Setup your Pouch design in Adobe Illustrator

In this guide, we'll walk through the steps you need to take in Adobe Illustrator to ensure your design file is perfectly read by our system so your design is printed with the highest possible integrity.

1. Set up your Adobe Illustrator (AI) artboard size.              Get downloadable templates.

Using our Standard Sizes

*Note: these are for the ARTBOARD sizes not the actual end result/physical product.

For non-standard sizes, 

Multiply your desired end product height (if it were standing upright on a table, it's the measurement from the table to the top of the pouch) by 2

then add the gusset width (if you're designing for a stand-up pouch.

This calculation will give you your artboard WIDTH. Yes, you read that correctly:

The physical HEIGHT of the pouch * 2 + Gusset = AI artboard WIDTH

The AI artboard HEIGHT is the same as the physical product's WIDTH (if it were standing up on a table, it's the left-to-right dimension.)

2. Add the BLEED settings

Top: 0.0" 

Bottom: 0.0" 

Left:0.197" (5mm) 

Right:0.197" (5mm) 

*Do not add bleed measurements to the overall document size.*

3. Adjust your COLOR settings

Your file must be in CMYK (Process) color, with no RGB or spot colors (except the white ink spot color* [discussed in a later step]). 

Path:

File .. Document Color Mode .. CMYK Color 

Note: All black must be 100% black (C0, M0, Y0, K100%). Do not use [Registration] or rich black.

4. Outline your TEXT / COPY

Text in your file must be outlined. 

Path:

Select .. Object .. All Text Objects Type .. Create Outlines

5. Embed your IMAGES

Linked images in your file must be embedded. 

To prevent visible pixelization on the final print, we recommend images be at least 300 PPI. 

6. Setup your WHITE LAYER for Clear or Metallic SPECIAL EFFECTS

The White Layer ensures that any design elements have a crisp, vibrant coloration on a non-white material.

This step is highly recommended for those desiring to print on our clear or metallic materials (aka any material other than our white/metalized).

If you plan to place your order through our online checkout experience and upload it through our online editor, you may be able to skip this step. Our online editor will automatically add a white layer to any image or non-black text.

Alternatively, if you are intentionally trying to remove the white layer behind an image or text for a visual/special effect, we recommend going through our quote process rather than the online checkout to ensure we fulfill your packaging vision.

*White Ink Spot Color 

Use only the magenta spot color swatch named "Standard White" in this layer. 

Magenta in this layer represents the white ink printed under your artwork to create solid colors on clear or metalized film. 

• Create a new layer on top called "Standard White"
• Create a new Spot Color, 100M% and call it Standard White
• Create a rectangle the size of the whole design including the bleed
• Assign the new spot color to the rectangle
• Go to: Attributes and enable the Overprint Fill check box

Artwork in areas with no white ink will have special effects. 

On clear film, transparent areas in this layer represent transparent windows. In the artwork layer, colors in those areas will be translucent instead of solid.

On metalized film, transparent areas in this layer represent metallic silver. In the artwork layer, colors in those areas will be metallic instead of solid. If you want this metallic effect with colors and images, please go through our quoting process rather than our online checkout. 

Create the shapes you want to be transparent/silver areas, select them and the magenta shape underneath, then create a compound path. Object+ Compound Path + Make 

7. Perform your FINAL PDF setup

• Turn off all non-printing layers 
• (templates, printer's marks, etc.) 
• File .. Save As ... .. Adobe PDF 
• If printing on clear or metallic, go to Print / Advanced / Overprints and select "Preserve" and uncheck Discard White Overprint

8. Preview your work

To view the overprint in Acrobat:
Edit > Preferences > Page Display > Use Overprint Preview / set to Automatic

After all of that hard work, your designs are ready for production! Great job.