Packaging Graphics+ for CPG Brands

FAQs

Keep reading to get answers to frequently asked packaging design questions. If your question doesn’t appear below, please email us at [email protected] and we’ll do our best to answer all of your questions!

Most likely, no. Our pricing, unless otherwise specified in your proposal, is based on just one version. This helps keep your bill down. But more importantly – it allows us to focus 100% of our time and energy on making one design fantastic versus making three (or however many) designs mediocre. We will sometimes provide multiple variations of that one design. Say, for example, we’d like to show you a few different font options.

Because we tend to only provide one option, we do like to get very clear upfront on exactly what you are wanting. If you’d like to ease that process along, please feel free to share images of designs, fonts, colors, etc.. that you like, so we can narrow in!

And of course, we will provide multiple options if requested, but we will have to charge appropriately for this, and it will likely lead to more rounds of design, since the focus isn’t narrowed from the beginning.

For new brands, we recommend starting out with the minimum amount required for your copacker to produce your first run of product. Yes, this will lead to a higher price per label, but with it being your first run, this is also the first time you’ll be seeing your packaging IRL. You want to make sure that you like how the colors turn out, and that there are no glaring issues with your packaging.

Then, on the 2nd run and beyond, order about 6-month’s worth of labels, but make sure your copacker is okay with storing the overages before placing that larger order.

When you sign up to work with us, we send you a Content Questionnaire. This will prompt you with questions that will help collect all of the content needed for your packaging!

If you’re going for extra flair, then we recommend a little something we’ve coined as a “Special Printing Technique”. This could be a unique substrate, a fun label finish, or a special die.

Typically, labels are printed on White BOPP, but if you’d like something more unique, there is also Metallic BOPP, clear, and kraft paper, to name the most common. For a fun label finish, try spot gloss – where you choose certain elements of your label to be glossy, while the rest is matte. And a special die is also a fun way to jazz up your label. Think of a die as a cookie cutter that cuts your label to size and shape. Typically, label dies are rectangular with rounded corners, but if you’d like something a little more out of the box, we could create our own shape for your label. This incurs a one-time fee for the die, which is usually about $250-$350.

  • Fiverr is a great option for inexpensive concepting, but packaging design is strategic AND technical. You want someone with experience who knows the industry, is updated on the latest trends, understands FDA and USDA guidelines, and can properly set up a file for print. That last point is especially tricky, and one that many designers, Fiverr or not, get wrong.

In addition, it’s important to have trust and an established relationship with your packaging designer so they can keep and maintain packaging files for you, and help your brand grow over the years.

  • Our lead times are constantly changing depending on how booked up we are, but we do turn most projects around in 1-2 months, from contract signing to files-in-hand. Add another 1-2 week lead time for printing labels, and 4-6 weeks for printing pouches or boxes.
  • We will accommodate most rush projects for an additional fee.

Please note that while we are happy to accommodate rushes, if your project is for a new brand without any existing materials, it is more advantageous for the design process to not rush – both for our designers and for your review process.

• AI files are Illustrator files (vector) – this is the program that the design was created in. Save this file for any future designers who may work on your brand.

• EPS files are vector files that should be used for printed materials. If you need to send your file to a print company, this is a safe file format to provide.

• PDF files are vector (at least, how we save them – they’re vector) but they can also be viewed by people without the Adobe programs. If you need to send your file to a print company, I’d recommend sending this format as well.

• JPG files are raster and should only be used for digital purposes. JPGs cannot be transparent, but their file size is smaller than that of a PNG.

• PNG files are raster and should only be used for digital purposes. PNGs can be transparent, but their file size is larger than that of a JPG.