Packaging artwork preparation services

Questions to ask

How work is checked

Ask whether a second person checks files before they are sent, and what they look at: content against the approved copy, bleed and safe areas, colour set-up, fonts, images and barcodes. A written checklist used every time is a good sign. Errors on packaging are expensive to fix once printed.

Warning signs

• No interest in the printer's spec

  Files may be rejected or misprint.

• Content edited without approval

  Legal text may change unseen.

• Vague file names

  Wrong versions sent to print.

• No proof review

  Last check left to chance.

Content changes

The artwork service should not change mandatory text, such as ingredients, allergens, quantities or addresses, without written approval from the brand. If it spots something that looks wrong or too small for the rules, it should flag it. GOV.UK food labelling guidance, for example, sets minimum text heights; meeting them is part of good preparation, but deciding the content is the brand's job.

How an artwork job runs

1. 01

   Receive

   Design, content, specification.

   Output: Job pack

2. 02

   Prepare

   Set up to spec.

   Output: Draft file

3. 03

   Check

   Technical and content.

   Output: Checked file

4. 04

   Approve

   Brand signs off.

   Output: Approved file

5. 05

   Proof

   Printer's proof reviewed.

   Output: Release to print

Example: updating a range for a new address

What you should receive

If something goes wrong

Agree in advance what happens if an error is found after printing: whose responsibility it is and whether any costs are shared. Approved proofs usually shift responsibility to whoever approved them, so build enough time for careful review into the schedule.

Turnaround

Ask how long preparation and checks take, especially for ranges. Rushing artwork to meet a print slot is when mistakes happen.

What to share

Share approved designs, source files, signed-off content, the printer's specification and dielines, brand colour references and any previous print issues.

Fees

Artwork preparation is often priced per pack or per variant, sometimes hourly for updates. Printing and proofs are separate from the design fee, whether included in the quotation or paid to your own printer.

Finishes and special inks

Foil, spot varnish, embossing and white ink under clear materials each need separate layers set up to the printer's rules. Ask whether the service has prepared files with these finishes before, and how it marks them. Mistakes here show only on the printed result, so experience matters.

Working with your printer

Ask whether the service will deal directly with your printer's prepress team to answer queries, or route everything through you. Direct contact can speed things up; just agree who makes decisions about content and colour, so nothing changes without your approval.

Judging the service

Files accepted by the printer without rework, proofs that match the approved design and a clear version history are signs of careful artwork preparation.

Files you keep

Agree that you receive the working files as well as the print-ready exports, so future updates can be made by anyone you choose.