The top 10 items US consumers are embarrassed to buy at physical shops include condoms (29%), emergency contraceptives (26%), bed bug spray (26%), head lice treatment (25%), hemorrhoid cream (24%), diarrhea medication (24%), pregnancy kit (23%), bladder leak or incontinence products (23%), menstrual products (23%), and cold sore medicine (23%).

More good news: brands can ship your order without any product identification or company name to prevent couriers or nosy neighbors from discovering what you bought from their store.

And that’s what discreet packaging is all about. 

Discreet packaging uses plain—no conspicuous design or imagery—shipment boxes or mailers with minimal labeling to avoid drawing attention and ensure its contents remain confidential.

Ambiguous Exterior: “Masking” What’s Inside

Discreet packaging uses the following to keep its contents a secret:

1. Plain boxes or bags

You can use plain white, Kraft, or neutral-colored carton mailers, shipping boxes (full overlap or slotted), or bags with little to no branding.

2. Generic/White labels

Discreet shipping labels can feature only a tracking number, recipient’s address, and any legally required descriptions, depending on your product. You don’t have to include your company name or business logo.

3. Stealth packaging

Packaging materials with tamper-proof features aren’t easy to rip open, securing the quality—and quantity—of its contents. They may use special seals and tapes that need scissors or blades to open. This makes it obvious if others besides the recipient attempted to look inside.

Product Categories Requiring Discreet Packaging

Customers are most likely to request or expect discreet shipping for the following categories:

1. Medication and healthcare products

Some health conditions are considered too embarrassing or sensitive that your customers are secretive about them and may prefer discreet packaging for their medicine. Examples include:

• Digestive and urinary problems (diarrhea, constipation, hemorrhoids, incontinence)
• Personal hygiene troubles (body odor, foul breath, excessive sweating)
• Hair and skin trouble (balding and acne)
• Snoring or sleep apnea
• Fungal or viral infection (toes, nails, reproductive organs)
• Pregnancy

Take InControl Diapers, for example. A YouTube video from InControl shows that the adult urine and bowel incontinence diaper brand delivers orders in plain packaging. The box only has a label with your shipment number, name, and address.

2. Vapes

The amended Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act (PACT Act) prohibits the shipment of vaping products, e-cigarettes, and similar devices with or without “aerosolized solutions” via the US Postal Service (USPS). 

It also specifies the wording for packaging labels. “Permitted [cigarette/smokeless tobacco/ENDS] mailing—delivery only upon age verification” must appear in all caps on the mailpiece’s address side, based on its mailing guidelines. 

VapeA1 boasts “extra discreet plain box shipping.” The company ships customers’ packages from any of its four warehouses with available supplies that are closest to them.

3. Cannabidiol (CBD)

CBD regulations vary by state but have common features. For instance, New York State’s Office of Cannabis Management and California’s Department of Cannabis Control require CBD retailers to use child-resistant and tamper-evident packaging that encloses the entire product.

CBD packaging shouldn’t contain elements—such as cartoonish or bubble-like fonts and bright colors—that can be confused with candies or snacks and may attract people aged 20 and below. 

Also, the state expects CBD retailers to use packaging material that will protect the content from light and other contaminants that can lead to product deterioration during storage. Both states require graphic markers on the CBD boxes and packaging.

Overall, vendors should accurately indicate CBD levels on product labels to avoid getting warning letters from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

One recent agency study showed that only 31% of 84 CBD extracts sold online bore labels accurately listing the CBD content of their goods. The FDA has issued warnings to 12 firms marketing CBD-related products as of July 26, 2023.

Meanwhile, six companies received cease and desist letters from the Federal Trade Commission for using deceptive marketing for their edible goods containing Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol, another compound from cannabis sativa. The packaging resembled the designs of popular snacks, such as Doritos, Cheetos, and Nerds Rope Candy.

Utah-based WholesomeCo shows a discreet but not plain-looking packaging for its medical cannabis.

4. Adult products

Adult products include alcoholic drinks, lingerie, and sexual wellness products or sex toys.

New Zealand-based company Elusive Lingerie tells its customers to specify in the shipping “Notes” section that they want discreet shipping. Otherwise, they’ll get their order in a plain white but branded box.

Standard shipping procedures apply for sexy sleepwear, but for liquor and pleasure toys, consider the following:

Liquor

Like in CBD, state governments set rules for shipping liquor directly to consumers, including the allowable types, maximum amount, and required permit or license. In general, brands can’t send them through the USPS.

Eight states and territories accept D2C shipments of all spirits, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures website, which lists the details of each state’s requirements:

• Hawaii
• Nebraska
• Kentucky
• West Virginia
• New Hampshire
• Rhode Island
• Florida
• District of Columbia

In most states, shipments must be conspicuously labeled with these wordings: “Contains alcohol: Signature of person age 21 or older required for delivery.” 

Labels on alcohol shipments for New York residents must also have the same words but must end with “Not for Resale.” Meanwhile, the labels on North Dakota-bound shipments don’t require the phrase “Contains alcohol.”

Pleasure toys

Brands should check state laws on shipping sex toys, the sale of which is banned in Alabama (due to its Anti-Obscenity Enforcement Act of 1998), Texas, and Georgia. In Texas, these adult products should be identified as “novelties.” You’ll find them sold at local novelty stores.

Bonjibon uploaded a video on TikTok showing its “super boring” white label-plain packaging for its sexual wellness products.

Expensive or luxury goods

Luxury or high-end products include:

• Fashion items: watches, jewelry, precious stones, expensive perfume, designer clothing, bags, and shoes
• High-tech gadgets: headphones, tablets, laptops, electronics, drones, video or film production devices, medical equipment
• Artwork: prints, paintings, sculptures, collectibles

6. Political items

You can ship individual candidate campaign products to thank donors and supporters or send them in bulk ahead of mass rallies and sorties. These items can include:

• Pins
• Magnets
• Bumper stickers
• Doorknob hanger tags
• Pens
• Notepads
• Stress balls
• Hand fans
• Sunglasses
• Wristbands
• Lanyards
• Keychains
• Umbrellas
• Caps and hats
• Banners
• Balloons
• Table throws
• Mugs
• Tote bags
• Shirts
• Yard signs
  

3 Steps for Memorable Unboxing with Discreet Packaging

In customizing your discreet packaging’s interior, you can go all-out on box design, colors, and messaging. Get as creative as you want to provide a unique unboxing experience by trying these steps:

1. Greet your customer

Print “Thank you,” “Hello,” or any other catchy and personalized message at the back of your box’s cover or lid to acknowledge your client’s purchase and to introduce your brand further.

Your business name, logo, and other particulars can also fill this spot.

2. Wrap their order in custom tissue paper and a brand sticker

Use tissue paper and stickers bearing your logo, brand name, colors, and patterns to make your customers remember your business even after they’ve used up your product.

3. Include promotional inserts

Add custom promotional inserts based on your engagement and customer acquisition goals:

• Thank buyers with a customized insert instead of printing a message on the back of your box’s lid.
• Get client feedback on their purchase and connect with them online through social share inserts.
• Include a referral card to the package encouraging current customers to refer their friends to your company with a purchase discount.

You can also use these inserts for instructions on using the product or to share your company history, online or offline events, and upsell opportunities. 

How Discreet Packaging Boosts Your Business

You can reap the following benefits when you offer discreet packaging:

Privacy

Confidentiality works two ways—by concealing your business name and the specifics of your customer’s order, you guard your reputation and your buyer’s privacy.

Some frustrated clients take videos of discreet shipping failures. Prospects who come across such videos are likely to get turned off when they discover your brand doesn’t ship as discreetly as you claim.

Meanwhile, contented customers can polish your image when they leave positive feedback on your review forms and social channels for your expert handling of their sensitive orders.

Security

Discreet packaging isn’t just for embarrassing body-related products but also for high-end items. Generic-looking packaging can prevent theft, damage, or destruction.

Box interior optimization

Although you must be unobtrusive on the outside, your box can bear all your branding elements on the inside. 

Optimize your packaging box’s interior by printing your brand colors, logo, slogan, or personalized message on it. You can also wrap your product with custom tissue and seal it with a custom label or sticker. 

Be intentional with your packaging inserts—use eco-friendly materials for dividers or holders, and include thank you and social share request cards to promote extended engagement with your shoppers.

Available Courier Services for Your Discreet Packages

The country’s top couriers treat various product categories differently. Below is a summary of their services:

You can also opt to work with a fulfillment center, which offers discreet labeling along with shipping services.

Future-Proof Your Business with Discreet Packaging

With 24% of retail purchases expected to happen online by 2026, offering delivery options to your customers—including discreet shipping—can prevent you from being pushed aside by fierce competitors. Over two million retailers operate in the country according to the Census Bureau.

Surprise your customers—or at least don’t make them regret shopping with you—by working with seasoned packaging suppliers that provide white-glove treatment from box type selection to prototyping.

Refine Packaging specializes in customized mailers and shipping boxes, including packaging for brands that seek a balance between a discreet exterior and an impressive interior box design.

We can work with a print-ready design that aligns with our artwork guidelines to ensure a smooth and speedy production process. At the same time, our packaging design specialists can provide expert advice, from box structure to packaging inserts and inside printing. These accomplished graphic artists and engineers can apply their expertise and skills to make your packaging a trust-building vehicle for your brand.

Your journey with us includes 2D and 3D mockup development, which allows you to examine and test your box in its folded-up form before production. Contact us today to discuss your discreet packaging needs.

The post Discreet Packaging: The Ultimate Retail Embarrassment Cure appeared first on Refine Packaging.

Starting your packaging design and preparing the file for your printer are some of the best times to understand the RGB model better. Whether your project involves a custom cosmetic box, display packaging, or retail box, read on and discover how to use this color space for your printing needs.

How RGB Works

As kids, we learned that red, blue, and yellow were the primary colors for producing new hues. But digital colors—or colors emitted by electronic monitors that allow us to see images—don’t work the same way.

The RGB system involves mixing different colors of light. Each color’s light intensity ranges from zero to 255. Each color has 256 values (including zero), resulting in 16.77 million available colors. The color mode ranges from warm orange to cool blue.

On digital screens, tiny dots called pixels form an image, with each pixel consisting of red, green, and blue light units.

RGB as an Additive System

In the RGB color model, adding or combining the primary colors or light units produces a more vivid or brighter color.

The light source changes the brightness level of each primary color within a pixel to create unique colors. Mixing two basic colors at full intensity produces cyan, magenta, yellow, and black—the primary ink or pigment colors.

Blending red, green, and blue light at optimum capacity or equal intensities produces white light. Meanwhile, you get black when with the absence of light. In between these extremes, combining two or three primary colors—each with a different intensity—produces the entire color gamut.

Best Applications for RGB

Manipulating light to produce desired RGB colors happens in the digital space. Thus, the RGB mode is best for:

• Branding (online logos and online ads)
• Web and app design (graphics, buttons, and icons)
• Visual content (photography for website, apps, and social media, video, and infographics)
• Social media (profile picture and profile backgrounds)
• Scanning documents 

Why RGB Isn’t Ideal for Commercial Printing

You can print an image set in RGB mode without making changes because today’s inkjet or personal printers have software that automatically converts them to CMYK. But the printout may be different—typically duller or less vivid—than how the colors appear on your screen.

Converting the file to CMYK using an image editing solution is still the best option. Besides, most professional commercial printers will ask you to convert your file from RGB to CMYK before they print.

Image editors such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and CorelDraw allow you to preview how your image, pattern, or design will look on paper. Moreover, such software lets you tweak your image if its appearance is way off the RGB version.

Understanding CMYK in Packaging and Print

CMYK stands for cyan, magenta, yellow, and black—the four ink colors used by most offset printing machines, such as those by Refine Packaging. In offset printing—whose market was worth $649.9 million in 2022, your design or image undergoes color separation. This process involves four plates receiving a calibrated amount of each CMYK ink. Each plate offsets the image to a rubber blanket, which then applies the ink on the material. When the four-color process is complete, the overlapping colors produce a single image of your original design or photograph.

Based on RGB’s additive nature, increasing your color’s intensity brings you closer to white. Meanwhile, the CMYK model is a subtractive process—inks “subtract” brightness from white or a blank surface. Adding different colors of pigment or ink to a surface will give you a darker result. However, CMYK has a smaller 16,000-color range compared to RGB.

Due to these differences, printouts can’t accurately represent the bright colors in designs created or photos captured using the RGB mode. Images can appear “washed out,” especially if you have “out of gamut” colors, such as neon, fluorescent, and metallic hues. You may have to make test prints and customize settings to get specific tones right for your printout.

Here’s a chart summarizing each color system’s unique traits:

Extended or Expanded Gamut

Process color is another term for any of the inks in the CMYK system. In process printing, the four colors combine after the machines apply CMYK ink to your material one at a time.

Because color consistency is important in branding, printers use additional colored inks to achieve a closer match to spot colors. These colors are typically unique to one’s brand and chosen from the Pantone Matching System (PMS). Printers use them pre-mixed—they blend inks before printing. Pantone uses 18 base inks to create all the colors of this color model.

Some offset printing companies use an extended gamut—CMYK + OGV, which stands for orange, green, and violet—to simulate most of the PMS colors—and closer to the digital or RGB version of a brand’s design.

How to Verify if Your Image Is in RGB Mode

Here are the steps for checking what color mode your design or image is in:

1. Illustrator: Go to File in the main menu, then select “Document Color Mode.”
2. Photoshop: Go to Image in the menu bar, then click “Mode” and search for the color profile with a check in the panel that appears on the right.
3. InDesign: Go to Window, then tap “Color” from the drop-down menu to bring up the color panel, which shows colors measured in percentages. You’ll find RGB percentages if you’re in RGB mode and CMYK percentages if you’re in that mode.

Prepress Process: Preparing Your File for Printing

The prepress stage—or the steps in preparing your packaging design for final production—is crucial in ensuring that the finished product accurately reflects your original vision and branding. 

For business owners and packaging designers, this covers creating the design, saving your file based on your printer’s specifications, and making a hard copy or printout of the design (proof). Proofing allows you to make corrections or adjustments and show your printer or box manufacturer a printed version that’s closest to your desired look. Let’s go through each step:

1. Ask your printer for the required file resolution and format for printing your design

Most printers require high-resolution (300 dpi or higher) graphics and images with clear and legible fonts. File saved at 72 dpi—the typical resolution of pictures and text on computer monitors and smartphones—will look blurry or pixelated when printed.

Also, inquire about what file format to use in saving your design. The most common file types used in printing include:

PDF (Portable Document Format)

You can view PDFs on almost any platform and device, making it a flexible format. It preserves the formatting and layout of graphics (raster and vector), fonts, and text. 

