Design, finishes & printers

Please send us your artwork in a dieline file (PDF or AI format) that can be edited in Adobe Illustrator. Please keep the dieline as a separate layer in your AI file, and be sure to follow all of these dieline design tips to ensure your artwork file is production-ready.

Colors tend to look duller when printed on kraft paper. When printing on kraft, we strongly suggest black or white ink to ensure it comes out nicely. Here are some examples of how other colors look when printed on kraft paper.

We support print in CMYK and Pantone colors. Please note that printing in Pantone comes at an additional cost. Learn more about what colors are supported for orders made online.

A dieline is a 2D template of your packaging that shows where everything will be printed, folded, and cut.

Dielines are provided after you've placed your order for a sample or production.

Foil stamping, also known as hot stamping, is a printing method that uses heat and pressure to add a layer of foil film to your material.

Embossing is the process of creating a raised image or design on paper. An embossed logo or text would be slightly raised off the paper, and is achieved by pushing a metal die into the substrate/paper from underneath.

We use soy-based ink for all print!

RGB colors are made by mixing light beams of 3 colors, with computer screens displaying colors using RGB color values. CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key) is a process color made by mixing inks during the print process. Four primary inks are mixed to form your desired shade, and these form the CMYK color system. Pantone is a spot color and these are premixed colors that have higher consistency and accuracy when printing.

Bleeds are the areas of print that extend beyond the edge of the cut or fold lines of your packaging. Bleeds account for any slight movement in paper when it's being printed or cut, and therefore helps minimize the likelihood of having any unprinted edges.

The price of your packaging is dependent on how many sides you will be printing on - outside, inside, or both. Here's what this means for packaging such as mailer boxes, folding carton boxes, and rigid boxes.

Debossing is the process of creating a depressed or indented image or design on your paper. A debossed logo or text would be slightly indented into the paper, and is achieved by pushing a metal die into the substrate/paper from the top.

Process colors such as CMYK print is best used in situations that require a full spectrum of color. For flooded colors or accurate and specific colors, use spot colors such as Pantone. Learn more about process color vs pantone color.

Spot UV is a technique where UV coating is applied to a specific area (or “spot”) of a printed piece, adding shine and depth to specific elements on the packaging.

We offer matte, glossy, satin and soft touch finishes, some of which are available in a varnish or lamination coating. Standard materials have been pre-selected for each packaging type.

Aqueous varnish, also known as an aqueous coating, is a fast-drying, water based coating used to protect your printed materials.

An aqueous varnish is a water-based coating added to your printed materials, and lamination is the process of adding a clear plastic film (e.g. polypropylene) to your printed materials. Learn more about the differences here.

A matte finish gives your packaging a softer look with a smooth texture, while a glossy finish gives your packaging a shiny look.

A soft touch finish is a finish added to your printed artwork that gives your packaging a velvety feel. It can be applied as a soft touch varnish or soft touch laminate. Soft touch finishes can be provided at an additional cost.

PackMojo uses a combination of digital printers and offset printers (lithographic printers) for most production orders. We can use flexographic printers upon request. Please get in touch with us first!

Offset printing, also known as lithography or lithographic printing, is a common printing technique in which the inked image is transferred from a plate to a rubber blanket, which is then rolled onto the substrate (paper). Offset printing is commonly used to print in bulk and yields the highest quality print in terms of color, sharpness, and crispness.

Flexography, also called "Flexo", is a printing process that transfers ink from the plate directly to the substrate, which in this case is paper or other material you are using for your packaging. An easier way to think of it would be as if you're stamping something - the plate acts as the stamp. Flexo can support printing for large quantities and is much cheaper than offset printing since there is no need for an extra medium during the printing process. However, the print quality is lower than offset printing and you will have challenges producing detailed designs and multiple colors.

Digital printing is most commonly used to print small scale jobs. Digital printers don't rely on plates, but rather on toners and cartridges, similar to a printer you would have at home. Digital printers work with CMYK colors only (no Pantone), and print quality/color accuracy isn't as great as offset printers. If you have a smaller budget and need lower volumes, digital printing would be a cost-effective option.

Both are cutting tools to create custom shapes for packaging. CAD cutters are primarily used for creating samples, while die-cutting machines rely on a metal die to produce bulk produce packaging.