Packaging Prepress Checklist — 24-Point Print-Ready Audit

1 · Dieline & Structure

0/6

Dieline from the actual manufacturer (not a guess)

Every printer's dieline differs slightly. Designing on the wrong one = misaligned folds.

3mm bleed on all cut edges

No bleed = white hairlines after trimming. The most common rookie mistake.

Safe zone respected (5mm+ inside cut lines)

Text or logos near the edge risk getting trimmed. Keep critical content inside.

Fold/score lines marked, artwork avoids them

Ink cracks on folds. Keep heavy coverage away from score lines.

Glue flaps clear of critical artwork

Anything on a glue flap disappears. Check every panel's function.

Physical mockup printed and folded

A paper mockup catches 90% of structural surprises. Never skip it.

2 · Color & Images

0/6

CMYK throughout (no RGB leftovers)

RGB-to-CMYK conversion shifts colors — especially bright blues and greens.

Brand colors defined as spot or exact CMYK values

"Close enough" across print runs destroys brand consistency.

All images 300 DPI at final size

A 72 DPI web image scaled up prints as visible pixels. Check effective DPI, not file DPI.

Rich black for large areas (not 100K)

Plain 100K looks washed out on big panels. Use a rich black build.

No ultra-thin reversed text

White hairline text on dark backgrounds fills in on press. Minimum weights apply.

Proof reviewed under standard lighting

Colors shift under warm vs daylight. Judge proofs in neutral light.

3 · Typography & Layout

0/6

Fonts outlined or packaged with the file

Missing fonts = substituted fonts = ruined layout at the printer.

Hierarchy readable at arm's length

Shelf test: hold it at arm's length. If the brand and product aren't instant, redesign.

One hero message, not five

Packaging is a billboard, not a brochure. A crowded front panel converts no one.

Feature icons consistent in style and weight

Mixed icon styles scream amateur. One system, one stroke weight.

Spelling checked by a second human

Spellcheck misses "their/there" and brand names. A typo on 10,000 units is forever.

Barcode quiet zone respected

Artwork crowding the barcode = unscannable at checkout. Retailers return these.

4 · Compliance & Final File

0/6

Legal text present: net weight, origin, manufacturer

Requirements vary by market (US/EU/UK). Missing legal text blocks customs.

Allergen/warning icons where required

Category-dependent, but missing warnings = liability, not just fines.

No unlicensed fonts, stock, or icons

That "free" font may not cover commercial packaging. Check every license.

Exported as print PDF (PDF/X standard)

Not a JPG, not a PNG. Printers need vector, layered, press-ready PDF/X.

Layers named, dieline on separate layer

The printer strips the dieline layer. If it's baked into artwork, chaos.

Printer confirmed the file before the run

Send the PDF for preflight. A 10-minute check beats a 10,000-unit reprint.

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