EPS (Encapsulated PostScript)

An EPS file is a vector-based format, allowing you to scale your artwork infinitely (into smaller or larger sizes) while retaining its quality. However, image-editing software is necessary for opening and editing EPS files.

AI (Adobe Illustrator)

Another vector-based file type, AI is the native format for designs and graphics created in Illustrator. Like EPS, AI supports transparency and special effects. The majority of the Illustrator software’s users come from the US (42.17%), followed by the UK (8.54%), and Germany (5.29%).

The Adobe product line dominates the graphic design software sector worldwide, with a 43% global market share.

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2. Calibrate your monitor

Check your screen’s brightness, white point, and contrast index or gamma. Doing so will reduce the disparity between your design’s appearance—on your computer screen and a test print, particularly its luminance or brightness.

The most commonly recommended brightness for prepress work is 100 candelas per square meter. This is the standard unit of measure for monitor brightness, although the acceptable range is 80 to 120 cd/m2. Meanwhile, the recommended white point—or setting that determines the color temperature (warmth or coolness of light) of the brightest white—for CMYK reproduction is 5000 Kelvin or D50 and 5500K or D55. Monitors generally have high default or factory settings of D65, which is acceptable for images you’ll use and display online. As to the gamma levels, the range is from 1.8 to 2.2.

Besides these internal controls, you can also use monitor calibration hardware, such as Datacolor’s SpyderX Pro, X-Rite i1Display Pro, or Calibrite’s ColorChecker. These colorimeter or light-sensing devices measure the transmission of light or your monitor’s output. 

Calibrators have apps that automatically adjust your display to meet a color profile. Some devices also assess your ambient light, which is useful when the light source in your work environment doesn’t change. Otherwise, it’s best to turn off this feature.

3. Generate a soft proof

Soft-proofing is using your monitor to view how your design—particularly its colors—will appear when printed out.  It’s not perfect, but it’s better than guessing or hoping for a nearly accurate outcome.

To determine how your design will look in CMYK, convert your file to that color mode. Here’s how:

Adobe Illustrator 

Go to Files and select “Document Color Mode,” and click CMYK as shown in this video tutorial.

Adobe Photoshop

Go to Edit, click “Convert to Profile,” and pick CMYK in the Destination Space as shown in this explainer video.

Adobe InDesign

Go to File, click “Adobe PDF Presets,” and tap “[Press Quality].” Save the file and in the pop-up box that emerges, click “Output” and then choose CMYK in the Destination dropdown menu.

Select the correct material for your test print

If you wish, you can do a test print of your design to show to the printer. Use midrange to premium paper resembling your packaging material to see how the colors will show on a surface with a similar texture. Your chosen paper type and ink quality affect the appearance of your hard proof, so be sure your cartridges have enough ink.

Later, you can ask your printer if they can produce a prototype before mass production. At Refine Packaging, we include mockup creation in our client’s printing journey with us.

Statista’s latest data shows that paper and cardboard enjoy robust sales, cornering 33% of packaging material demand worldwide. Flexible plastics are close behind at 25.5%. 

Investing in Colors Unlocks Business Opportunities

Read our packaging definitions and glossary guide to help you get up to speed with industry terminology as you create your own custom boxes.

Choosing a high-quality and seasoned printing company to produce your packaging is a wise investment to ensure uniformity in your brand colors online and offline. 32% of consumers say that visually appealing and gift-like packaging encourages them to post images or videos of products on social media. Thus, product packaging can open doors, whether it’s a greater online presence through user-generated content or wider brand awareness through ad campaigns. Increased brand awareness can lead to ROI growth from at least 5.5% to 820% in some cases.

When comparing printers, research online testimonials and feedback about them. Request packaging samples to get an idea about the company’s capabilities.

Refine Packaging’s partner brands can attest to our team’s customer service success and eye-catching customization using our offset printing process. Upon your request, we can send you a sample from our past projects if you want to check our work quality. Our team can also produce a custom sample of your packaging before production.

Still figuring out your custom packaging options? Our in-house design team can help you decide, including exploring label and sticker applications if you prefer customized fold-and-assemble stock boxes or single-color packaging.

Refine Packaging is the top choice for the world’s Inc 5000 and Fortune 500 companies. With super fast production times, affordable pricing, and a sky’s the limit attitude, we’ll help you turn your custom packaging into a competitive differentiator. Contact us today and a dedicated packaging specialist will guide you through every step of the custom packaging process without breaking a sweat.

The post What is the RGB Color Model? What It Is & Why It’s Avoided in Printing appeared first on Refine Packaging.

Although you can give this task to your graphic designer and print manufacturer, knowing the industry’s standards for color can aid your selection process and level expectations about the printing outcome.

This article is primarily about CMYK, but we’ll also touch on the other two most prominently used color modes in the design world—RGB and Pantone. Color models are the building blocks that represent an image and have their own gamut or color ranges. They achieve unique levels of color detail according to their number of channels or colors. Their comparison can deepen your appreciation of CMYK as the most effective color model for printing.

Defining CMYK

CMYK stands for the four ink colors used in printing—cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. The CMYK system blends these colors to create about 16,000 variations. In the color wheel:

• Cyan falls between blue and green, but most people see it more as the former color. It’s similar to sky blue or the aqua blue color seen in tropical ocean waters.
• Magenta falls between red and blue, but most consider the color closer to red instead of blue. It’s comparable to fuchsia and hot or deep pink. People associate this color with bougainvillea flowers and orchids.
• Yellow is the lemon yellow, canary yellow, and gold hues we see in nature, such as sunflowers, daffodils, and sunshine.
• Black is the color of coal, volcanic rock, and some gemstones like obsidian and onyx. The other meaning of “K” is “key” because the black ink plate provides fine details, depth, and contrast in the resulting image. Thus, “key plate” is the other term referring to the black plate.

In theory, mixing cyan, magenta, and yellow results in black. In reality, however, their combination results in a muddy dark gray. Moreover, a 100% three-color blend soaks the paper in ink, slowing down the drying process.

How Does CMYK Work?

When you bring your packaging design to a commercial offset printer such as Refine Packaging, the company separates your file into component colors using what’s known as the color separation process. 

Each CMYK ink color has a separate printing plate, and the ink transfers or offsets from this plate onto a rubber blanket and then on paper as tiny dots. The colors become solid and continuous as the dots overlap until the four-color process or process printing is complete.

Meanwhile, digital printing doesn’t require color separation. The ink goes directly onto paper instead of plates, making them a cost-effective option if you have a lower quantity printing order.

The printer copies the image from your file. From there, individual CMYK color droplets produce the illusion of a colored image. Inkjet printers use ink while laser printers—used in commercial applications—use toner.

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RGB and Pantone Systems

To improve our understanding of CMYK, we must compare it with the RGB and Pantone color models.

RGB

Graphic and packaging designers refer to RGB—red, green, blue—as desktop colors because they represent the colored lights used on electronic displays (computer monitors, mobile devices, TV sets, and digital cameras), whether it’s for videos, websites, and apps.

Moreover, this color model offers the most expansive range of colors—16.7 million in all. As a result, discrepancies occur between colors on screen and print, as CMYK has a narrower color gamut.

RGB vs. CMYK: Additive vs. subtractive color models

When comparing RGB and CMYK, it’s important to know that RGB is an additive color model, while CMYK is a subtractive color model.

RGB is an additive color model that combines various intensities of red, green, and blue light to produce other colors. You get pure white when you mix RGB colors at their maximum brilliance. Meanwhile, you must combine the three colors at their lowest intensity (minimal light) to produce black.

The opposite happens with CMYK, a subtractive color model. Unlike electronic screens, paper isn’t transparent and doesn’t allow light to pass through. One must apply less color to see white. Images appear with a lighter tone when paper receives fewer ink dots.

Because CMYK inks only reflect light—unlike RGB colors that emit them—it’s best to convert RGB images to CMYK for accurate printing.

Pantone

The Pantone Matching System (PMS) follows a numbering system for accurately and quickly identifying colors for printed materials, fabrics, and paints. Every Pantone color—2,161 of them—has a unique code corresponding to a pre-mixed ink formula, aiming to produce the colors consistently across different projects. These colors include fluorescent and metallic colors, which aren’t available in the CMYK and RGB models.

When you ask a professional printer to match your specific PMS colors, its staff adjusts the digital printer’s colors until the result matches your PMS swatch.

Spot Color

Spot or solid color is another name for the color printed on paper using premixed ink to match a PMS, unlike the CMYK process, which involves four layers (one for each color). In effect, the blending of colors happens before and not during printing for spot colors.

Spot colors consist of a name or number and end with either a C (coated) or U (uncoated), referring to the paper stock type on which to print it.

When to Use CMYK and Spot Color Printing

Here are some tips to help you determine when to use the four-color or spot-color printing technique:

CMYK

CMYK or process printing is ideal for projects involving so many colors that using several spot inks would be impractical and expensive. Examples include full-color photographs, paintings, and very complex colored images.

CMYK—the most widely used standard digital and offset printing system—is also cost-effective for low-quantity orders with multiple hues and gradients. However, color-matching won’t be as precise as spot colors. Some printers offer a broader range—also referred to as extended or expanded color gamut—that includes orange, green, and violet to improve brightness and realism.

Spot Color

You can use spot color printing for jobs requiring a few (one or two) exact colors, such as your brand colors and business logo, and colors outside CMYK’s color range—pastels, metallics, and fluorescents. Spot colors would cost you more per order because they require ink colors with specific formulations and a separate plate.

CMYK and Spot Printing

You can use both techniques simultaneously when, for instance, you must print an image (CMYK printing) and your company logo or product name (spot color) close to each other. Another example is when you want to increase the intensity of a specific process color or coat portions of a full-color image with a clear varnish, which is a spot color.

Below is a quick reference of the three color models—their characteristics and uses:

Tips for Improving Color Accuracy When Previewing CMYK Colors on Your Screen

Because RGB can display more colors than CMYK, the way you see a design or image on the screen may not be accurately reproduced through the CMYK print process. But you can reduce the discrepancy between the two by following these tips:

1. Calibrate your monitor and perform soft proofing

PC and laptop manufacturers gear factory settings toward film viewers and gaming fans, resulting in high brightness, high contrast, and saturated colors.

Thus, recalibration is necessary when working on packaging designs. Adjust your device’s color settings (“color profiles” on Mac) to match your color standard, particularly the brightness or luminance of your display. Your printouts may appear dark if you’ve been designing and editing on a very bright monitor. Most monitors have built-in calibration tools

D50 is the recommended white point or white balance for LCD monitors when working with still images. White point is the temperature setting that determines the coolness or warmth of your whites.

2. Perform soft proofing

Check your software’s color management system. Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator’s soft proofing feature lets you view your artwork the way it will appear on a surface when printed by the CMYK method.

3. Refer to color swatches and guides

Printed samples of colors are a handy reference when checking designs and images on screen and paper.

4. Print a test copy

Make a printed proof to discover color problems early and avoid surprises from your printer. You can then include the printout closest to your envisioned colors when you submit your digital file to your printing partner.

Use high-quality ink and paper to avoid getting faded results. You should also check your printer nozzle and cartridge in case of banding. Otherwise, you can go to a print shop to produce a test copy for you. 

Preparing Your File for Printing

After learning how to make your screen display your packaging design the way it would appear on your chosen material, you must now prepare your file for the printers.

Converting Files to CMYK

Industrial printers typically ask for files in CMYK mode so you must check your packaging design and convert it to CMYK if it’s in the RGB mode. The conversion method will depend on your software. Below, we list the steps required for CMYK conversion for the most widely used platforms.

Adobe Photoshop

1. Open your image file.
2. Click on “Image” on the menu at the top of your screen.
3. Hover over “Mode” to display the options and click CMYK.

Adobe Illustrator

1. Open your image file.
2. Click on “File” on the menu at the top of your screen.
3. Mouse over “Document Color Mode” and select CMYK.

Adobe InDesign

1. Open your image file.
2. Click on “File” and choose “Export.”
3. From the options, select PDF/X-1a:2001. This automatically converts colors to CMYK.

Note that converting from RGB to CMYK may result in some color data loss and shifts because the CMYK system can’t accurately represent all RGB colors.

Communicating With Your Printer

Printing companies use different machines, so get to know their requirements, limitations, and preferences before sending your design. Ask your printer about their artwork guidelines, which typically includes the correct file format, size, resolution, color system (some have a unique PDF Preset), printing method and technology, as well as their expectations and deadlines.

Due to technological advancements, some printers can work with files in a specific RGB profile, such as sRGB IEC61966-2.1, which is compatible with most software and devices. When they receive your file, they convert it to CMYK.

Best File Formats for CMYK

We can’t emphasize enough that you’ll need to ask your printer for the file format required for your print project. Nevertheless, we list some of the best file formats below:

.ai (Adobe Illustrator)

Illustrator is the industry standard for vector-based, scalable designs, making it a standard source file for CMYK.

.pdf (Portable Document Format)

PDF preserves all the color and formatting information in a document and can handle raster and vector images. The file format is also compatible with most programs, making it ideal for CMYK printing.

.eps (Encapsulated PostScript)

EPS is a vector file format and a great alternative to .ai because it opens in non-Adobe software.

.cdr (CorelDraw)

CorelDraw files contain images created using this software, which can also generate text, shapes, and effects. You can convert CDR format to .ai., .pdf, .eps, and .tiff.

.tiff (Tag Image File Format)

Virtually all image-editing and page-layout applications support this flexible raster image file. The format allows you to choose between CMYK and spot colors. 

The Reliability of Your Custom Packaging Manufacturer Is Key to Consistent CMYK Printing

Read our ultimate guide to packaging terms and definitions to help you get up to speed with industry terminology as you create your own custom boxes.

Industry insiders predict that the U.S. packaging market will rise by 2.88% to $222.59 billion by 2028 and keep its status as a leading growth driver in the offset printing press market. Digitization has penetrated this printing method, putting it head-on-head with digital printing. Computers now create printing plates, which undergo laser exposure resulting in improved image quality.

Moreover, analysts project a 5.19% growth in the North American cardboard market until 2027.

Because color is the top influencer in buying decisions—at least 85% of consumers say so—your printer must have a proven record for consistent quality output.

Refine Packaging’s customers and brands have relied on our high-spec manufacturing process for their marketing needs, from display and showcase exhibit packaging to shipping and mailer boxes, corrugated packaging, and custom labels and stickers.

Our offset printers work with CMYK and PMS spot colors. If your design is in RGB mode, we’ll convert it to CMYK. We have artwork guidelines to make it easier for you to prepare your file. Also, we’ll show you a digital proof before printing, so you can check whether the colors replicate or are close enough to your initial choices. Besides offset printing, we offer UV coating, foiling, and embossing/debossing.

