Boxes & packaging
Prepare print-ready cosmetic packaging artwork
Start with a defined buying question
Confirm the physical package before finalizing artwork. Obtain the exact dieline for the chosen box or label and ask which dimensions refer to the finished item. Keep the dieline on a separate layer and identify folds, cuts and areas that must remain clear. A design fitted to a similar stock template can fail when the production geometry differs.
Discuss the print process, colour references, finish and logo treatment with the supplier. Screen colour is not sufficient for approval. Ask what proofing options are available and whether a printed sample uses the actual substrate and process. Evaluate small text, reversed text and fine lines under realistic viewing conditions. Your own responsible team should approve all product claims and required label content.
Keep a version register so that the factory knows which artwork is approved. Use filenames that distinguish drafts from production files and include a written approval record. Confirm whether a change affects tooling, printing plates, setup charges or lead time. A clear file handover is especially valuable when several people are commenting on the same design through different messaging channels.
Inquiry checklist
- Use the supplier-confirmed dieline.
- Separate artwork from cut and fold layers.
- Agree colour references and proofing method.
- Inspect small text on the real substrate.
- Record the approved file version and date.
A decision record you can reuse
Create a one-page record with the selected configuration, open questions, evidence received and next action. Ask the supplier to correct misunderstandings before you approve a sample or purchase order. Keep photographs, quotations and written confirmations with that record so that another person can understand why you made the choice. If an important detail is unresolved, request clarification instead of quietly turning it into an assumption.
Use this guide as a purchasing framework, not as a claim that a listed manufacturer has passed these checks. Custom-OEM profiles organize public supplier information; buyers should confirm current specifications and commercial terms directly with the manufacturer. A clear brief and documented sample comparison make the next conversation more useful than an unspecific request for the best price.