot color. Clearly indicate whether the white ink should print as:
A complete underbase
A selective underbase
A visible design color
Multiple layers for greater opacity
White ink appearance can vary depending on the substrate and printing process.
Window and Cutout Areas
Keep important artwork and text away from window edges and cutout areas. Clearly identify windows and cutouts on the dieline.
If transparent film is required, confirm its material and placement before approving the final artwork. Consider how the visible product will interact with the surrounding design.
Glue Areas
Do not place critical artwork, coatings, foil, lamination, or heavy ink coverage inside glue areas unless specifically approved.
Printing or finishing in glue zones can interfere with adhesive performance and package assembly.
Inside Printing
Clearly identify all interior printing and separate it from exterior artwork. Confirm the orientation of inside panels carefully, as interior designs may appear reversed or rotated when the box is assembled.
Inside printing may require additional setup, plates, or production processes.
Kraft and Colored Materials
Kraft and colored stocks influence the appearance of printed inks. Colors may appear darker, warmer, or less vibrant than they would on white cardstock.
White ink may be recommended beneath certain colors to improve brightness and accuracy. Natural kraft materials may also contain visible fibers and shade variations, which are normal characteristics rather than printing defects.
Metallic and Specialty Stocks
Metallic, holographic, textured, and specialty materials can change the appearance of colors and finishes.
If you want the substrate to remain visible through selected design areas, identify those areas clearly. A white ink underbase may be required where a more opaque or conventional color appearance is desired.
Artwork Orientation
Check every panel carefully before submission, including:
Front panel
Back panel
Side panels
Top and bottom panels
Dust flaps
Closure panels
Interior panels
Use the assembled 3D mockup to confirm that text, logos, patterns, and opening directions are correctly oriented.
File Organization
Name files clearly using the brand, product, box size, and version number.
Example:
Brand_Product_BoxSize_Artwork_V3.ai
Use separate, clearly labeled layers and remove obsolete artwork versions before submitting the final file. Mark the approved file as “FINAL” only after every detail has been reviewed.
Artwork Review and Prepress Checks
Our prepress team may review submitted files for common production concerns, including:
Incorrect dimensions
Missing bleed
Low-resolution images
RGB colors
Missing fonts
Missing links
Artwork inside glue areas
Improperly prepared finishing layers
Elements outside the safe area
Structural alignment concerns
This technical review does not include proofreading, legal review, regulatory approval, trademark clearance, or verification of product claims.
Proofing and Approval
Depending on the project, The Sky Packaging may provide a digital proof, flat proof, 3D mockup, or physical sample.
Customers must review all details carefully, including:
Spelling and grammar
Contact information
Product details
Dimensions
Colors
Panel orientation
Barcodes and QR codes
Legal statements
Images and logos
Finishing placement
Dieline structure
Quantity and specifications
Production begins only after final proof approval and completion of any required payment conditions.
Approval confirms that the customer accepts the artwork, content, layout, dimensions, and production specifications shown in the proof. Customer-requested changes after approval may result in additional charges and a revised production schedule.
Color Proof Limitations
Digital proofs and on-screen mockups are intended primarily to confirm content, layout, positioning, and structure. They are not guaranteed representations of final printed color, texture, gloss, material shade, foil reflection, or finishing depth.
For projects where color accuracy is critical, request a physical color sample or production proof before approving the complete order. Additional charges and lead time may apply.
Artwork Corrections and Design Support
The Sky Packaging may help correct minor technical issues or provide design support when requested. Extensive redesign, image reconstruction, logo tracing, copy editing, regulatory formatting, or repeated revisions may require additional time or charges.
Any modifications made by our team must be reviewed and approved by the customer before production.
Turnaround Time
Standard production turnaround is approximately 12 to 14 business days after:
Final artwork approval
Payment confirmation
Material availability
Final specification approval
Resolution of all technical concerns
Artwork preparation, revisions, proof approval, shipping, weekends, public holidays, and delays caused by incomplete customer information are not included in the production turnaround time.
Recommended Final Checklist
Before submitting artwork, confirm that:
The approved dieline is being used
Artwork is created at the correct size
Bleed extends beyond every trim edge
Important content remains within safe zones
Images are at least 300 DPI
Colors are prepared in CMYK or approved Pantone colors
Fonts are converted to outlines
Linked assets are embedded or included
Special finishes are placed on separate layers
Barcodes and QR codes have been tested
Legal and regulatory content has been reviewed
Panel orientation is correct
Spelling and contact information are accurate
The final file is clearly named and organized
Submit Your Artwork
Send print-ready artwork to:
Include your name, company name, product type, box dimensions, order reference, requested material, printing requirements, and finishing selections. Our team will review the files and contact you if technical adjustments are required.