Refine Packaging is the top choice for the world’s Inc 5000 and Fortune 500 companies. With super fast production times, affordable pricing, and a sky’s the limit attitude, we’ll help you turn your custom packaging into a competitive differentiator. Contact us today and a dedicated packaging specialist will guide you through every step of the custom packaging process without breaking a sweat.

The post What is CMYK? How to Use the CMYK Color Model for Printing appeared first on Refine Packaging.

Technical packaging terminology can be difficult to understand, even for those in the field for years. If you need to learn about the jargon and terminologies that are commonly used in the packaging industry, this is the guide you need. 

Why Are Packaging Definitions Important to Know? 

By understanding packaging definitions, you’ll save time, communicate more clearly and effectively with your team, and build a stronger reputation and overall custom packaged product. 

The Individuals Who Should Know Packaging Terms  

Ultimately, custom packaging and package design takes place within a company or with multiple degrees of external packaging engineering, often requiring support from independent contractors, consultants, vendor evaluations, independent laboratories, contract packagers, total outsourcing, graphic designers, among other disciplines. Here is a list of professional that should know packaging and printing terms to work more efficiently: 

• Packaging designers 
• Customer service representatives of such companies 
• Brand managers 
• Packaging technicians 
• Material scientists 
• Printers and press operators 
• Packaging engineers 
• Prepress technicians 
• Production managers 
• Ink technologists 
• Finishing technicians 
• Packaging consultants 
• Quality control and assurance personnel 
• Supply chain managers 
• Sustainability managers 
• Machine operators 
• Technical support specialists 
• Regulatory compliance officers 
• Sales and marketing professionals 
• Procurement and purchasing managers 
• Product development managers 
• Artwork coordinators 
• Brand strategists 
• Graphic designers working on these projects 
• Research and development teams 

Without further ado, let’s dig into our complete glossary of packaging definitions from A to Z!

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Numerical Terms

0100 In The Industry: The type of sheets and rolls you can use for commercial purposes. It refers to the types that work for only one side.  

0200 Slotted Boxes: A type of box that is used for packaging purposes. It comes in the form of top and bottom flaps that are stitched or glued.  

0201: A standard regular box with outer flaps that meet the top and bottom for sealing. 

0300: A type of box with a telescope style and more than one piece alongside a lid.  

0500: A type of box that carries several liners or pieces and slides into each other in multiple directions as well. 

0900: This jargon is used for treatments that you can add inside your boxes in the form of partitions, pads, and liners. They work as a singular item; you can also glue them as one item. 

0700: This type of container has one piece; you would ship them in flat form. At the same time, they are ready-to-use types that need a very easy and simple assembly. 

0600: This term is used for rigid style processes that normally have two pieces that are separate. You can switch them together before they are used, and they are known for being large industrial types. 

0400: This is another type of folder box and toys that have pieces of box and hinges. At the same time, they come with interlocking tabs. 

3PL: Acronym for third-party logistics.  

Terms Starting with A

ABS: A logistic that you can create with injection molding and has the ability to give you rigidity and toughness. Although it is a great material that you can use for your packaging, it may be expensive. 

Accelerated Test: A test that allows you to find out about the strength of a coating or a box. The main purpose is to test products in shorter intervals that may occur than in real life. 

Acid Rain: This refers to a mixture of wet and dry deposition that you can have in that atmosphere. This table is important in the packaging and printing industry as well. Acid rain can cause issues to the sources that help the industry create raw materials for their processes.  

Acrylic: A type of thermoplastic material you can get from the polymerization process. So, it is a packaging method that can help you get perfect results for your needs.  

Acrylonitrile: That can provide you with transparency, resistance, and rigidity. There are multiple features it can provide in comparison to its alternatives. 

Additive: The additive is a type of packaging or printing material that you can use to get a certain result for it. 

Adhesive Bleed: It can help you get results against a label material being too pressure sensitive. Multiple scenarios can cause it, like excessive roll winding tension or cold flow. 

Aerosol: This term is used for a range of containers that have specific criteria to meet to get this name.  One of the features they must contain to have this name is a pressure-resistant container that is also gas-tight. Such a box should also have a desired product. 

Aerosol Components: This system is used for liquefied or compressed gasses that you can pack with pressure propulsion containers. This method aims to bring enough pressure to get discharge from a valve. 

Aerosol Services: These are filling arousal products that you use as original formulations and can also be customer supplied.

AlphaSeal: This term is used for units that come with the help of getting a folding box board or virgin pulp wood. There are stringent requirements to meet the standards of these products for the food industry. There is a complete range of materials you can use, like aluminum foil. 

Alternative Fuels: Fuels used in the packaging industry during shipping and transportation. 

Amber Glass: It is a type of brown-colored grass that is used for multiple types of packaging processes. One of the main features of this material is the reduction of light effect on the products packed inside. 

Anneal Bubble Pack: A type of temperature process you can use for creating glass products with the use of stresses and strains. You can use natural and uneven cooling for it.    

Antioxidant: A type of chemical substance you can use for the purpose of preventing the effects of oxygen on plastic material. Such an oxygen attack can cause brittleness in plastic products and reduces their likability and features.  

Anti-Skid Corrugated: A type of corrugated board that comes with chemical treatment and an embossing effect. The benefit of such boxes would be a stable palette and unit load.  

Additive: A substance that you can apply to the surface of a plastic product that you can add to it. The main benefit you get from this one is getting rid of electrostatic charges in your products. 

Applicator Cap: A type of clay closure that you can add to a packaging box to apply content to them, such as grease spouts or daubers. 

Applicator Rod:  A type of short glass rod, which comes in the measurement of 2 MM to 4 MM in diameter. You can use it alongside an applicator cap that can help cut a cap.  

Assembly: A process in which you combine different box elements into one product. The use of such procedures would be to avoid any contamination inside your box. 

AQL: Acronym for the acceptable quality level of a box. This is the maximum percentage move or proportion of a variant In the units that you get with a certain production. The quality assurance department ensures that this variable is under certain guidelines. 

Aromatherapy Packaging: These are the items you can use for packaging aromatherapy products which can also be aluminum bottles, candle holders, and others. 

Aseptic Packaging: A technique you can use to place a product into a box with sterilization kept in mind. The purpose of this process is completed when you get sterilization for your product and the box. Another benefit you get from this packaging product is that there’s no refrigeration requirement for such products. This also applies when the package seal is broken.  

Ampul: A type of smaller container that you can make from glass or plastic tubes. You can draw it into a stem and close it by fusion once you have filled it. You can use a bottom that may be flat and can also draw out as you require it to.  

Ampules/Accessories: These are ampules and also accessories that you can find in the form of breakers, sleeves, and others.  

AN: A material that comes with rigidity, excellent barrier properties, and transparency. This material is used for thermoforming as well. 

Autoclave: A type of pressure vessel that allows you to standardize packages with the help of high-temperature steam or vapor.  

Average Wall Thickness: A type of measurement that you find by measuring the thickest section of a box wall and the thinnest one. Then you divide them into two to find out this measurement.  

Avoirdupois Weight: A system of weights you can use for the purpose of measuring goods. But you are not supposed to measure precious metals and drugs with this unit.  

Animal Healthcare Products in Packaging and Printing: Products that are used for healthcare purposes and come in the packaging category. Injection-molded items are a common example of such packaging products used in the animal health sector.  

Aerosol Components: A type of material that is used for the purpose of creating bottles and boxes. For instance, extruded aluminum containers over caps and closures.  

Autoclavable: Products you can produce from resins and give you the ability to bear up to 250 degrees of temperature for up to 45 minutes. 

Abrasion Resistance: The endurance of a packaging material against scratching and wrapping. This term refers to how strong our packaging material is when it comes to such issues from the use of products that come from them. 

Across Flute: This term is used to measure edited materials as it is a unit for their measurement. 

A-Flute: A type of corrugated flute that is thickest in their category. 

Air Freight: A term used for the products you transport by air. It’s important to have special considerations when packaging such products, such as the sensitivity of the goods, their dimensions, center of gravity, and mass.  

Aluminum: A common material for packaging purposes, known for being lightweight and non-toxic. 

Allocated Inventory In Packaging: The material quantity that a department has been assigned for their production. 

Adhesive: A material that helps bond multiple surfaces into one. 

Anaerobic Digestion: Part of biodegradable waste treatment that helps reduce landfill gas emissions into the atmosphere.  

Anti-Scuff Bicell: A type of basal sheet that you can use without any woven fabrics. These normally work for the outer surfaces of the item and can help against damage to that product. 

Antistat: An anti-static type of packaging that helps avoid any static current in your packaging. This method can help reduce the chances of product damage due to this issue. The full form of this word is anti-static. 

Artwork: This term means the logo or unique design that you can create for your packaging, which are typically associated with specific artwork guidelines.  

Automotive: This term is used for cars and similar vehicles that may be considered in the packaging industry.  

Astraboard: A type of polypropylene that is used inside cases and is famous for its strength and lightweight. 

Attenuate: Reduction of force on products that are sensitive to vibration.  

ATA: Abbreviation of an association that promotes the safety of your case and packaging specifications. The basic functionality of this association is to promote the safety of these products during air transit jobs. 

Terms Starting with B

Backing Liner: A type of paper material you can use to eliminate surface irregularities in packaging products. At the same time, it has the ability to be resistant to water and carry extra strength. 

Banding: This type of machine can help improve the level of security you can have with different items.   

Back Off: Loosening a cap that may occur due to improper cap application torque.  

Backing Liner: A type of compressible paper material to which you can attach the liner. This paper allows you to get rid of any regulation regularities that may exist on the sealing surface. At the same time, you get better strength, appearance, and resistance against spoiling factors. 

Baffle Mark: A type of bottom defect that may occur due to a seam coming between the baffle and the blank mold. 

Bag-In-Box: A type of sealed plastic bag that you can find inside a rigid outer box. The most common use of this one is for packing liquid products that can be of different viscosities. 

Bags: When we talk about bags, there is a long list of products that you can find in the packaging industry. These can be poly bags, mailing currency, anti-static, and many other types of bags.  

Bail: A type of wire handle that allows you to carry a product inside a box. You can weld these two to the opposite sides of boxes to get better results for carrying purposes.   

Barrier Material: A term used to classify packaging materials that offer protection for the environment. You can find these materials with the properties of having pores. At the same time, this helps remove passage of microorganisms, which helps prevent contamination in the boxes.  

Barex: A type of polymer that you can make out of Acrylonitrile. You can also have methyl acrylate and butadiene in these. You can get impressive gas barrier properties and chemical resistance with these. At the same time, it provides you with a good impact. 

Barrels: Barrels are a common type of garden, food, storage, or wine type of containers, which can also be made out of plastic. 

Barrier Material: Any type of material that can help reduce the chances of passage of moisture, gas, and other problem-causing factors into the packaging. 

Baseline Performance: Standards that industry manufacturers adhere to for comparing the performance of their products. 

Bead: A type of narrow and round projection that you can find above or below the surface of a packaging box. 

Bent Finish: A type of finished defect that normally has a bent or crooked appearance on it. You can also call it a crooked finish, in short.  

Barcode: A type of code that can help packaging and printing professionals to understand different aspects about products. For instance, it can help with the SKUs of the product. 

Blown Glass: A term for containers that are created from molten glass. The use of air pressure in this process is a prominent factor that helps create the required shape.  

Blushing: Widening or discoloration that may occur in a plastic bottle. The reasons behind this event can be physical or chemically induced phase separation.  

Board: A heavy-weight thick sheet of paper that can also be created from other fiber substances.  

Boston Round: A style of portal which has the features of a cylindrical shape and roundness. The most common use of this container is in the Pharmaceutical industry. 

Beacon: A network of high-growth businesses also famous for their positions. 

Blank: A piece of corrugated box that has been prepared for making a box. Normally it is in a cut-and-scored form. 

Beers Tray: A type of folding tray that is made of corrugated material. You can find it to have glued corners, and it is quite effective for shipping and storage purposes. 

Bevel: A type of edge of container structure that does not have a 90-degree angle to the container.  

Bins: Boxes used for the purpose of storage of hardware and small parts. You can find them in the shape of corrugated cardboard and recycled plastic. Also, they are useful for shelving and hanging from panels. 

Bioburden: The relative number of microorganisms that you can find for a product at a specific time. This measurement may also apply to the level of microorganisms that you can find in a specific area during air sampling.  

Biofuel: A type of fuel that you can get from organic matter and not fossil products. 

Bird Swing: An edge oversight defect or a string of glass you can find inside a bottle. 

Black Spots: General defect or a small black speck that you may find inside a glass bottle or box in the packaging industry. 

Blake: A certain type of style of straight oblong bottle used in the Pharmaceutical industry. You can also call them space savers and wide-mouth packers. 

Bicell: A plastic sheet material brand you can consider to be a quality product. You can use it as an alternative to Correx. 

Bitmap: A type of digital graphic that is based on pixels normally. They have very large files, and you cannot resize them without losing their quality. 

B-Flute: A term that refers to a corrugated flute that has 1/8th of an inch. 

Bleached Pulp: A type of pulp that you can get by oxidizing chemicals.  

Bott: A term for an Aluminum case manufacturer in the packaging industry. 

Blister Packs: Blister packs are a common type of packaging made from transparent molded plastic, providing a tamper-proof solution for sensitive products, such as for medical and pharmaceutical product packaging.  

Blisters: Blisters are quite different from a blister pack, as blisters can be inside a glass in the form of a bubble. 

Blow Molding: A process that you can use to create plastic containers and bottles. This process also involves molding into two halves of a mold. At the same time, air pressure is used to create mold cavities in products made with this process. 

Blow Pin: A part of tooling that you can use for creating hollow objects or containers with the help of the blow molding process. You can consider it a tubular tool that allows air pressure into a container to shape the mold you want. 

Biodegradable: A material that can decompose in natural conditions. The factors that degrade it are bacteria and other living organisms. 

Blow Molding: A type of process that you can use to mold plastics. There are three main types of this process which are injection, injection stretch, and extrusion molding.  

Bondline: A term for structural parts of a packaging product, including the adhesive part. 

Board: This term is for a thick type of sheet of paper that comes in different variations. Cardboard, containerboard, and fiberboard are 3 common examples of this type.   

Bonding: A process to combine different pieces of foam or plastic. The use of this process allows you to get desired thickness and shape of your packaging products. 

Board Grade: The type of rate that you can give to corrugated boards on three different elements. 

Branding: Branding is a unique aspect or design found on your packaging boxes – such as a logo, color scheme, pattern, icon, slogan, or symbol – that helps people quickly recognize a specific product or suite of products. 

Break Pack: A type of transit container that can be a corrugated case. 

Bubble Pack: Type of package used to protect products inside your packaging. The basic mechanism of this pack is to create a cushioning between the product and potential damaging factors. 

Bottom Plate: Part of the mold carrying heel radius and helps to push up the box. 

