- Inadequate or No Bleed Allowance
What the Issue Is: This occurs when artwork does not extend beyond the cut lines (known as bleed) or when important elements like text and logos are placed too close to the edges without respecting safe zones in your dieline setup.
The Impact of Not Getting It Right: Without proper bleed, your printed packaging can end up with uneven cuts, unwanted white edges, or designs that get partially trimmed off, making the final product look sloppy and unprofessional—especially on folded boxes where every millimeter counts, leading to reprints and wasted time.
How to Solve It: Extend your background colors, patterns, or images at least 1/8 inch (0.125") beyond the dieline's cut lines for bleed and keep critical elements like text at least 1/8 inch inside the safe zone. After you place an order with Fantastapack, we’ll email you a dieline file with these areas clearly marked. Open this file in Adobe Illustrator (or similar software), place your artwork underneath the dieline layer to align everything correctly, then export your final design as a high-resolution PDF.
- Low-Resolution Images
What the Issue Is: This problem arises when images in your art files are blurry or pixelated, often because they're pulled from low-quality web sources or scaled up without verifying the DPI (dots per inch).
The Impact of Not Getting It Right: In digital printing on materials like corrugated or cardstock, low-res images (below 300 DPI) result in fuzzy logos or unclear product photos on your packaging, diminishing brand appeal and making your boxes look amateurish, which could turn off customers and require expensive do-overs.
How to Solve It: Begin with high-resolution images of at least 300 DPI at the intended print size. Opt for vector formats like .AI or .EPS for logos and icons to ensure they stay sharp regardless of scaling, avoiding raster formats that pixelate easily. Use tools like Adobe Photoshop for intelligent upscaling if needed, but prioritize sourcing or creating hi-res assets upfront. Zoom in at 100% in your file or print a quick office proof to spot blurriness before submission.
- Incorrect Color Mode (RGB vs. CMYK)
What the Issue Is: Many designers work in RGB mode, which is great for screens but incompatible with digital print, leading to files where colors don't translate properly since digital printing relies on CMYK inks.
The Impact of Not Getting It Right: Vibrant on-screen colors can appear washed-out, dull, or mismatched on printed packaging, disrupting brand consistency across product photos and elements, and potentially causing Pantone colors to print inaccurately, resulting in off-brand packaging that disappoints and necessitates reprints.
How to Solve It: Set your file to CMYK mode from the beginning in your design software. For spot colors, incorporate Pantone swatches for precise matching. Manually convert any RGB elements and use soft proofing in Illustrator or InDesign to preview print results.
- Misaligned Artwork or Improper Layering with Dielines
What the Issue Is: Dielines serve as the blueprint for cuts and folds, but issues crop up when artwork doesn't align correctly or when layers are disorganized, such as editing the dieline directly or mixing it with art elements.
The Impact of Not Getting It Right: Misalignment can cause designs to shift during printing, key elements to be obscured by folds, or even structural flaws in the box, leading to unusable packaging, production delays, and additional costs for corrections.
How to Solve It: Place your dieline on a separate, locked layer above the artwork to use it strictly as a guide without modifications. Use snap-to guides for precise alignment and denote fold lines with dashed strokes to prevent overlaps. Grab the latest dieline templates from us, flatten layers, and outline strokes prior to exporting to avoid any shifts.
Tackling these issues head-on can save you time, money, and frustration in your packaging projects. At Fantastapack, our goal is to make the process seamless—whether through our intuitive online design tools, expert support, or quick turnaround on custom orders.
If you're still unsure about your files, upload them to our platform for a free review, or browse our resources for more tips. Additionally, check out our Graphic Guidelines for step-by-step tips on bleed, resolution, color setup, and more.
Ready to bring your vision to life? Head over to Fantastapack.com to start designing your perfect packaging today!
