ARTWORK SPECIFICATIONS
Please review all specifications carefully to ensure a quick and smooth customization process.
Color Specifications
Use CMYK rather than RGB for print artwork.
Submitting an RGB file may result in noticeable color differences.
Where process printing is used, colors will be reproduced using CMYK together with any additional white ink or spot colors required for the project.
If you are trying to match a Pantone® color:
- Refer to Pantone Solid Coated (PMS C)
- Choose a color from the CMYK column
Please note:
Pantone and spot colors are used as target color references. Final printed color may vary depending on the film, white ink, printing process, lamination, surface finish, and other production conditions.
For projects requiring strict color matching, please discuss physical color references or proofing requirements with us before production.
Use: 100% Black (K100)
Avoid using rich black or heavy black mixes, as they can cause CMYK printing alignment problems or ink saturation issues.
White ink is treated as a separate printing color.
Gravure printing supports up to 10 colors, including white ink. Digital printing has no fixed color-count limit.
Design Guide
Dieline templates are available on our Template Downloads Page. Feel free to visit and download.
SAFE ZONE
DO NOT place important texts or images beyond the green dotted area to ensure that elements will not get cut.
TRIM LINE
Magenta dotted line is the actual cut of the final design.
BLEED
Extend the background of your artwork to the edge of this template if you want your artwork to extend to the edge of your final prints. A 1/8″ (3mm) bleed on each side is required.
BORDERS
If your artwork has borders, its thickness should be at least 3/8″ (9mm) from the trim line in order to preserve the symmetry of your design.
Important information includes:
- Barcodes and QR codes
- Nutritional facts panels
- Ingredient lists
- Allergen information
- Compliance warning statements
- Manufacturing and expiration dates
- Batch or lot numbers
Common compliance icons in US and EU markets include:
- USDA Organic
- FDA Compliance
- CE Mark
- UKCA Mark
- EPA Logo
- Recycling symbols
- FSC Certification
Here is the reason:
Heat seal areas are exposed to pressure and temperature.
Zipper areas may wrinkle.
Both can affect readability and scannability.
Due to normal printing and pouch-making registration tolerances, slight positional variation may occur during production. To maintain a visually balanced and symmetrical appearance, keep all key design elements at least 8 mm away from the pouch edges/dieline boundaries.
MINIMUM POSITIVE TYPE SIZE: 3 point bold
MINIMUM REVERSED TYPE SIZE: 5 point
Positive type refers to printed text on a lighter or unprinted background.
Reversed type refers to light or unprinted text knocked out of a darker printed background.
Convert all final text to outlines before submitting artwork.
Keep important text as editable vector artwork in Adobe Illustrator during the design stage.
Horizontal 0.6 point. 1.25 Point if reversed. Vertical: 0.46 point. 1.00 Point if reversed.
Avoid screen values below 15% in CMYK color builds. Values below 15% may not reproduce consistently and should be removed from the CMYK mix or specified as a dedicated spot color at 100% tint.
All non-photographic elements should be created in vector format:
- Text
- Lines
- Icons
- Illustrations
Vector graphics ensure sharp and clean printing results.
Your bag design schematic shows the final product 1:1.
It includes all features: zippers, tear notches, hang holes, valves, spouts.
It also shows the finish (gloss, matte, metallized, foil stamping) and feel (like soft-touch matte).
If something isn’t on the schematic, it won’t be on your final bag.
Always double-check every detail.
Once it’s printed, you can’t change it.
Take 2 minutes to proofread, it saves you from costly mistakes.
Before printing, scan the barcodes/QR codes on your design.
Make sure they’re scannable and lead to the right place.
Bar-code Specifications:
- Size: Recommended scale between 80%–120%.
- Do not crop or truncate the barcode.
- Format: Must be provided as vector
- line art. PNG images alone are not acceptable.
QR Codes Specifications:
- Recommended size: 20 × 20 mm
- Recommended color scheme: black code on white background (highest contrast)
Below is an example of a print-ready file for reference:
File Formatting
Adobe Illustrator (.AI) is preferred for final production artwork. Print-ready PDF files may also be accepted.
First, save a backup file.
This step cannot be reversed.
In Adobe Illustrator:
Select > Object > All Text Objects > Type > Create Outlines.
Unembedded images may be missing when the file is opened.
In Adobe Illustrator:
WINDOW → LINKS → Select the image → Choose “Embed Image(s)”
For the best print quality, set all images to 300 PPI.
Remove all printer marks: crop marks, die lines, color bars, registration marks.
Delete or turn off all unused layers.
This keeps your file small and easy to process.
Please do not create traps. Our prepress team will handle trapping where required based
on the printing process and artwork.
Clear areas need to be clearly defined and include a white separation.
White separation is a dedicated white ink layer used when printing on transparent or metallic materials.
It prevents transparency or metallic show-through and helps colors appear solid.
In most cases, you do not need to create bleed manually, as your manufacturer will set it up during production.
If you do create bleed:
Use a minimum of 1/8 in (3 mm) on all sides.
Proofs
Once your order is placed, a proof will be sent to you by email. Please review it carefully, as you will need to either ACCEPT or REJECT the proof.
If we do not receive your response within 12 hours, your order will automatically move forward to production.
Pouching offers flexible sample options to support your needs at different stages of customization,