Boundary and Scope: These are the two terms you can use for the measurement of project parameters and help define attributes and conditions for them. 

Bruise Check: A side effect or edge that may appear on the side of our product. 

Bulged Finish: A type of finished effect that may be blown out of shape during the production of a box. 

Bung: A type of plug you can use to close a barrel. You can also try using it for closing a drum bunghole. 

Burn Line: A type of dark streak of material you can have inside a plastic bottle. It can result in the decomposition of the material. 

Butterchipboard: A type of pigmented chipboard popular for having smooth sides. You can use it for laminating aluminum foil and quote it with a release quote. 

Buttress Thread: A design of a thread profile that can take certain forms, like a right triangle or a slightly different form.  

Brush Marks: A general defect that can be on the side of a box. Such artifacts may also appear on the neck of a packaging box. 

Brushes: Common packaging equipment that you can use in multiple activities. For instance, you can use them for cosmetic dental, medical, or other applications. 

Terms Starting with C

Capacity: The total volume of space a container can offer for a product that you want to store inside it. 

CAD: This term stands for the computer-aided design you can use in the form of electronic design automation. You can create them in the form of interactive engineering drawings with the retrieval and storage processes. 

CAM: This term is used for a process in the manufacturing of these products. You can use this one to feed data into machines and manufacture products with this data.   

Cap: Cover of a bottle or any packaging that keeps it sealed. Using this part of your packaging ensures that you avoid any type of adulteration into it by keeping it tamper-evident. 

Canning Supplies: Terminology for mason jars and closures. 

Carboy: A type of bottle or other that you can make out of clay, plastic, or metal. Notable for its ability to contain a capacity of three to 13 gallons, used for shipments of spring water and comparable resources.   

Catalyst: A type of chemical substance that can improve a chemical reaction but does not take part in this event. 

Cavity: The process of plastic blow molding, which works to provide the body of the container. 

Carry on Approved: A type of case you can use to meet the luggage requirements for your airline hand luggage needs. 

Chemical Block: This term is used for a form that produces a block of chemical resistance. 

Chop Edge: The chopping-edge is the length of the board or the sheet you use for packaging products.  

CDA: This type of agreement ensures that different organizations do not disclose certain information about certain commitments.  

Coatings: There are several types of specialist coatings that you can use on corrugated boxes. These coatings can help you get different types of benefits like waterproofing, anti-corrosion, and other effects. 

Cobb Test: This type of test allows you to understand the total amount of water a certain material has absorbed. 

C-Flute: A type of corrugated material that can help you get crush resistance. At the same time, this material can offer great printing properties.  

Coldset PVA:  This type of adhesive material can become liquid when you heat them to 60 degrees. On the other hand, it will lose fluidity under 20 degrees.  

Collapsible: A type of box that you can fold to ensure that you can easily bulk transport them.  

Conductive: A type of packaging that can offer protection against static currents.  

Corrispring: A type of material you can use as an alternative to foam and polystyrene cushioning often considered for its eco-friendliness. 

Corrugator: This term is used for an industrial machine that combines various paper types to create a new type.  

Corrust: A special type of coating you can use to avoid cohesion corrosion. Its main uses for protecting metal products for both storage and transit processes. 

Corstat: A type of carbon-based coating that you can use for corrugated cardboard. Its ability to get rid of static current makes it important for the packaging and printing industry.  

Corstat Container: Boxes, picking bins, and trays that have anti-static coating on them. 

CQV: Acronym for commissioning, qualifying, and verifying. These management methods ensure that packaging systems and machinery are kept in the best conditions. 

Cradle: Corrugated cardboard inserts and fittings that you can use to protect during shipping. 

Corrugated Material: The main feature of this material is its shape which allows you to get a lot of strength and stability against difficult conditions for packaging products. It carries ridges and grooves that can help improve the ability to provide strength. 

Corrugated Board Material: The main feature of this material is containing fluted paper sheets.   

Containers For Shipping: A type of container that you can use for shipping purposes. 

Contract Packaging: A 3rd party packaging company that provides you with human resources and packaging boxes for your business.  

Countertop: A type of displacement for retail packaging. You can consider them similar to shelf-ready boxes. 

Convertor: Companies that convert raw materials into packaging products. 

Copolymer Resin: A type of plastic material that is famous for its flexibility and toughness. At the same time, it has a great ability for transparency and clarity. 

Cores: Manufactured from wood pulp fiber, the fibers are wrapped around a rod in a spiral to create a tube shape. For the size of the core, consider both the core’s diameter and length.

Corner Blocks: Corners that you can use for form packaging. The main purpose of peace products is to help reduce the chances of product damage during the shipment process.

Correx: A type of twin-walled plastic that has multiple applications in the packaging industry. 

Corriflute: This term is used for Correx plastic material as a second name.  

Carton Board: A type of material that is stiffer than a board. You can use it for its ability to avoid compression and moisture issues. It has the ability to resist both of these issues.  

Closed Loop System: This term is used for an industrial system that carries zero waste and can reuse and recycle all the materials it uses for production. It can even do the composting processes to improve the eco-friendliness of your methods. 

CNC Routing: A process that allows for the usage of different materials. The main benefit of this method is the use of computerized devices. 

Closures: A type of device or technique that you can use for sealing packaging boxes. There are some common techniques for this purpose, like stapling, glowing, and tapping. 

Case Making: Case-making machines are the equipment you need for making a computerized setup.  

Clean Room: A type of assembly and packaging service among the facilities of packaging and printing. The purpose of this facility is to get rid of any contamination during different procedures. 

Case Sealer: A type of manufacturing machine that you can use for sealing and closing the flaps of any boxes. You can use glue and tape to make sure these packaging boxes are sealed well. 

Castors: A type of set of small wheels that you can use for the movement of different objects in the packaging process.

Clay Coat: A thin layer of clay coat that you can coat onto corrugated boxes. This is a method that can help improve the printing surface of this material. One of its common uses is on unbleached kraft paperboard.  

Crash Lock: A box style that allows you to lock its base. The main benefit you get from it is no need for tape for its interlocking system. 

Cratering: Small and thin spots where you can find bubbles in packaging products that you code with paint or dye. 

Crazing: Cracks that can come under a plastic or glass layer. 

Creep: A type of deformation that occurs progressively in packaging material. It can be caused by stress; anything or any factor may apply to it. 

CSI: A company that can project development and specializes in producing corrugated packaging. 

Cushioning: A type of packaging element that allows you to protect fragile products during delivery and transit. 

Cycle: The number of times you can get usage from a packaging product, used for reusable packaging containers.  

Cushioning Curves: These indicate materials that provide you with different levels of thickness. 

Cushioning Bicell: Foam laminate which allows you cushioning properties. At the same time, you get anti-abrasive features with this material. 

Creasing: Folding lines that you can find in packaging that allow you to allow the package to be folded and cut as desired. 

Terms Starting with D

Damage Burst: Term for packaging containers that may burst or split owing to their exposure to too much pressure. 

Declaration: The total amount of shock any packaging product can handle and endure. The main criterion of its measurement is the product should not get damaged by any force applied to it. You can measure it in G force. 

Deckle: The width of the board that you can run on a corrugator.  

Decorative: Aspect of finish used to identify color and printing of a packaging product. 

Demo Case: Cases you can use as a demo during your presentation in the sales meeting or a sales pitch. 

Density: The weight of a gas, solid, or liquid that you can measure in the unit of grams per cubic centimeter. 

Desiccant: A substance that you can use for drying purposes when you need to try water vapor. The main purpose of this is to decrease and control humidity inside sealed packages. You can use multiple substances for these many of these are calcium oxide. 

Design: A packaging design includes drawings and specifications of a packaged product. These specifications help you determine what a box will look like and how it will be constructed as an end product. 

Die: A die is a special type of packaging tool that allows you to customize your packaging products. You can create customized dyes to achieve a certain type of box design and other specifications. 

Die Cutting: A process that allows you to stamp the cuts and scores that you want to add to a packaging design. 

Distributor: Supplier of merchandise or products to a retail seller, who does not use any products but works as a reseller provider. 

Dividers: Devices that separate different sections of a container to ensure they get good protection. 

Dolly: A small type of device that you can use for moving heavy objects. It has a setup that is fixed on builds and allows you to move heavy objects easily. 

Drawing: Creation from an art designer or packaging engineer used for technical purposes.   

Drop Test: Test to find out the durability and capabilities of a packaging box.  

Dump Bins: A type of point-of-sales packaging that allows you to keep different objects disorderly.  

Dunnage: A type of material that you can use to support the protection of packaging against different contaminating factors. Moisture and damage are two factors they allow you to avoid. 

Duplex: A type of paperboard you can make out of two layers, commonly used for coating material to gain resistance against water. Often used for pharmaceutical industry paper cups and many other applications. 

Double Walled Board: A combination of corrugated material layers to make them one. Using this method allows you to get extra strength for your packaging boxes. 

Digitization: A process that allows you to convert data into digital format for packaging and printing purposes. 

Dimensions: The length, depth, and height of a packaging box. 

Direct Food Contact: Direct food contact is the physical contact of any material with food. There are certain regulations that must be followed if you are packaging a product with direct food contact. 

Displays: Type of packaging used to showcase a product or merchandise at the point of sale, which can be made from corrugated material. 

Terms Starting with E 

Ecommerce: Ecommerce or electronic commerce is a term that is used for selling products online. If you provide packaging or other products through the internet, you are in the ecommerce business. 

Ecommerce Packaging: The packaging boxes used for ecommerce purposes are called ecommerce packaging. The purpose of these boxes and packaging is to keep your product safe during transit. 

E-Flute: A type of material that allows you good crush resistance. At the same time, it offers you great quality printing.  

Egg-Box Foam: A type of form that you can use in packaging. A main feature of this one is being flat from one side and grooved from the other.  

Electrostatic: A unit of the decay rate electrostatic charge. 

Embossing: A type of effect that allows you to create raised design or lettering on a packaging material surface. 

EMC: Acronym that stands for electromagnetic management coupling. You can use this term for a case or product that helps you manage electromagnetic energies in packaging and processes. 

Emulsions: A type of topical public quoting which is famous for being water-soluble. At the same time, it would be quarter resistant when it is dry. 

End Caps: A type of form question cushioning that allows you protection for the product you pack inside a corrugated box. 

Environment Agency: Environment agencies work to improve the regulations set for waste production for packaging.  

EPS: Acronym for expandable polystyrene, which is a foam that allows you good thermal insulation and helps you with high impact resistance. You can use it in the construction and packaging industries alike. 

ESD: Acronym that stands for electrostatic discharge, which can be a common problem for packaging products. 

ESD Anti-static: A type of cortex that allows you to store equipment from entering a packaging box or other product. 

ESD Shielding: A type of conductive material that allows you to resist electrostatic charge in packaging. 

Estimate: The total amount a company calculates to produce packaging boxes.  

Extrusion: A type of method used for producing plastic bottles.  

Extrusion Profiles: Term for extrusions of shaped products, which you can get in multiple configurations. These shapes come in box solid and hollow forms. 

Ethafoam: A type of semi-rigid packaging that allows you medium-density lightweight. At the same time, it is quite flexible. 

Euro Box: A tough and durable storage solution that you can get in standardized sizing. You can get these in warehouse facilities.  

Euro Container: This term is used alternately for Euro boxes, as mentioned in the previous section. 

Explorer: These are military-grade cases that reproduced in Italy. 

Terms Starting with F 

Fabrication: The process of manufacturing, often used as a packaging or printing term. 

Falling Dart Impact: A traditional method used to evaluate the strength of plastics. 

Faraday Cage: A type of enclosure that you can use for blocking electric fields. You can find it in the form of conductive materials. Also, they are available in the form of a mesh of such materials.   

Faro: A type of digitization device that allows you to find different computerized versions of a small object used for packaging. 

Fatigue: The deterioration of packaging boxes in use. You can use this term for products that can be used repeatedly.   

Feasibility Study: Studies to determine if you can get certain results from a particular process, as well as what adjustments to the process are needed to receive the desired results.  

FEFCO: Acronym for an organization that sets standards for design patterns for corrugated products in packaging.  

Fiber: Fibers are the smallest unit of material that creates a packaging box., also known as molded pulp. 

Finish: A type of coating or print that you can use on packaging products. There are multiple benefits of these you can have for your packaging products. For instance, it allows you to get rid of any chances of corrosion.  

Foam: A substance that is created through a process of trapping gas pockets inside a solid material. There are different types of these that you can find, like XPS foam and Polyurethane. 

Foam Lining: A type of foam liner that you can use inside a case to get protection for your packed products.  

Folding Carton: A paperboard product that you can fold, print, and laminate. Also, you can use it by cutting and gluing, and the main purpose of this product is the transportation of products.  

Forme: A type of metal cutter that you can use for cardboard scoring. The purpose of this cutting can be die cut finish.  

Fulfillment: The use of third-party warehousing for your inventory services for your packaging production. 

FSA: A food standard agency determines different standards for shipping food products. 

FSDU: A type of display unit you can use for retail packaging products. 

Fittings: A range of fixtures that you can add to cases and can be made from plastics and steel.  

Flatbed Die Cutting: A process you can use for creasing, cutting, and embossing sheets. You can use this press this die on a material that you can find on a flat surface.  

Flat Pack: A type of packaging that you can use for shipping purposes. The main feature of this type is that you can use them as a flat box during such processes.  

Flood Coat: Term for when an entire surface will use a dye or color. 

Flute Direction: The literal direction you can add inside a corrugated box. You can have two types of directions here, vertical and horizontal. The main feature of these is to get strength for your boxes and other packaging products. 

Flute: Paper layer that allows you to get more strength when added to a certain corrugated board. You can get more rigidity for your product with these as well.  

Terms Starting with G

Glued: A process that allows you to connect different materials into a box. For instance, different sheets of cardboard can be glued together with wood for strength to your boxes. 

G-Force: A type of measurement that becomes the reason for the weight of a product. You can define it as a weight per unit mass.  

Gloss: A type of coating that can help you get higher reflection for your packaging boxes. A big feature of this coating is a good color and contrast definition for your boxes. 

Terms Starting with H

Hanging Tabs: A type of part that different boxes can carry. The main purpose of this part is to allow you to hang your products packed inside these boxes for display. 

Hardigg: Molded equipment cases used to transport fragile and delicate equipment.  

HDPE: Acronym for high-density polyethylene. You can use it for blow molding, which allows you resistance against cracks and also provides stiffness. 

Heat-Seal: Common method to seal multiple surfaces. 

Hermetic Seal: A type of seal you can use when in need of the ability to avoid leaks. 

Hinged End Cap: Similar to standard types, however, the main difference is hinged end caps do not involve any bonding feature. 

HIPS: Acronym for high-impact polystyrene. The multiple features of this material include cost-effectiveness and resistance against impacts. At the same time, it is quite easy to fabricate this material, making it a low-cost option. 

