Email your artwork
Email your artwork to suzanne@flpginc.com with a short note about your project. Include the PO number and dieline reference if you have them.
For brand designers & pre-press teams
A smoother start to your next print run.
Prepare your artwork with clear guidance on file formats, color, dielines and finishing — so we can move from your design to an approved proof.
Jump to specifications ↓From your file to an approved proof
We review your files
Our graphics staff flag any spec issues before plates are made. UPC and barcode verification happen at the plate — not after the run.
You approve the proof
We send a proof for your review before plates are made. Check the artwork and let us know if anything needs changing before you approve it.
Specifications
Build to the Dieline We Supply
We provide the structural dieline for your carton. Place it on its own clearly named layer and set it to overprint so it drops out at plate-making instead of printing as a hairline. Keep the supplied dieline unchanged so the panel dimensions stay accurate.
Layout, Bleeds & Margins
Build artwork to the exact package dimensions. Bleed: 1/8 inch where color runs to the edge, and past every fold and glue flap. Margins: 1/16 inch minimum, 1/8 inch preferred, so a normal cutting tolerance never clips live copy.
Preferred File Formats
Adobe Illustrator is our primary format. Print-quality PDF is also accepted. Please send a high-resolution file so we can review the artwork properly. Photoshop files at 300 DPI minimum are accepted, but text will be rasterised. InDesign, QuarkXPress, CorelDRAW and Microsoft files must be exported to PDF — talk to us before sending.
Fonts & Linked Graphics
Provide all fonts, including any used inside embedded or EPS files. Outline type where you can, and send the un-outlined version too in case a change is needed. Include every scan, imported illustration, linked file, EPS, TIFF and raster element.
Image Resolution
All images at 300 DPI minimum, placed at 100% scale. Avoid JPEG compression where you can. Enlarging a low-resolution web image won’t add detail. If you’re unsure about an image, send it over for review.
Color Mode
CMYK is required for all color work. If your file uses RGB, talk to us about converting it before printing. We print up to six colors plus coating, so if a job needs more separations than that we will build it into the six-color space and walk you through the trade-offs.
Pantone & Spot Colors
Check there are no duplicate colors carrying different names. Use the correct Pantone C-Series names. Do not convert spot colors to CMYK yourself — tell us which ones are critical and we’ll review how to reproduce them on press.
Rich Black & Drop Shadows
For large black areas use a rich black: C=60, M=40, Y=40, K=100. Build drop shadows as black-only wherever possible. Black line copy must be 100% K, never built from four colors, or it will show registration on the edges.
UPC Codes & Barcodes
Place UPC codes at 100% scale, on a light background, with bars composed of 100% black. Never rotate a code onto a fold. We verify codes at the plate stage rather than after the run.
Marking Finishes
Spot UV, foil and embossing each need their own layer, drawn as solid shapes in a named spot color set to overprint. Keeping each finish separate helps us prepare it correctly for production.
Want us to look at your artwork?
Email your file and any questions you have. We’ll take a look and help you work through what’s needed before printing.