Preparing Your Artwork: Flexographic Printing With Inline Machines

Inline flexographic printing offers customers speed and printing versatility. These machines can perform multiple functions, including printing, laminating and scoring in a single pass, resulting in quality products that can be produced in impressive turnaround times. Flexographic printing with inline machines is an ideal method for creating custom regular slotted container (RSC) boxes, a standard, widely used box construction in the packaging industry.

Setting up Your Artwork for Flexographic Printing

Bolt Boxes will provide an approved die line on which to design your project. It’s essential that your artwork is designed precisely on the template provided.

All flexographic printing requires the one-time creation of print plates. The cost of these plates is based on the submitted artwork being print-ready. Any changes, revisions, adjustments or additional proofs required will increase the preparation time and impact the plate costs. Before we start, let’s go through some common printing jargon you may encounter while creating your design.

• 1:1: This is pronounced as “one over one” and means both sides of a surface will receive one color each.
• Registration: This refers to the precise alignment of different inks during the printing process. Since machines may move slightly during production, slight variances in registration may occur.
• Bleeds: Bleed goes past the intended printed edge to account for gaps that may happen with registration.
• Trapping: This means slightly overlapping colors where they touch to avoid gaps that may result from misregistration.

Your Checklist to Creating Flexographic Prints With Inline Machines

1. Request a template: Prior to designing, get a die line template from us.
2. Supply artowork in a vector art format: Use files like Adobe Illustrator or eps. PDF format is acceptable if fonts are also supplied. Bitmapped (bmp, tiff and jpg) and embedded files are unsuitable.
3. Consider flexo printing color limitations and designate Pantone colors: Inks like neons and metallics are unsuitable for this printing method. Communicate the specific Pantone color codes you use in your design.
4. Follow these design specs while creating your art:

5. Ensure bottom flap print is included: RSC boxes are designed with long bottom flaps that fold over one another to provide maximum cushioning and extra strength for heavy contents. The design should be continued on the flaps to create a uniform appearance when the box is closed.

6. Note any exceptions: If your art is not supplied to a die line, please specify the size of the art and its intended placement on the panel.

7. Contact us if you have questions: A friendly team member at Bolt Boxes is only a call away and we are excited to help you create the best boxes to showcase your products.

Common Applications of Flexographic Printing With Inline Machines

Flexographic printing with inline machines is the most effective method of producing one of the packaging industry’s most widely recognized products. The RSC, or regular slotted container, can be custom-made in various sizes. Inline machine printing makes it possible to print both sides of the material’s surface in a single pass, so this method is an effective and speedy way to produce boxes that feature double-sided printing.

What to Do When Receiving Structural Samples

Receiving your product structural sample boxes is an exciting step in the process. Carefully evaluate and test every aspect of the samples to ensure the design and dimensions are a perfect fit for your product. Structural samples may arrive fully assembled, but remember that your final production order will be shipped flat unless otherwise specified.

Use these factors to evaluate structural samples:

• Fit: See if your product fits perfectly inside the sample packaging.
• Form: Make sure the overall design of the sample box meets all requirements. Consider areas like the packing process and whether you will stack packaging.
• Function: Determine if the packaging would provide sufficient product protection during shipping.

Structural samples may differ slightly from final press run boxes. However, these slight variances, which may include things like inconsistencies in material rigidity along score lines or edge crush, do not impact the overall quality, fit, form and function.

Contact Bolt Boxes to Create Customized Boxes Using Flexo Printing With Inline Machines

To find the perfect packaging solution that makes your brand stand out, call Bolt Boxes. Our team of professionals will help you decide which printing method is best for your specific requirements and guide you through the artwork submission process. Contact us today for product packaging you will feel excited about!