Hot-Melt Adhesive: Term for hot glue, which is famous for being solid at room temperature. On the other hand, you can liquify that by heating it. 

HPX Resin: A type of high-performance resin that is a polypropylene copolymer. 

Hybrid Pack: A type of packaging that uses both corrugated and rPET materials. 

Hand Erect: Term for a packaging type that you can assemble by hand. A common reason to use this type of packaging is the complexity of a packaging box design. 

Hand Holes: A type of space you can live inside a box for the purpose of its movement and handling.

Terms Starting with I

Impact Strength: The ability that a box carries against any mechanical shocks.  

Imperial: The traditional unit of measurement that you can replace with metric. 

Inert: An object that does not cause any reactions. 

Injection Molded Case: Term for the production process of certain plastic packaging boxes. 

Inkjet Printing: One of the most common types of printing that uses pigmented or dyed printer ink and the creation of images, letters, and other objects.  

Inline: A type of die-cutting machinery. 

Inline Wheels: A type of equipment that you can use for the purpose of easier movement of larger cases, insert supply chains, and other processes. 

In-Mold Labeling: This process allows you to place preprinted labels into the plastic mold. This process is done into the mold before the injection process is done into it.  

Inside/Outside View: Inside view refers to the way a package is designed. On the other hand, the printing process of artwork and text is viewed outside the boxes. 

Integrated: Plant that creates both the raw material and the products created from those raw materials. 

Integral Hinges: Type of one-piece molding is done for cases, and hinges are an important part of this process. You can keep in mind that you can inject two parts of a hinge if you want a cost-effective solution. 

Internal Dimensions: The dimensions of a case or box that you get by measuring it from the inside. Just like other box measurements, you keep depth, height, and width in mind during this measurement. 

Inter-Stacking Pattern: A mechanism that you can use to stack cases on top of each other with ease.  

Inventory: Materials and equipment that are meant for the purpose of reselling. 

IP Rating: The effectiveness level of a claim without any closure, measured against foreign objects.

ISO: Acronym that you can use for the international standards organization. 

ISO 14001: The environmental management system that allows you to set the framework for this purpose. The system is used for companies to adhere to and ensure environmental management. 

ISO 9001 Certified: Certification that a company has met the requirements of this ISO system. 

ISTA: Acronym for the international safe transition, which is responsible for setting international safe transit systems. Also used to improve your logistics for your international trade. 

Terms Starting with J

Jigsaw Packs: A term referring to cushion packaging that allows for the positioning to be logged alongside one another.  

JIT: Acronym for just-in-time inventory system, which is a management strategy that aligns raw-material orders from suppliers directly with production schedules.

Terms Starting with K

K470: A type of lightweight aluminum protective case that is also rugged. This case data test is ATA approved. 

Kanban: A Japanese manufacturing system in which you use the scheduling process. Also, you control the inventory system with the supply chain.  

KD: Acronym for knocked down, which means that you are sending boxes or cartons in a flat form. This works for the boxes to get stored and shipped. 

Kiss Cut: A term that refers to a form of die cutting in which you do not cut the top layer of the material, while leaving the bottom of the material attached. 

Kit Skip: A packaging form that sports teams can use to transport their kit, mostly made from aluminum.  

Korrvu: A type of packaging that allows you to use films inside corrugated outers to help keep your products safe during transportation. 

Kraft: A type of paper colored brown and made from paperboard. The process of its manufacturing has to do with virgin pulp.  

Terms Starting with L 

Labels: Informative document you can attach to a product which may also include bar codes.  

Label Panel: The section of a box where you can add labels to it. 

Laser Etching: A type of engraving method in which you can make designs and other elements with the help of lasers.  

Layer Pad: Used inside cases to divide layers of stacked products such as cans, bottles and other rigid packaging, used in the rigid layer separation process. 

LD: Acronym for low density. 

Lead Time: The time that it takes you to get your order from a manufacturer. You can measure it by starting from the time the order has been received till your customer gets the product.  

Lid: An attached top that you can use to enclose your contents. This type also has the feature of being removable.   

Lightweighting: Reducing the total amount of material used on a particular box for manufacturing to reduce the weight of a box, as well as reduce costs. 

Liner: A part of paper material that works as a component of a corrugated board. You can use inner and outer lines that give you higher-quality features. For instance, you can use them for the print finish.  

Line-Side: The type of packaging in which you handle containers. The main purpose of these will be your transport components to your assembly lines. 

Lithography: The printing of flat services in which you use plates. Also, you can find it as one of the most common and useful types of printing. 

Litho Laminated Print: A type of high-quality printer in which you can also add a press with a corrugated board.

Terms Starting with M

Machine Erect: A type of line of packaging which you can use as fully erected by a mechanical machine.   

Manufacture: Producing products on a large scale, typically through either the use of machinery and/or manual labor. 

Material: A substance of matter from which you can produce a product. 

Materials Handling: A system you create for storing and retrieving materials. You can use this system for distribution and manufacturing processes. 

Matte Finish: A type of coating that allows you to create a surface that absorbs light. As it is a coating, you can apply it to the surface of a packaging box. 

Max Case: A case you can use for military and minding marine industries. 

Mini Bag: Bag used for small samples for a serious picture or presentation.  

Mission Critical: A certain act or event that is essential for an organization. It can be any act or event you need to perform a certain task. 

MLT: Acronym that stands for manufacturing lead time, which is the total time of the production cycle till the finish. There are multiple terms that are used to represent different periods of this total term, including move times, inspection, set up times, and order preparation time.

MM: Acronym for millimeter, which is a type of unit you can use for the measurement of different packaging boxes. 

Monomer: A type of chemical that you can use for the purpose of packaging production. The main feature it provides is its reaction with polymer. 

MOQ:  An acronym for minimum order quantity, which refers to the lowest quantity that a supplier will accept to place an order.  

Mold Seam: A vertical groove that you can find at the mold halves, also referred to as a parting line. 

Multipoint Gluing: The points where you apply glue to two intricate designs.   

Multi Trip: A type of packaging that you can use for multiple trips. 

Multi Up: A type of design in which dyes and presses are designed.   

Terms Starting with N 

NATO Part No: NATO stands for North Atlantic treaty organization, a military alliance. This jargon represents a digit code used for identifying material supplies standards. 

N Case: A cost-effective version of smart cases which you can use for presenting and pitching products and their samples.  

Nesting Containers: The type of containers you can design with sloped side walls. This allows you to stack them on each other when empty, saving a significant amount of space. 

Nomar: A type of abrasion-resistant coating you can use for being water-based and can also be glued. 

Terms Starting with O 

Offset Litho: An alternative word for mass production printing in which you use the offset method.  

Offset Printing: This method uses the transferring from the printing plate onto double blankets. You can also use rollers instead of rubber blankets. It is a popular printing method that provides high quality printing and color labeling. 

Ohm: A measurement method that allows you to measure electrical resistance, used for devices and materials. 

Operational Temperature: A range of temperatures that protects you for a certain type of packaging or case.  

Output: The total number of units certain manufacturing blinds can create in a particular manufacturing cycle.  

Outside View: The exterior or outer view of any packaging design. 

Overprint: This is the process of printing multiple colors in a way one will be printed on another. 

Terms Starting with P

Packaging: Term for placing products in a stock or customized container, bag, or box.  

Pack Burst: A type of versatile package design that can contain lubricants. Such packages carry pre measured amounts of these materials. 

Pallets: A flat transport structure you can use for supporting products. These can be most commonly used in the form of wood, which also helps you lift and move products. 

Pantone: A system you can use for matching colors and for printing inks. 

Partitions: A device you can use to create partitions inside a box. You can use interlocking corrugated, cushioning, or other types of boxes. 

PE: Acronym for polyethylene material. 

Perforations: Small holes made into the side of a material that allows you to open a packaging box more easily.  

Performance: Productivity strength features and other noticeable aspects in a packaging process. 

Picking Bin: Containers for picking and shipping to the customer.

Pick Face: The front face of the storage that the order picker can see in the warehouse. 

Pillow Pack: A box that looks like a miniature cardboard pillow and can pop up into shape by handling. You can use interlocking tabs in them; they are perfect for small products and objects. 

Pin-Holding: Small holes you can find in a finish that can occur due to substance. Coating applicators can use multiple options to reduce the chances of such issues. 

Plastic Boxes: Any type of plastic box you can manufacture in a wide range of materials you get from plastic.

Platen: A process to achieve flat surfaces by pressing multiple surfaces against each other. There are types of presses that use such a platan process. 

Plotter: A device you can use for the cost-effective manufacturing of prototypes. You can also get pre-production samples with them that also give you new manufacturing of specific products. 

Plywood: A type of board made from wood carrying 2 layers you can glue together with grain direction altering.  

PMS: Acronym for the Pantone matching system, a popular color-matching system used in the printing industry.  

Polyethylene: A typically used plastic material that has multiple manufacturing benefits, with three classifications being low, medium, and high. 

Polyethylene Foam: A type of closed-shell foam you can use for its resilience against chemicals and the strength it provides. 

Polymer: A material that forms large molecules emerging from smaller molecules coming together. There are two types of them; you can get both synthetic and natural types. 

Polypropylene: A common material you use for packaging purposes and can provide stress resistance. At the same time, it can be transparent even after production. 

Polystyrene: A type of thermoplastic material you can get from the polymerization of styrene. It is non-toxic, and where the resistant features make it special. On the other hand, it can provide you with power and strength.  

POS: POS stands for point of sale product displays, which normally showcase products with promotions.

Postal: A type of packaging you can create and use to post items. This means it should serve all the needs you want to fulfill for transportation by posting. 

PP: Acronym for polypropylene.  

PPE: Acronym for personal protective equipment, which refers to the equipment used to protect team members directly involved in manufacturing.

Press and Pull Catches: Letters used for the purpose of packaging. They can be opened with the push of a button and can stay closed under stress. At the same time, they can bear impact without opening. 

Product Amenities: Additional product features. 

PU: A thin material you can use for being versatile as a plastic material. It is a flexible form of elastoplastic.  

Pulp: Material made from cellulose fibers, wood, and waste paper. You can prepare it by separating cellulose fibers from these materials. 

Purge Valve: A valve that allows you to let air flow through a case. But the real feature is that you can stop dust and water from entering this case without stopping the air.  

PVA Adhesive: A common type of rubbery and synthetic polymer that you can use as a thermoplastic. 

Terms Starting with Q 

Quote: A packaging code you can get from a salesperson or an estimator. With this statement, you’ll receive the total price for a specific packaging order.

Terms Starting with R

Rationalization: A process you can use for the purpose of merging similar packaging lines. With these, you can get but if it’s like a smaller inventory and better economies of scale.   

Rack Mount Case: A metal framework that allows you to carry electronic equipment. 

Rack Unit: A unit that you make for flat cases and portable server cases. 

Recyclable: Packaging materials that can be reused, instead of becoming waste or new single-use material.  

Reel: A spool or coil that you can use to wind flexible materials around. The benefit of this equipment is that you can easily store and translate these materials with it. 

Registration: Locations or marks you can make on print surfaces for better results with the print. It can be quite helpful if you print multiple colors on such a surface.  

Resistance: A measurement of how much difficulty an electric current would pass through a conductor.  

Rotary Die Cutting: A type of die cutting on a cylinder rotary press, commonly used in line with printing, in which you can use solid and engraved dies. At the same time, you can consider magnetic and adjustable dies. 

Rotational Molding: A type of molding process that you can use for plastic materials and has multiple qualities. For instance, it can help you with one-piece hollows and is also stress-free. 

RFQ: Acronym that stands for request for quotation that a company or person gets for estimating the costs and to make products.   

Reusable: Type of packaging that can be used multiple times before discarding it. 

Retail: A method of selling products directly to the public for use purposes and not for reselling or wholesaling.  

Royal Mail Sizes: Guidelines to measure the size and weight of different postages, also used for the maximum size of postages you can add. 

RSI: This acronym stands for repetitive strain injury that can occur due to repetitive actions. 

Run: The total number of products a unit produces in a session.  

Retention Pack: A type of packaging that allows you to have cost-effective and simpler protection in the form of protection. 

Terms Starting with S 

Shadow Board: A type of case insert you can use for an organization station. You can also make them custom forms with foams, and they highlight if a tool is missing or back to the store.  

Sheet: A raw material used for packaging and printing. 

Sheet Feeders: A type of plant that allows you to work with corrugated sheets with the help of a corrugator.  

Shell Case: An alternative commonly used for the purpose of sampling. You can use it instead of a traditional sampling case.  

Shielding Layer: A type of conductive layer that you can use for the purpose of blocking electrostatic fields. 

Sheet Plant: A company that buys its materials from sheet fitters and cut numbered them into packaging. Such plants typically do not have a corrugator device. 

Silk Screening: A printing technique you can use for transferring ink to the printer. There are multiple ways you can use it, like applying it to liners, containers, and other elements. 

SKU: Acronym standing for stock-keeping unit or an identification code you can use for an individual or product. 

SLA: Acronym for a service level agreement, which is a contract that a provider tells about the responsibilities of the supplier, as well as vice versa.   

Sleeve: A type of paperboard that you can customize with shape and style. You can make it in a way that slides over another one to provide you with decoration and beauty. 

Smart Case: A type of packaging case you can use to show products for a sales pitch or a business meeting. 

Sourcing: A term encompassing all functions used for raw materials. You can also consider the collection, processing, and recycling of these processes. 

Spec Number: A five-digit number that you can use for a certain design.  

SPRC: The total time that a production unit can use to create a certain amount of products.  

SSE: Acronym for static-safe environments that work by distributing certain conductive products. 

SSI Schaefer: A manufacturer of warehouse logistics systems shelving storage equipment, and many other similar products. 

Stack Height: Regulations that must be maintained to ensure that you stack packaging safely.  

Stacking Corner: The type of strong plastic corner that you can add to a case or a package to make it more steady and safe. So, the main purpose of it is during stacking. 

Standard 300: A standard age of presentation cases of shell type. 

Starpack: An organization in the packaging and printing industry that recognizes innovations in technology and design packaging. 

Stereo: A type of flexible plate that you use for printing, so it’s even easier, like the flexographic technique. 

Stillage: A type of brake or pilot you can use to hold multiple items. A common use of these is lineside assembly applications.  

Static Dissipative: A form or material you can use to dissipate static charges. These boxes help protect any item within these boxes against any such charges. 

Spool: A type of cylinder that allows you to wind flexible materials around.  

Single Wall: A certain type of box you can use for packaging purposes, which you can use with two materials. You can have fluted paper and then two materials that you can bond on any of the two sides of this material.

Simulated Rainfall: A test used in the UK for checking the protection of a packaging box.  

