Before you start designing...
First of all, please think about the handling of the box. How does the potential customer get to see the packaging for the first time? Standing up or lying down? From which side should the box be opened?
The main or front side of a folding box is the wide side that is not directly adjacent to the glue flap. If you were to choose the side directly next to the glue flap, the view when looking at the main side would be disturbed by the side edge of the box, which is glued to the glue flap. This part of the folding box is therefore the reverse side. Also make sure that the printing on the lid and bottom flap is correctly positioned when closed. The best way to do all this is to use the dummy that you have usually received from us.
The die-cutting contour may be rotated, but not mirrored. Do not make any changes to the punching contour. If dimensions are changed, please contact us.
Text, characters and logos that turn black should also consist only of the black portion and not proportionally of the 4 basic colours. The same applies in particular to any EAN barcodes that may be placed. Problem-free readability at scanner checkouts is far greater if the line combination consists of one flat colour instead of several screened colours, because the edge sharpness is no longer given by the screen dots. If black areas are to be "glossed", a maximum of 40% cyan is sufficient. An application of all 4 colours exceeds the maximum colour application and is not feasible during printing and has to be reduced by us in a time-consuming way.
Image data
TIFF or EPS are preferred file formats. When saving JPEG data, always select the highest possible quality level, as a low level may save on data volume, but data information is irretrievably lost.
As a general rule, all image data used should have a minimum resolution of 300 ppi and be separated in CMYK. If there is text in the image file (pixel data), the resolution can and should be higher (approx. 600 ppi) for better edge sharpness of the font. A compromise between quality and processable file size may have to be found here.
Layout data
We prefer to accept documents from Quark-X-Press, InDesign and Illustrator directly as open files. As a rule, we are always up to date with the latest versions. It is absolutely necessary, however, that all image and graphic files used, as well as all fonts, are supplied with the open data or, as far as possible, that all fonts are converted into paths. This is particularly necessary if the data is created on Windows platforms. For the transfer of documents from other typesetting and graphics programmes, we recommend the file formats PDF or EPS.
PDF generation
It should be noted that not all programmes generate PDF data in such a form that output on high-end imagesetters and printers is possible. The most common programme for PDF generation is Adobe Acrobat Distiller. For this purpose, a setting for the Distiller tailored to our system can be downloaded from www.Ebro Color.de. When generating postscripts, make sure to use an output resolution of 2400 dpi.
EPS generation
EPS files can be exported from all common graphics programmes (Adobe Illustrator, Macromedia Freehand, Corel Draw,...). It is important that all text is converted into paths / curves before exporting.
Colours
All colours and images must be clearly defined as Pantone colours for scale printing in CMYK, or if spot colours are used.
We cannot incorporate profiles supplied together with image data, as our colour management system prevents this due to the calibrations on proofing devices, platesetters and printing presses.
Guidance on the correct placement and creation for folding boxes
The side assignment and handling of a folding box is determined by your gluing.
In the following example of a folding box with offset tuck-in flaps, the lid, back, front, etc. are marked.
The orange area indicates the necessary bleed if coloured areas, photos, etc. are to extend to the punched edge. The bleed there is 2 mm, at the glue tab 3 mm.
Of course, the trim does not have to follow the punching contour exactly,
it can and should, for example, fill the entire rectangular format of the punching in the case of coloured areas. This is indicated by the light orange area.
Guidance on the correct placement for pillow boxes
The side assignment and handling of a folding box is determined by your gluing.
In the following example of a folding box with offset tuck-in flaps, the lid, back, front, etc. are marked.
The orange area indicates the necessary bleed if coloured areas, photos, etc. are to extend to the punched edge. The bleed there is 2 mm, at the glue tab 3 mm.
Of course, the trim does not have to follow the punching contour exactly,
it can and should, for example, fill the entire rectangular format of the punching in the case of coloured areas. This is indicated by the light orange area.
