You can learn more about the file formats required for printing your packaging.
Best Option
We recommend prioritizing the following formats to ensure smooth modifications and printing of your design files on our end.
Example.ai
Vector files created with Adobe Illustrator should have all fonts converted to outlines and include layer hierarchy.
Example.afdesign
Vector files created with Affinity Designer should have all fonts converted to outlines and include layer hierarchy.
If you do not understand what a layered file is, please refer to the end of the document.
This Also Do
We do not recommend using the following formats. Although these files have good compatibility, they do not support certain special conditions and may lose some design effects during transmission. We can make corrections, but it will take some time and may not be identical to your original.
Example.eps
Example.ps
Vector files described using PostScript language can be opened by most design software, but they may not perfectly render the effects of your original packaging design.
Example.svg
Vector files described using XML language can be opened by most design software, but they may not perfectly render the effects of your original packaging design.
Unacceptable
We do not recommend using the following formats, as they may result in printing issues.
Example.jpg
Example.png
These file formats do not support editing and may result in a loss of image quality during network transmission.
Example.pdf
Although PDF format can preserve your design effects well, we cannot edit it, and it is very likely that it will not support printing.
Color Model
If you are designing packaging, please set the image to CMYK color mode before starting the design. Avoid designing in RGB mode. Additionally, converting from RGB mode to CMYK after completing the design in RGB mode is not recommended, as it may cause some colors to shift. You can refer to the image below to understand how this color change occurs.
You can see that each time the color is transformed, it deviates more from the original color. However, design files for printing will undergo at least one conversion to ensure proper recognition by the printing machine. Therefore, to minimize color shifts due to conversions, we recommend designing directly in CMYK color mode.
Special Case
If you are using Corel Draw software to create vector graphics, we only accept them for printing and do not support any subsequent modifications to the design files. In such cases, please maintain close communication with us to prevent any issues.
Design file layers
You can clearly see the following comparison chart. Although they present the same final effect, the image layers are different. More layers mean greater modification space. Before printing, we may need to make some adjustments to your file to fit the actual packaging size. This requires your design file to be in a modifiable format that includes layers.
Attention
If you only have the formats mentioned in the “Unacceptable” section, your packaging may experience issues such as blurriness or distortion. Additionally, we will not be able to make any adjustments or corrections to the content of the packaging. We are not responsible for any problems caused by using these unacceptable formats.
Other Information
If the format you are using is not mentioned in the above article and you are unsure whether it can be used, please email us or contact us on WhatsApp. You can find the contact information for Vital Green personnel on the Contact us page.
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