Single Pass Printing: A single-pass printer allows you the production of four-color printing and monochrome data in one pass. 

Single Source: A method of providing supplies to customers from one source. You can save costs with these and make management easier and better. 

Single-Up: A type of rotary die cutter you can use to cut products in one particular shape. 

Sheet Plant Association: An association that works on the motion of best practices in their member companies.  

Shelf Life: The total time during the age of the product can be usable after production. Packaging is one of the best methods to improve the shelf life of your products.   

Shelf Ready Packaging: A type of packaging that allows for easy assembly and display of your product.  

Sampling: The process of creating a prototype that you can use to get customer approval. All of its features must be like the products you will create. It is a process of creating a sample to show your customer what the end product will look like.  

Seams: Encompasses various techniques used to keep a package together. The methods you use in this technique are tapping, stitching, and gluing. For instance, you may use a corrugated board to make it bigger and stronger.  

Strapping: The process you can use for strapping and combining straps. You can try reinforcing these for stability for certain packaging products.   

Stratocell: A type of low-cost polyethylene foam that is used for packaging. You can try using it for the inner cushioning of a packaging box. 

Style: A style guide can be used for the purpose of box designs that the European federation has set. 

Supazote: A type of cross-linked ethylene copolymer format that you can use for its extremely soft feel. 

Supply Chain: A network that you create between different companies to handle and produce like any product.  

Suspension Pack: A type of check that protects your products during transit. Its mechanism of making products suspended between two layers allows you to get rid of impact. 

Sustainability: Processes and products that reduce the chances of environmental harm and promote eco-friendliness.  

Terms Starting with T

Tamper Resistant Seal: A type of seal that cannot be opened without clear evidence of tampering. When you try to open such a seal or gap, it will be partially destroyed, showing the abundance of tempering with the product. 

Tamper Evident Band: A part of caps and seals that allows you to determine if a product has been tempered. This way, you can reveal if any product has been tampered with or not. Once you open a cab, this part would be destroyed to provide evidence of this activity. 

Tear Strip: A type of plastic film that you can apply to the inside of a package.   

Tear Tab: An extension of a tearing strip that you can find on a package or a bottle. Its purpose is to provide easy grasping of the packaging.  

Technobag: A type of presentation bag made from polypropylene in Germany. Often considered for project production with injection molding, as they have a single wall. 

Test Liner: Manufacture a type of recycled liner board as a sheet of fibers. The big feature of this one is that all the fibers in this one are similar. Its outer layer is better quality cycle fiber, called multiply or duplex.  

Thermoforming: A type of manufacturing process in which you use vacuuming or pressuring. There are a number of industries you can use it for, like product displays, clamshells, and food packaging needs. 

Triboelectric Charge: A type of charge that can be produced by different materials coming together.  

Tri-Wall: The triple-floated corrugated board has the ability to provide flexibility and strength. At the same time, it has amazing eco-friendliness that makes it quite preferable. 

Tubes: Equipment used for the purpose of corrugated tubes for multiple reasons. Commonly you can find these alongside end caps. 

Turkey Lock: A style of box that comes with a full overlap base, which does not require tapping.  

Tool Control: A type of tool organization insert that you can use for cases. You can get its highlight when you’re missing different colored foams. 

Tongue and Groove Seal: A type of extended group that you can operate even on mind mirror image concepts, with the ability of a titled enclosure. 

Travel Skips: Large aluminum cases used to transport sports kits and equipment.  

Trays: Packaging solutions commonly used for samples and other product elements. 

Tote: A type of plastic container that you can stack one upon each other.

Transit: The process by which you transport products from one place to another for shipping. 

Transit Damage: Any damage to a product that may occur during transportation. 

Terms Starting with U

Ultrasonic Welding: A type of industrial building technique that allows you to create certain types of materials. You can use ultrasonic high-frequency vibrations for this purpose. It allows you to create a solid-state world that you can use for plastics.  

Unit Cost: The cost for manufacturing a particular product. Multiple types of costs exist, such as overhead costs, labor costs, among others. 

Terms Starting with V

Varnish: A type of ink that can be shortened or glossy. At the same time, it can be made and helps improve the beauty of a product, as well as increased product protection.  

VCI: Acronym that stands for vapor corrosion inhibitor. The coating allows you to get protection against corrosion. It works both passively and actively to provide this protection.  

Vector: A type of graphic that is made up of paths and defines points from start to end. These images are made from multiple dots, allowing you to scale them up without any quality loss. 

Vibration: Factors such as loose cargo that can damage packaging products and goods packed inside. 

Vibration Sweep: A vibration that travels from one frequency to another. You can use this method for protective cases. 

Virgin Material: A term of approval that a material has not been processed in any way except in its manufacturing process. 

VMI: Acronym that stands for vendor management inventory, used in stock management to determine the appropriate packaging levels. 

Void Fill: A type that you can use to protect a certain product inside a packaging box. You can get it from certain materials that fill the whole box except the product packed inside. 

Volume: The total number of units a manufacturer can produce in a certain amount of time. 

Volume Resistivity: The ability that a material contains to resist the flow of current.  

Vortex Pressure Relief Valve: A type of valve that can help adjust air pressure without letting in any water, and it does it automatically.  

Terms Starting with W

Waterjet Cutting: A type of equipment that allows you to cut materials with the help of high water pressure.  

Weight: The density of a material used for packaging purposes.  

Warehousing: The storage of parts and components that you can use for the purpose of packaging and printing processes. 

Wastage: The components or packaging boxes that do not meet your quality standards and can be discarded. 

Terms Starting with X 

Xtrabag: A type of case that makes you lightweight and is made of plastic. 

Terms Starting with Y

Yield Value: The actual amount of force needed to start an ink flowing.

Terms Starting with Z

Zarges: Manufacturer of a range of aluminum shipping cases and containers.

FAQs 

What are the most common examples of packaging? 

When it comes to the examples of products in this industry, there are multiple products you can have. For instance, there are products like: 

• Mailer boxes 
• Ecommerce packaging 
• Cosmetic packaging
• CBD packaging 
• Retail packaging

What are the most common types of packaging boxes in the packaging industry? 

The type of box ultimately depends on the unique products and custom specifications. In general, the most common types of boxes tend to be mailer boxes, candle boxes, product boxes, ecommerce boxes, and other retail packaging boxes. 

What is packaging, and why does it matter for products in different industries?  

Packaging is any type of product cover that needs protection against environmental factors that can cause issues.  

What is the importance of packaging abbreviations? 

When it comes to the terminologies used in the packaging industry, abbreviations play an important role. The better you understand printing jargon, the more impactful your collaborative packaging process and output can be.

What are the most common food packaging types? 

When it comes to the food packaging industry, there are multiple products that are essential. For example, cake boxes, cookie boxes, and other bakery packaging are quite commonly utilized. 

What does retail packaging mean? 

When it comes to what retail packaging means, it is simple that any type of box for selling to end consumers must be a retail packaging box. 

What does bulk packaging mean?  

Bulk packaging is a type of packaging that allows for scalability in box quantities, as well as more cost-efficient unit prices due to increased order size.  

Refine Packaging: Your Ultimate Custom Packaging Partner

So, you’re armed and ready with all of the packaging terminology that can help you grow as a packaging professional. Now it’s time to start the packaging production process!

Refine Packaging can assist from conceptualization to mass box production. We aim to provide as many options as possible and simplify the process so you can see your idea materialize in the shortest time possible.

Select from our array of custom box industries and products, or let us know your concept so our designers can work with you. We use various printing techniques and offer 2D and 3D mockups of your packaging. Our team can send you a sample so you can verify if the prototype matches your vision.

But don’t just take our word for it—discover how the Refine Packaging process has delivered successful customer stories for 1,000s of satisfied brands and their clientele. Contact us for a free quote today, and our packaging specialist will connect with you shortly.

The post Packaging Definitions: Complete Glossary of Printing Terminology appeared first on Refine Packaging.

Today, knowing the difference between raster and vector images is crucial in packaging design, which prizes accurate and consistent print quality. Discovering their attributes allows you to choose the most appropriate type—or at least helps you appreciate why your packaging designer used one type or a combination of them.

Designers understand that their creations look different in 2D—on a computer monitor or a printed sheet—and in 3D—or the printed box. That’s why they save designs in a format that will preserve their look during the printing process. Moreover, designers aim to ensure that their creations—your brand logo and illustrations—stay sharp and comprehensible under store lights and beside other similar products.

Captivating with Visuals

One study says that brands have a seven-second window to convince shoppers to buy their products. According to another research, visuals—such as your logo, product name, and artwork—are among the first design elements that catch consumers’ attention. Imagery is an undeniably powerful design element. It represents your brand and shapes the public’s view of your business before they even try your product.

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The percentage of consumers who value a product’s packaging when making a purchase (10%) is about the same as those who prioritize the brand name (12%). So you must make sure that your packaging and brand assets appear crisp and stir curiosity, trust, and pleasure.

Leveling Expectations: Understanding Raster and Vector Files

Packaging designers save their creations as raster or vector files, the two main groupings of image formats in the digital art world. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of these two image types points us to their best applications.

Raster Images (Bitmap Images)

A series of tiny colored squares or pixels blend and form a raster image. Like a mosaic, each raster image contains a fixed number of pixels, expressed in dots per inch (DPI) or pixels per inch (PPI). The pixel number determines the image’s quality or resolution. Raster images with high DPIs or PPIs allow you to enlarge them without looking grainy or blurry—or what we call pixelated. However, these images come in larger file sizes.

Photographs and scanned images are examples of raster images. 300 DPI is the best resolution for printing, while 72 DPI is ideal for website images. Raster files, recommended for non-line art images, can undergo editing using Adobe Photoshop.

Vector Images

Mathematical paths, shapes, and curves define the direction (starting and ending points) and the magnitude of vector images. Because these files aren’t pixel-based, you can scale them up to billboard size or down to fit a pin or button without losing quality. 

Logos, illustrations, fonts, icons, and graphics created in Adobe Illustrator are examples of vector graphics. Their file size is relatively small because they consist of lines and anchor points, making them faster to transmit through email or other file-sharing platforms.

Image File Formats

Printers typically tell you their required file format and other specifications to make your design “print-ready.” Read our list below to familiarize yourself with various file formats for raster and vector images.

Raster files

TIFF or tagged image file format (.tiff)

TIFF was the most common format for saving high-resolution images bound for printing until the early 2000s when PDF and other vector formats became more popular. This file type uses lossless compression, resulting in large file sizes but high-quality images. TIFF can save transparent backgrounds.

JPG or joint photographic experts group (.jpg)

A JPG file is a compressed image with thousands of pixels saved as a flattened bitmap that uses less space. This method results in a smaller file size and quality loss— also referred to as lossy compression. 

The quality loss is generally not noticeable unless they’re sharp lines and geometric shapes, which become blurred as a result of compression. Moreover, this file type doesn’t save transparent backgrounds. Images with such backgrounds become a solid color when saved in JPG.

These images support a 24-bit palette of color, making them the best format to use for photos. Most website images and non-professional prints use this format.

PNG or portable network graphics (.png)

Unlike JPG, PNG is a lossless format and has larger file sizes as a result. These files are more versatile than JPG, as they support transparency, allowing them to blend with different backgrounds. Due to their low resolution, PNG images are more suitable for web graphics than printed materials. 

BMP or bitmap image file (.bmp)

BMP images also belong to the uncompressed file category. Microsoft developed this format to appear in Windows programs, but you can open and revise these files in major image-editing software. Experts recommend this high-quality format for archiving images or documents.

GIF or graphics interchange format (.gif)

You can find GIFs widely used today for web-based animated images. This format has a small file size and supports transparency. However, GIFs can only carry 256 colors, not making it advisable for photos and high-quality printing.

HEIC or high-efficiency image container format (.heic)

HEIC is the format of images taken on iPhones and other Apple devices using iOS 11 or later. It only needs half the storage space eaten up by JPG images. Windows have developed extensions that convert this file type into JPG.

Vector Files

PDF or portable document format (.pdf)

PDF is a popular format for printing because you can create it from various programs, and it preserves your formatting and layout. The file is commonly associated with vectors, but it can also contain a raster image, depending on the software you use to create it. 

You can also encrypt the file, setting passwords and digital signatures for access. However, PDF isn’t the best choice if your design will still undergo editing later.

EPS or encapsulated postscript (.eps)

Like PDFs, EPS files preserve their resolution or image quality when you scale them. Although no longer as popular in the design and printing process, many designers still use them for saving the logos, icons, and illustrations they create. 

Adobe created EPS in the 1980s to cater to artistic typography projects. This format aimed to ensure that image quality remains intact during text resizing, particularly for large format printing. You can edit EPS images in Adobe Illustrator and CorelDRAW.

AI or Adobe Illustrator (.ai)

Adobe introduced the AI format to replace the older EPS. AI images require Adobe Illustrator to view and edit (although CorelDRAW and other programs offer limited functionality). This format supports transparency and special effects.

CDR or CorelDRAW (.cdr)

Like AI, CDR files only work with full support within CorelDRAW’s platforms. The format is another good option for illustrations, icons, and logos.

SVG or scalable vector graphics (.svg)

SVGs are formats with small sizes that you usually find on the web. Some of its best uses include graphs and diagrams for websites.

This table summarizes our discussion on vector and raster images so far:

How to Prepare Your Artwork to Achieve the Best-Looking Prints

After learning about vector and raster images, you can now be on the same page with your designer and printer in preparing your design for printing. Here are some tips to ensure the final product will feature clear imagery:

1. Know your printer’s file-format requirements

Most printers require a vector file. Ask your printing company about the specific file format it needs. Moreover, verify if the file should include layers and cut and fold lines.

2. Check your colors

Consumers take around 90 seconds to decide how to interact with products. Moreover, color influences up to 90% of their initial impression. So be aware of colors and how they will register on your chosen packaging material. For instance, Kraft paper can carry darker colors well. However, not all printers can print white ink on this material.

Files bound for printing are typically in CMYK (cyan-magenta-yellow-“key” or black) mode. Images for websites and other digital media (on-screen displays) use the red-green-blue or RGB model. Ask your printer if it can match your Pantone or specific colors.

3. Get the correct files from your packaging designer

Unless your designer or agency included printing services in their package, relay your printer’s requirements so you can submit a “print-ready” version of your design (including dielines and color codes if your printer does custom colors).

4. Verify your paper or packaging material choice

This step can coincide with your ideation process or when you and your designer discuss your preferred material as part of your project or design brief. Your packaging designer and printer can confirm whether the material you selected is compatible with your preferred printing technique.

5. Request a custom box sample

The best printing service providers can give you a sample to view the final product up close and make any final tweaks before mass production. 

