Design

You should really have Adobe Illustrator as a minimum. This programme can create high quality vector artwork to ensure good results on either a digital or flexographic press. Artwork will need to be ‘layered’ so that individual design elements can be moved, changed or edited easily.

Design needs to be done in CMYK and not RGB. Label Printing involves using a Four Colour Process, also known as CMYK (Cyan Magenta Yellow and ‘Key’ Black) – with a further option of using pantone ‘spot’ colours. If you use the RGB (Red Green Blue) colour space, the colours will shift on conversion to CYMK. RGB is only used for electronic screens.

We will need at least 1.5mm of ‘bleed’, where the artwork extends beyond the edge of the label, to ensure you have no lines around the design.

Vector graphics can be enlarged or reduced without changing image quality or becoming pixelated.

Examples of Vector file types are .eps .ai and .cdr. Raster images are made up of pixels which can distort when enlarged or reduced, and examples of file types are .jpg .tif .gif and .bmp.

Certain products are regulated and must contain certain information on the labels. Food labels are often required to contain nutritional information, weight, or allergens. Products containing nicotine or hazardous substances should incorporate a tactile warning triangle. Make sure your labels are designed with the correct regulatory information.

Don’t worry! Our team of specialist artworkers are very familiar with what you need and have all the right tools to do it with. They will make sure your artwork is good to print, but it will save you time and money if you can send it to us ‘print ready’. Every amendment we make will need to be signed off by you, and this can take time. Check with your account manager if you need help in the first instance. Please ask your sales manager for our comprehensive artwork guide if you are uncertain about things like white plates, sizing, cutter guides, crop mark removal etc.