Oct 13, 2026Help Center
Packaging Artwork Files: DPI, Bleed, Color Modes and Fonts That Print Right
The artwork checklist printers wish every buyer knew: file formats, 300 DPI images, 3 mm bleed, CMYK vs Pantone and outlined fonts - so your first order prints right.
The artwork checklist that prevents most reprints
Most packaging delays do not come from the factory - they come from artwork files that are not press-ready. Here is the checklist our pre-press team runs through before any box goes into production, written so you can run it yourself before sending files to any printer.
Work in CMYK, not RGB
Screens display color in RGB; presses print in CMYK. Artwork left in RGB gets converted somewhere in the process, and bright neon shades that look perfect on screen shift dull on paper. Convert your file to CMYK early, and check that the colors you care about still look right. For brand-critical colors, specify a Pantone spot color instead of relying on the CMYK conversion.
Resolution: 300 DPI at print size
Images should be 300 DPI at their final printed size. A photo pulled from a website is usually 72 DPI and will print blurry and pixelated. If you zoom your artwork file to 100% print size and the images look soft on screen, they will look worse on press.
Bleed: 3 mm on every side
Bleed is the extra artwork margin that extends past the cut line. Add 3 mm on every side of every panel, and extend all background colors, patterns and images into it. Cutting is never perfectly exact - without bleed, a hairline of white paper shows at the edge. Keep important text and logos at least 3-5 mm inside the cut line as well.
Outline your fonts
Convert text to outlines (curves) before exporting, or embed the fonts in your PDF. A font missing on the factory computer gets substituted, and substitutions change spacing, line breaks and even the meaning of your copy.
Keep the dieline on its own layer
Deliver your artwork as a layered file with the dieline on a separate layer or as a separate file. Mark cut lines, crease lines and glue areas distinctly. The dieline must never print - but the printer needs it to build the box structure.
Mind your blacks and small text
Small text and fine lines should be 100% K only - single-plate black stays sharp. Large solid black panels should be rich black (such as C60 M40 Y40 K100) to print deep and even. Mixing these up is one of the most common causes of disappointing results.
Export as print-ready PDF
Export a PDF/X-style print file with bleed and crop marks, and keep the editable source file (AI or INDD) in case changes are needed. Name your files clearly - product name, box style, version and date prevents the wrong version going to press.
Free file check before you print
Run through this checklist and your first order will look like your tenth. And if you want certainty, send your artwork together with your box specifications - whether it is a folding carton, a corrugated mailer box or custom pizza boxes, our pre-press team will review the file and send back a free dieline template with fix notes before anything is printed.