Questions for Evaluating Packaging Visuals

Once you get your prototype, you and your team can ask these questions to help you gauge your target market’s reaction to your packaging’s visuals:

1. Is it clear, and does it define your product right away?

Your packaging should immediately let buyers know what your product is and its purpose. Avoid confusing shoppers—don’t package your soap bars like food unless such design is part of your marketing strategy. 80% of customers are willing to try new products that help them attain their goals.

2. Does it honestly represent its content(s)?

Photos and descriptions on your packaging should accurately represent what’s inside, such as quantity, flavor, and so on.

3. What is the packaging’s “shelf impact”?

Visit one or more shops that will sell your product and see how it fares when on display with your competitors’ products. Does it stand out? How can your packaging be more noticeable?

Your product’s most important information should be front and center so that consumers can discover your brand when it appears between others of the same category on store shelves.

If you run an e-commerce store or subscription box service, visit sites that offer products like yours to determine your packaging’s visual appeal. Search engines (55%) andretailer websites (34%) are among the consumers’ top three sources of pre-purchase information.

4.  Is the design versatile enough?

When you decide to introduce variations of your product, can you easily modify your design for one or more variants?

Choose Professionals for Your Artwork and Printing

Outsourcing the creation of your custom-printed product box to a packaging designer or design agency is the most effective route to achieving your branding goals.

Agencies and printing firms specializing in packaging can recommend, develop, and execute designs that grab attention and elicit curiosity, excitement, and pleasure.

At Refine Packaging, we don’t just produce stunning boxes. Our customer support can start from artwork design guidance and structural engineering. If you already have a design, you can visit our Artwork Guidelines to help you or your designer send a print-ready file. The checklist, which includes our file format and other requirements, will allow us to process your order—or first produce a mockup—with minimal to zero hitches. Contact us today so we can connect you with our design team.

The post Raster vs Vector: Essential Printing Guide to Image File Formats appeared first on Refine Packaging.

You’ve made countless decisions already, but now is the moment of truth. It’s time to decide on something that could make or break your customer’s first impression about your products.

Should you choose stock packaging or custom packaging? 

It’s a difficult decision to make. Especially when you consider that:

• In a Dotcom Distribution study, over 60% of those surveyed said that gift-like packaging gets them excited about what they ordered.
• 40% of these online shoppers said they would be more likely to purchase from a retailer again if the retailer used premium packaging.

By understanding the differences and the pros and cons of stock and custom packaging, you’ll be able to confidently make this decision and give your product the best possible impression on your customers. 

Here’s what you need to know before you decide on either stock packaging vs custom packaging. 

Stock packaging is readily available packaging that’s easy to access and use right away. It’s often the default choice from shipping warehouses. Stock packaging, as its name implies, comes “as is” with little to no customization available. Since it’s not designed specific to your needs, it will have a basic and generic look and feel to it. 

You’d want to use stock packaging if you urgently need to get your product into consumers’ hands and you’re not concerned about the impression your packaging will have on your customers.

Stock packaging is fast, freely available and comes in different sizes and shapes (all of which are very broad and not specifically tailored to your product). It’s also economical, so if you’re looking for ways to save money, stock packaging just might be your solution.

Custom packaging is essentially everything that isn’t stock packaging.

Imagine that your product has a unique size or shape. You may want retail packaging that’s specifically designed to highlight the product’s shape and house the product snuggly and securely. Custom packaging can help you do just that.

In fact, if all you want is a plain white box, although it sounds broad and generic, you’d be surprised to learn how few suppliers of stock packaging actually have the exact box dimensions you need.

Custom packaging is also available in a wide range of shapes and sizes and you can customize nearly every facet of it – and not just in terms of the design, but also added printed effects that make your brand and product truly stand out and leave a lasting impression.

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Even if you don’t want all the “bells and whistles” that custom packaging can offer – customizations like matte or gloss lamination, foil stamping, embossing or debossing or spot UV  – it may still be a good idea to opt for custom packaging.

Just search for “unboxing” on YouTube and you’ll see how much people obsess over beautiful custom packaging. In a recent Dotcom Distribution study, 50% said gift-like or branded packaging makes them more likely to recommend a brand to others.

Suffice it to say, custom packaging is an easy way to spike interest in your products and build excitement around your brand.  

Stock Packaging vs. Custom Packaging: When To Use Each One

With all these pros and cons for stock packaging vs. custom packaging, you may find it difficult to truly narrow down when you’d want to use each type of packaging.

To make it easier for you, we’ve compiled a list of instances where one option is likely better than the other. 

You should use stock packaging when: 

• You want to test out different marketing options and don’t want the expense and time of custom printing until you’re ready for it.
• You’re a startup on a tight budget and are looking for an economical way to conduct market tests or do other promotions.
• You’re faced with production shortages and need to get the available product out the door ASAP. 
• You’re preparing trade show samples to be given out to attendees.

As you can see, the name of the game with stock packaging is that it’s quick, cheap, easy to obtain and almost certainly available. 

You should use custom packaging when: 

• You have a luxury product and you want to create a sophisticated look.
• You want to take full advantage of custom box design or shape options for your product.
• You want users to unbox your product on social media and share their reactions
• You need or want packaging that’s unique and beyond the ordinary and you’re prepared to pay more for nearly limitless customization options.
• You have a large volume of printed packaging needed and you want every facet of your packaging production to be tailored to your specific needs. 
• You have a subscription box service or an ecommerce type of service and you want to highlight your product in a unique way.

Stock packaging may be cheap, fast and easy, but you lose a lot of things you may not have even considered when you choose to go with out-of-the-box packaging.

With custom packaging, you open up a whole world of design and personalization benefits. There are flexible printing techniques and tools that you can utilize to deliver an impressive customer experience. Every angle of the package, and even the material itself can be printed, embossed, highlighted, glossed and so much more in order to make it stand out from the competition. 

The Bottom Line on Stock Packaging vs. Custom Packaging

As you can see, the “debate” on stock packaging vs. custom packaging is really not much of a debate at all. When you consider the stark differences between what stock packaging brings to the table, and what you can have with custom packaging – there really are times when one is a better option than the other. 

When it comes to choosing custom packaging, it’s vitally important to do it right. At Refine Packaging, we have years of experience creating custom packaging for all types of products, sizes and configurations.

The world of custom packaging can be confusing and overwhelming for a first time product designer, and even if it isn’t your first product design rodeo, it’s still nice to have a knowledgeable team of experts on your side to help guide you and provide advice.

Whether you already have an idea in mind or you’d like suggestions, our team of artists is trained in a variety of styles and mediums, and can maneuver easily across different graphic styles to create a look that accurately captures your idea and your product in one complete design.

The team at Refine Packaging is eager to help you take the next step with your custom packaging and walk you through the process so that you can have packaging that perfectly exemplifies and embodies the best features of your product and your brand.

Contact us today for a free, no obligation quote on your custom packaging needs and we’ll work with you to create a look and a package that brings together the very best of your brand personality, social appeal, and quality product design to create a look that is unmistakably your own. 

The post Stock Packaging vs. Custom Packaging: What’s The Difference? appeared first on Refine Packaging.

People are aware of the environmental impact of packaging and waste. It’s becoming increasingly important to take a more eco-friendly approach. In a recent DotCom Distribution study, 57% of respondents said that green packaging is important to them.

For business owners looking to make a great impression with their custom packaging but still minimize waste, kraft paper is an excellent and versatile choice.

Kraft paper offers numerous benefits and can be a more environmentally-green option for your business.

So, what is kraft paper? How is this paper made? How can you use brown kraft paper packaging in your environmentally-conscious business? 

Let’s take a closer look. 

How Kraft Paper Is Made

Kraft paper was invented in 1879 by an individual named Carl Dahl. He chose to give his newly created paper the name “kraft” – the German word for strong. 

You may not realize it, but kraft paper packaging is already a well-known part of the printing and packaging world. From serving as a strong filler in the packages you receive, to eloquently wrapping gift boxes, it’s hard to find a package that doesn’t use this durable paper in some form or fashion when it comes to sustainable and eco-friendly packaging.

But how did it come about?

Paper involves a process that converts wood into wood pulp and from there, into paper. Wood pulp is held together by lignin, which is a type of cellular structure, and cellulose. Lignin, owing to its structure, doesn’t exactly make a good paper, but cellulose does. That means there needed to be a way to separate the lignin from the cellulose.

What Mr. Dahl discovered was that if he “cooked” the wood chips in a chemical composition made up of sodium sulfide and sodium hydroxide, those tough lignin fibers would break down and break apart from the cellulose. From there, the remnants could be screened through a mesh to remove larger pieces and then made into paper.

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Now, although this cooking process separates the lignin and the cellulose, it doesn’t remove them all entirely. This is how kraft paper remains so strong. There’s still lignin content in the paper pulp mixture, and there’s also a lot of sulfur in the mix. Both of these components together add to the strength of kraft paper.

The color of brown kraft paper comes as a natural product from the wood pulp. If kraft paper were to be bleached, that would not only increase the cost to produce it, but would also weaken it by destroying those fibers that make it as durable as it is. It is, however, possible to have bleached (white) kraft paper that is stronger than conventional paper. Bleached kraft paper is also important if you want to protect your product packaging against yellowing over time. 

So what are the benefits to using kraft paper in your product packaging? Here are just a few reasons to consider making kraft paper your packaging of choice.

Benefits of Using Kraft Paper in Custom Packaging

Now that you better understand how kraft paper is made, the next question is, what can it really do for your business? 

Kraft Paper Adds Natural Beauty with a Timeless Appeal 

If you’re looking for a great way to position your business as a natural champion of the environment, kraft paper has a simple, appealing and primitive look that can help you achieve that goal. It stands out from mass-produced paper packaging simply because of its more rustic nature. 

Looks aside, kraft paper also doesn’t add much in terms of weight to your custom boxes, but still surrounds it with excellent durability. That means that you get the benefits of a package that can withstand rougher handling and shuffling, but won’t cost much in terms of shipping rates. 

You’ll also be glad to know that kraft paper is recyclable. Kraft paper degrades naturally and has no negative environmental impact. It degrades within just a few weeks, but it can also be saved and reused, helping to maintain your brand credibility as a company that’s forward-thinking and that cares about their impact on the environment. 

Kraft Paper is Extremely Durable for Custom Kraft Boxes

The way that kraft paper is made helps to make it inherently strong. But it can be made even stronger and better by coating the resulting pressed paper with PE or polyethylene. This also helps protect the kraft paper from moisture and bacteria, although one downside is that this coating does affect the ease with which it is recycled. 

If you need even greater durability, you can use several layers of kraft paper to create even tougher kraft boxes for your packaging. 

Brown Kraft Paper is Good for the Environment

Unlike the processing that occurs with regular paper manufacturing and printing, kraft paper follows a much simpler process using fewer chemicals. In addition, these chemicals can be recovered, recycled and reused without any loss in quality. The remaining byproducts of the kraft process are tall oil and turpentine, which can be used in the manufacturing processes of other items. 

Kraft paper can also be made from different kinds of wood. Certain woods like bamboo and pine aren’t often used in the making of traditional paper. Pine is too resinous and bamboo takes a long time to be correctly processed which makes it cost prohibitive for most ordinary uses. However, both of these types of common woods make excellent use of the kraft paper process.  

In the end, brown kraft paper and the process that goes into making it is self-sustaining and for those parts that aren’t, they can be reused, making it a great option for businesses that need durability but still want to highlight their green manufacturing processes. 

How to Get Started with Kraft Paper Packaging

As you consider kraft paper among the different types of packaging and printing possibilities like folding cartons and corrugated boxes, it’s understandable to have questions. Fortunately, you have a knowledgeable, experienced ally on your side who can help you navigate the printing and packaging process from start to finish.

At Refine Packaging, we know that you have many different options for how to prepare, print and package your product. We also understand that you want to keep costs low but still create an affordable, beautiful presentation for your customers.

If you’re interested in using kraft paper for your company’s custom kraft packaging boxes, talk to us first. We have the skills, expertise and equipment necessary to take your product packaging from a conceptual vision to a finished product ready to be unboxed by your customers.

Everything we do is meant to enhance the quality and perception of your product, so no matter what you’re selling or what industry you’re in, our knowledgeable packaging professionals can work with you to better understand your vision and make your packaging come to life.

Whether you want to create a natural, environmentally-friendly and attractive package or you want to showcase your forward-thinking, eco-minded mission, kraft paper is a great way to show off the simplicity, “homemade-ness” and organic qualities of your product, all in one  concise packaging design.

Who knew simple kraft paper was capable of so much? 

Get Your Free Estimate for Your Product Design and Packaging

Read our A-Z packaging terms and glossary to help you get up to speed with industry terminology as you create your own custom boxes.

Contact us at Refine Packaging today to learn more about this or our many other packaging options for your product.

We also have a team of talented artists on staff who can properly design your sustainable packaging in a way that accurately and fully reflects your brand, your story and your business perception so that your product stands head and shoulders above that of your competition. 

Reach out to us today for a free, no obligation quote and to learn more about our comprehensive packaging and printing design services.

The post What is Kraft Paper? Discover the Unique Eco-Friendly Benefits for Durable Packaging appeared first on Refine Packaging.

So what is window patching? What does the window patching process look like in custom packaging?

While window patching is often used in packaging for products like toys and snacks, but can be used for any type of product. A window can also be used to showcase the high quality and craftsmanship of higher-end luxury products.

Adding window box patching to your retail packaging is one of the many choices you’ll need to make as you decide how you want to present your product to consumers. 

PET and PVC: Common Types of Window Patching Films

The most common types of film used in window patching are polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

With PET film, the plastic is shaped into the style you want and then dried to offer greater protection. This makes the film virtually impossible to tamper with and gives it excellent protection even against regular handling. PET film is light, which may leave it prone to scratching, but it holds its own against external pressure while protecting the product within. This makes it a great option for retail and consumer-facing products, particularly food. 

PVC film, on the other hand, is even more resistant to scuffs, wear and tear. It also weathers the elements well and holds its own against moisture. When exposed to UV rays, however, PVC film can degrade and discolor. This can also create an odor and rippling within the packaging. Due to the odor, we do not recommend this type of film for packaging food or snacks, but we do recommend it for products that need added protection against heavy or frequent handling. 

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What Other Kinds of Window Patching Films Are There?

PET and PVC film are by no means the only two kinds of window patching films out there. Depending on your product and the custom window boxes you need, there may be other films that may be better suited to your needs. For example: 

• Polyolefin is ideal for boxed goods and as a shrink film.
• Polyethylene is best for frozen foods.
• Glassine is for products that have high grease content.
• Polypropylene is best for baked goods and candy that use bakery boxes with a window.
• Laminated foil is best suited for products that are sensitive to air or light.

