How to apply your design to a product template

Skip to:

• Introduction
• Getting started
• Software required
• Adding your artwork
• Key considerations
• Saving your design as a PDF
• Finalise your order

Introduction

All great designs start as an empty canvas. Using one of our templates, you can set your mind free using any artwork you like; as with digital printing, there are no restrictions on colour or ink usage concerning the overall cost of your packaging. So add as much (or as little) design as you like.

Getting started

Start by downloading a design template from our online store by choosing your preferred category within this range.

To download your template, select your size from the options available and click on the blue button that says download template. This will then allow you to choose the editable version in the Adobe software of your choice.

You'll then have access to a folder that includes your product template and our printing guidelines as an overview to help prepare your design.

We'll also email you some helpful tips to guide you through your journey, so be sure to provide the correct mailing details.

Software required

Open your product template in your preferred design software choice of either Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator, depending on which you downloaded.

Before you create your design, it’s a good idea to get familiar with the information provided within the template, such as layers, product information, text positioning, etc.

If you don't have access to Adobe software, it can be downloaded at either of the links above for just $29.99 per month. Otherwise, if you're not sure how to use either of them, consider hiring a freelance designer instead.

Adding your artwork

Once you're ready to create your design, ensure that you start by selecting the correct layer within your template to apply it to; as you may guess, it's the one that says artwork.

Each template has the following four layers.

• Information - Here, you will find all of the necessary specifications about the product you are designing for.
• Template - Use this layer as a guide on where to place your design elements accordingly across your packaging within the flat outline of your product size.
• Sample design - Preview an example of how a finished design could look. Please take note of the text orientation on each panel to see which way is the correct facing.
• Artwork - Apply your design within this layer. You may create as many additional layers as you like; however, be sure to keep them all below this layer before saving your file as a PDF.

Before you create your artwork, start by turning off the sample design layer before importing your design elements into the artwork layer.

Key considerations

When creating your design with our printing guidelines in mind, consider some of the following key elements.

Extend all crop and bleed marks:

Ensure your artwork extends to the bleed lines as displayed on the product template (this is the blue outline).

This will ensure there are no unprinted areas within your design once your packaging has been cut.

It's a good idea to clip your design into this bleed line for a clean PDF visual before uploading your artwork.

👉 Click here for more information on how to create a clipping mask.

Important elements

Ensure that all elements within your design are positioned as far away as possible from the (blue) bleed line.

We would recommend 5mm as a minimum safeguard. Naturally, the packaging can shift up to 5mm within the cutting process, ensuring nothing is affected in the production process.

Do not alter or resize the product template

Please ensure that you do not alter, resize or reposition the product template lines as this can cause significant errors in your artwork's reproduction.

You may turn this layer on and off for visual purposes, but please do not edit it.

Design in the correct colourspace

Ensure your design is set up for printing in CMYK, not RGB so that you can ensure your colour selections are correct, as there are fundamental differences between the appearance of screen colours and CMYK results.

👉 Click here for more information on designing in the correct colourspace.

Convert to outlines

Ensure that all text within your design is converted to outlines before saving it as a PDF file. This will ensure fewer issues from our end in the rare case we need to open your file.

Converting text to outlines can be done by selecting the type and then pressing: Command + Shift + O

👉 Click here for more information on converting text to outlines.

Embed all files

Ensure that all images within your design are embedded and not linked before saving them as a PDF file. This will assist our artwork team in setting up your file for production without losing any data.

Embed your file by selecting the image and then clicking: Windows > Links > Embed Image.

👉 Click here for more information on how to embed files.

Saving your design as a PDF

To ensure your design is compatible with uploading to our online store, please save it as a PDF file under 50MB.

If your designs are saved across multiple files (e.g. outside and inside), please combine them into one PDF before uploading.

Should you have any trouble saving your design, please contact our team for assistance.

👉 Click here for more information on how to save your file as a PDF.

Finalise your order

When you are ready to proceed with your order, please return to our online store and reselect your product and size.

From there, choose your printing selections to match your design (such as materials, sides and mode) and upload your PDF design.

Then select your order quantity to get an instant quote before uploading your artwork and adding it to your shopping cart. Then follow the prompts through checkout to confirm your order.

👋 Click here for more information on how to create an order online.