Printing Information for
Labels
All colours for printing are converted to CMYK values. We attempt to find the closest possible match to Pantone colours, for example, but slight variations may occur. Ideally, you should work with CMYK from the outset.
To ensure that your graphics (images, text, etc.) do not appear blurred or pixelated, we recommend working with a resolution of at least 300 dpi.
Our printing machines require the print file exactly as we have prepared it to prevent shifts or other discrepancies during printing.
- Do not alter the artboard (dimensions, format, etc.) under any circumstances
- Do not export the PDF, simply press "Save" (Windows: "CTRL+S", Apple: "CMD+S")
- Do not add any bleed or similar features
- Do not change anything in the elements that are part of the "Die-cut" and "Cutting Line" layers
The cutting line indicates to the printing machine where the labels should be cut out. Without it, this process cannot be completed, meaning that files in which the "Cutting Line" layer has been removed or altered cannot be used.
Printing machines use various layers of ink, which combine to produce all the colours you want to see on your label. The individual layers consist of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (commonly referred to as "CMYK", derived from the English terms). If too much ink is applied, the print becomes too wet and may smudge, leading to poor results.
Therefore, it is important that the total ink coverage does not exceed 300%. Check the ink coverage of your final print file using Adobe Acrobat Pro ("All Tools" → "Print Production" → "Output Preview") or another tool of your choice.
To avoid issues with your fonts, please convert all text to outlines before the final export (in Adobe Illustrator, for example, by selecting all text and pressing the "CTRL+SHIFT+O" (Apple: "CMD+SHIFT+O") shortcut).
► Warning: Text converted to outlines can no longer be edited, so only convert the fonts once you have finished designing.
Our printing machines use the industry-standard PDF format, ensuring a consistent appearance regardless of the program or operating system.
► Please do not add crop marks or any other marks intended for printing; our print template already includes these.
In our print template, you will find various layers that we have named according to their purpose. Please place your graphics, text, and images only in the layer labelled "Artwork" – only the elements in this layer will be printed!
The ISO 12647-2 colour standard should be present and selected by default in all current programmes. If you have set a different colour profile, change it for the export of your final file to ensure that the colours are correctly represented in the print.
When creating your graphic, please ensure that all lines have a minimum width of 0.25 pt. This also applies to individual strokes within letters. Anything too thin may result in poor print quality.
During printing, slight shifts can always occur as the large printing machines print the material in quick succession. To ensure that no unsightly edges appear in the visible area, it is highly recommended that all backgrounds (images, colours, etc.) extend beyond the marked cutting line ("Final Format").
Your customers should be able to read and see what you have to say and show. Therefore, it is important that nothing is cut off or lost during printing. Place all important elements, such as your text, logos, or important graphics, only within the safety margin.
The layer labelled "Die-cut" in our print template contains our print marks that are intended to help you during the design process. Once you have finished designing, please remember to hide or delete this layer so that your final print file only contains the "Cutting Line" and "Artwork" layers with your design elements.
Our print templates are designed to help you achieve the best possible design so that your label looks exactly the way you want it to.
- The pink line is the cutting line ("Final Format"): This is where the printing machines will cut.
- The green line is the data format: Only place backgrounds and other elements that can be cut off here.
- The dashed green line marks the safety margin: Graphics, text, and other elements that should not be cut must be placed within this area.
We are happy to print labels for you in various designs and sizes.
Your logo as an advertising space or a QR code for a promotion – the possibilities are only limited by your creativity!
Are you active on social media? Feel free to tag us in photos of your finished labels: @greenbox_packaging.
We look forward to your posts! 😊
Alternatively, we also offer practical seal labels, and you can find the printing information for these here.
We also offer these in various industry-standard sizes. Simply choose the right label, download the print template, and start designing!
Whether it's a simple design with your logo, colourful designs for children, or informative texts... The sky's the limit, as they say in English.
Frequently Asked Questions & Problems
A common source of error is altering the die-cut or data format. When opening the die-cut, be sure not to alter the dimensions. It is best to open the file in an illustration programme such as Adobe Illustrator.
When saving, ensure that no additional bleed is applied. This would again alter the size of the artboard, preventing the label from being printed.
You can recognise a correctly applied die-cut by the fact that the template always extends to the edge at at least one point on the four sides. However, the "Technical Layer" should be removed or hidden from the document afterwards.
For our labels, the maximum ink coverage is 300%. You can check the ink coverage of your PDF print file in Adobe Acrobat Pro under: "All Tools" → "Print Production" → "Output Preview". To do this, simply set the percentage to 300 under "Total Area Coverage", and all areas in the document that exceed this value will be highlighted in bright green (if your graphic contains a lot of green and it is not clear, you can change the colour next to "Total Area Coverage" to highlight areas with excessive ink coverage).
This often occurs when graphics and images are converted from RGB to a CMYK colour space, particularly black areas often exceed the target value.
No. Although we would love to, unfortunately, our capacity is limited. For this reason, we currently do not offer design services or assistance.