Two Types of Windows: Rigid vs. Flexible Windows 

Cellophane window packaging (also called windowing) is more common than ever and is a great way to make your product stand out from your competition. These types of windows give your customers the opportunity to see your product exactly the way it is before unboxing – with nothing to hide. This in turn helps build credibility and trust in your brand, as well as paving the way for an engaging user experience.

Cellophane windows are generally used for food and beverage, but are also common in cosmetics and retail products. Think of the last product you purchased that had a small window where you could see the luxurious or delicious contents. It was an instant reflection of quality, wasn’t it? 

With these types of windows, you have two options: rigid windows and flexible windows. Flexible windows are the most affordable and are made from polyester film. In addition, this type of film is eco-friendly and can be recycled. Because of its flexibility, it’s great for oddly-shaped packages or packages with curves. 

This type of cellophane packaging is also approved for food contact because it is designed to meet the most exacting standards of the top food safety organizations. And although flexible windows are affordable, rigid windows also offer several benefits.

Rigid windows are generally made from a hard plastic resin and are typically used on high-end or luxury products. They’re also commonly found on pharmaceutical products and some cosmetics.

Larger packages where you want a wide window area can also be better served and protected with rigid windows. They’re a great way to showcase your product in its entirety, show it with crystal clarity and protect it with far greater strength than other forms of window box patching. 

The Window Patching Process

The window patching process is made possible by a machine that is specifically designed for that purpose. With this machine, a reel that contains a specific type of plastic film, like PET or PVC applies windows to the product. Using electromagnetic energy, the product passes through the reel quickly and the film is applied to the packaging paper.

Generally the plastic film instantly sticks to the material without needing any drying time. This greatly speeds up the process since the package is ready once it completes its run from the window patching machine. 

Considerations For Choosing the Right Type of Window Box Patching 

There are some things you’ll want to keep in mind to help you better decide which type of window patching is right for you. Here are a few tips to make your choice easier:

Window Size

First, it’s important to consider the size of the window you want to have on your packaging. Larger windows are more prone to breakage, scratches and tears, so you’ll want your film to be strong. Smaller windows could be best served by thinner films. It’s important that when preparing the design for your box, you leave enough room for the film to be glued or pressed into the packaging material. 

Strength and Sturdiness Levels 

Luxury products like pharmaceutical products and cosmetics will need a higher level of stiffness and sturdiness to help properly protect them while delivering impeccable clarity to showcase the product within. These products typically have high gloss lamination as well to position them in such a way as to be more eye-catching for the user.

Higher end products also need great tensile strength to prevent them from tearing or being broken during shipping. This high need for structural integrity means that production will be slower and thus increase the cost involved in manufacturing the packaging. 

Exposure to the Elements

Finally, if your product will be exposed to the elements, including heat, moisture or freezing temperatures, it’s important to keep in mind how that may affect the contents within. The right packaging film needs to be stable enough to handle this.

Baked goods, for example, may still be packaged while warm, which creates a steamy, high-moisture environment. They can then be flash frozen to protect the integrity of the product itself. Inferior packaging could make this process a disaster in the making, which is why it’s so important to entrust your product packaging to the experts. 

For more print finishing options, read up about spot UV, soft-touch coating and lamination and varnish for custom packaging. Our comprehensive guide to packaging terms can help you get up to speed with industry definitions as you create your own custom boxes.

Have Questions About the Window Patching Process? 

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed about all of the choices available in window patching alone, let alone how it fits in with your overall plan for your product packaging design. Let the experts at Refine Packaging help you make your decision with confidence.

Whether you need a large, clear and high-visibility window to showcase all the beauty and style of your product, or you want something smaller and more environmentally friendly that can be recycled, we have your needs covered.

Contact us today and let us know more about your product and your vision for its packaging design. Don’t have a packaging design in mind? We have proficient artists on staff who can help conceptualize your idea and transform it into a breathtaking design you’ll love.

Get a free, no obligation quote on your product packaging and window patching needs from the experts at Refine Packaging today.

The post What is Window Patching? Understanding the Window Patching Process in Printing & Packaging appeared first on Refine Packaging.

Carton packaging is also commonly referred to as carton boxes, folding cartons, paperboard cartons and paperboard boxes.

The History of Folding Cartons: Who Invented Carton Packaging?

Foldable carton packaging was invented by Charles Henry Foyle in the late 1800s, an Englishman who created the product we know as the carton today. It was essentially a piece of paper that was cut in such a way that it could be folded into a custom box. Although incredibly innovative for its time, carton packaging still lacked a lot of the features we know and love today.

For example, although it could be folded into a box shape, the ends still needed to be held together tightly, so it was common to use tacks and strings to hold the carton boxes together. This was expensive, not to mention labor-intensive. What’s more, such boxes were difficult to produce, so carton packaging like this was usually only used for valuable luxury items like jewelry. 

Fortunately, carton packaging came into the limelight in 1879, when Robert Gair realized that his printing press could cut through the carton material and allow for mass production of carton packaging. Food and snack companies realized that the foldable boxes greatly extended the shelf life of their products, and were among the first to regularly use such materials. 

The first snack food company to adopt the use of carton packaging was the National Biscuit Company, better known today as Nabisco. 

How Is Carton Packaging Used Today? 

Today, carton packaging has found a reliable home among store shelves around the world. When deciding on your product’s box design and presentation, there are many reasons to consider using carton boxes, including: 

Eco-Friendly Packaging

In this day and age, consumers do their best to be responsible stewards of the planet. That means buying and using packaging made from recyclable materials like Kraft paper.

Cartons are made with more than 75% paper that comes from sustainable sources and is harvested using responsible practices. This means choosing carton packaging boxes for your product packaging needs is an eco-friendly choice that reflects well on your brand and your company. 

High Shelf Appeal

Beautiful packaging has what we call “high shelf appeal”.  Properly designed, structured carton boxes help solidify your brand in the consumer’s mind as one of quality and consistency. What’s more, they provide ample space to showcase your brand message.

Tell your story through your product packaging design, highlight the benefits of your product, present a promotion or even showcase your social responsibility endeavors by using eco-friendly packaging. The choices are endless! 

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Common Types of Carton Packaging Boxes

There are several distinctive types of carton packaging, each with its own benefits depending on your needs. Companies turn to high quality paperboard carton packaging to protect, store and showcase their food, beverage, cosmetics, supplements and so much more. Here are just a few of the many different types of carton packaging that are commonly used in retail packaging. 

Strength Packaging

Strength packaging offers solid, reliable structural design to help protect your product from being compressed. But don’t let its rigidity fool you, high strength packaging is still fully customizable and printable so you can feel free to unleash your creativity with this durable packaging. 

Foldable Cartons

The original and still one of the most popular types of carton packaging. Flexible enough to be folded by hand if you only have a few small batches, or process through high speed automation for larger numbers, foldable cartons can be completely customized and designed for all your promotional needs.

Multipacks

If you’re selling several of an item together, multipacks are an excellent way to keep each item secure and stable while protecting the entire lot in one complete package. Often used for things like canned goods, cereal, yogurt and other types of food. 

Hybrid Packaging

Hybrid packaging blends different features of different types of carton packaging to create a “best of both worlds” combination. 

Looking for more types of carton packaging? Read our ultimate guide to carton boxes for a deeper look into folding cartons.

Other Benefits Carton Packaging Offers

It’s worth noting that like any type of packaging, carton packaging offers an opportunity to increase the perceived value of the product inside.

Although we’re no longer tying up or tacking down our cartons, and they’re no longer reserved for jewelry or other expensive items, carton packages have nevertheless surged in popularity and continue to be popular today with some adjustments, such as being made with eco-friendly materials. 

What’s more, foldable carton packaging can be shaped into any type of design. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a box. This makes it a great way to add a unique flair or creativity to your product to set it apart from all of the other boxes out there. Taking advantage of the large printable area on carton boxes is a smart idea that is commonly used in cosmetic packaging design, and is a great way to showcase the benefits of your product.

Build Your Brand with Carton Packaging 

Read our comprehensive article about packaging terminology to help you get up to speed with industry jargon as you create your own custom boxes.

At Refine Packaging, we understand that not everyone is a packaging expert.

Packaging is our passion and we strive to create printed designs that are the perfect match for your product. Our staff of graphic artists spans a variety of styles, so even if you don’t have a design in mind, we can create something that perfectly encompasses and reflects your brand, your story and your message, as well as the things that set you apart from your competition.

We create memorable, beautiful and stylish packaging for a wide range of industries, products and businesses large and small. If you’re thinking of choosing paperboard boxes or you’re not sure what type of custom packaging is right for your specific needs, talk to us!

We have decades of combined experience and bring our detailed industry knowledge to work for you in a way that’s easy to understand and will get your product in the hands of consumers faster. 

We also offer a variety of styles and printing processes that can make your packaging look extraordinary. From UV coating to foil stamping or different types of glosses, there are a variety of factors you’ll want to consider when choosing the right type of packaging material and design for your specific needs. But that doesn’t mean you have to do it all alone! 

Now that you’ve read about carton packaging boxes in more detail, why not contact the printing and packaging experts at Refine Packaging for a free, no obligation estimate on your printing and packaging needs? 

Let’s work together to create a style that’s uniquely your own, with packaging that exceeds your expectations. 

The post What is Carton Packaging? Folding Carton Packaging Explained. appeared first on Refine Packaging.

Who Invented Corrugated Packaging?

Corrugated packaging as we know it goes back more than a century, born from the need to package and store goods for a longer period of time.

In 1856, Healey and Allen, two Englishmen, secured a patent for the first known use of corrugated paper. Using two fluted rolls, corrugated paper was fed through a hand-cranked machine, creating fluted paper lining that could be placed in hats.

But corrugated paper for hats is one thing, and corrugated packaging for transporting products is completely different. An American named Albert S. Jones is responsible for this combination, and was the first person known to use corrugated paper to wrap fragile items like bottles and other easily breakable goods in a similar way that corrugated packaging is used today. 

How is Corrugated Packaging Made? 

The process for creating corrugated packaging hasn’t changed much since its humble origins in the 1850s.

With corrugated packaging, two sheets of flat paper known as liners or linerboard, are glued to a corrugated inner material called fluting.

Together, these distinctive layers are stronger than they would be if they were used separately. If you look closely at corrugating packaging, you can see a type of weave pattern. This is what adds structure and stability to the packaging. 

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Different fluting can be used to make different sizes of arch in the material, creating an end result that is structurally superior to many other types of packaging and is a great option for products that need to be handled and packed carefully. 

Curious for more details? We dive deeper into the corrugated packaging process and different flute grades in our ultimate guide to corrugated packaging.

Why Use Corrugated Packaging? 

There are several reasons why you might consider using corrugated packaging as your product packaging of choice: 

• Stronger than Cardboard: Safe, sturdy and protective, corrugated boxes are stronger than cardboard, so you can feel confident that whatever you put inside will stay safe and sound. Corrugated packaging is also crush and pressure-resistant. 
• A Wide Range of Sizes: Corrugated packaging is available in a wide range of sizes. Although it’s strong, it’s also lightweight, making it a great fit for nearly any type of product that needs to be protected, but without the added weight. 
• Can Be Broken Down and Reused: Corrugated boxes can be broken down and stored easily or transported without affecting the structural integrity of the packaging. 
• Good for the Environment: The packaging material itself is made from recycled and renewable materials, such as Kraft, making them an eco-friendly packaging option that consumers will appreciate. 

Corrugated vs. Cardboard Packaging: What’s the Difference? 

With the incredible surge in online shopping (COVID19 notwithstanding), customers expect their packages to be delivered safe and sound, with the contents in good condition.

Packages that arrive damaged, crushed, or torn open leave a bad impression when unboxing. That’s why it’s so important to consider what level of strength and stability you need in your packaging.

Corrugated packaging and cardboard packaging are two of the most popular types of boxes, but it’s important to understand the difference between them so you can decide on the right balance of protection for the product inside. 

Cardboard Packaging

Cardboard, also known as carton packaging, is made from thick paper or paper pulp which is then crafted into small packages or even material to help bolster the structure of lesser materials so that the contents won’t lose their shape.

Cardboard is inexpensive and easy to use as part of most shipping strategies, but it also may need additional packing material to keep the contents safe from being crushed, or being damaged by the elements. 

Corrugated Cartons

These are made up of several layers of material that are stronger together than they would be on their own. An inside liner and an outside liner are filled in the middle with a fluted material that helps solidify and strengthen the entire piece.

Corrugated cartons perfectly balance strength and lightness of weight, so they’re perfect if you need to ship a variety of products carefully. In addition to their structural strength, they’re also resistant to moisture and sudden changes in temperature.

Of course, no container is fully impervious to being crushed or being exposed to rain, sleet or heat for a long period of time, but if you want the added confidence that your product will arrive securely, corrugated packaging is a great option. 

Learn more about folding cartons with our ultimate guide to carton packaging to better understand the differences between corrugated and cardboard.

When To Use Corrugated Packaging

Corrugated packaging is best for products that need to be transported from a warehouse, to a processing center and onto a delivery vehicle. With so many people and machines handling the package, it needs to withstand being shuffled, slid, tossed and even dropped. If you want to add in an extra barrier of protection, you can wrap the interior product with additional cushioning for added security and peace of mind. 

Corrugated boxes are also a great choice if you want full customization control over your packaging design. You get all of the benefits of a large design area like with cardboard, except the added strength and durability. Additional features like custom opening folds, flaps, die-cuts and embossing or debossing are just a few of the many options you can add to create a unique design without worrying that the process will mar the product within. 

If you’re selling food, corrugated packaging is a must. Not only is corrugated much more sustainable and hygienic, but with so many people turning to online grocery shopping and delivery, companies are choosing to insulate their corrugated packaging for even greater protection to help seal in the temperature, especially for perishable goods. 

Choose a Trusted Corrugated Packaging Box Manufacturer

Read our packaging terms guide to help you get up to speed with industry terminology as you create your own custom boxes.

At Refine Packaging, our decades of combined experience, coupled with our deep knowledge of the custom packaging process across a variety of industries allow us to provide you with full-service packaging design and printing services.

From choosing the right packaging material for your product, to designing a look that captivates your audience and elevates your brand, trust the professionals at Refine Packaging to deliver an end result that’s so powerful and so compelling, you’ll want to buy your own product!

If you’re interested in learning more about how corrugated packaging may be the right choice for your packaging and shipping and fulfillment needs, or you’d like to consult with us on crafting the perfect design to showcase your product, we’d be delighted to work with you.

Even if you’re not sure what type of packaging you need for your product, get in touch with us. Our experts will take the time to understand your vision and your needs and work with you to craft packaging that perfectly expresses all of those points in one artistic creation.

Contact us today to learn more about our extensive printing and packaging services and get a free, no obligation quote for all your custom packaging needs.

The post What is Corrugated Packaging? How Corrugated Packaging is Made & When to Print with Corrugated Material appeared first on Refine Packaging.