Paper packaging usually uses four-color (CMYK) printing. If your design requires Pantone colors, gold, silver, or other special inks, please let us know when requesting a quote. The number of colors and printing costs will depend on your design and printing requirements.
Printing Process
Artworks Preparation → Blueline Proofing → CTP(computer-to-plate) → Printing
Offset Printing
Offset printing is also called litho printing. It is simple and cost-effective for commercial printing and is used to print product information and logos on a wide range of materials, including paper box packaging, posters, greeting cards, and shopping bags.
It produces sharp, high-quality prints and becomes highly cost-effective for large-volume orders. This method also allows for color adjustment and Pantone color printing.
Presses come in various sizes, including 8-up, 4-up, half-size, and full-size machines. Color configurations are flexible, ranging from single-color and standard four-color (CMYK) presses to multi-color systems such as five-color, six-color, or eight-color presses.
We use offset printing for paper stocks up to 450 gsm. CTP platemaking transfers digital artwork to PS printing plates, usually four plates for standard CMYK printing. Plate making and machine setup add to the initial cost, so offset printing is generally more cost-effective for larger quantities. On-press adjustments for color matching and alignment incur machine setup fees.
Compared to digital printing, offset offers superior print quality, faster running speeds once set up, and the ability to print on larger sheet sizes.
Digital Printing
Digital printing machines are typically from brands like HP or Canon, which do not require traditional PS printing plates. Designs can be produced directly from digital files, similar to how an office printer operates, using four standard ink colors (CMYK). In terms of print quality, digital printing reproduces colors, delivers sharp text, and captures fine details—making it especially suitable for logos, gradient backgrounds, and intricate patterns. However, unlike offset printing, it does not allow for real-time color adjustment during the printing process.
Digital printing is ideal for small-batch orders and box samples. In our view, it is less efficient for large-volume production compared to traditional offset printing, and color consistency may also vary across bigger runs. All of our product samples are produced using digital printing due to its low cost and fast turnaround.
UV Printing
UV printing works well for printing white ink on brown kraft boxes. Since Kraft paper’s dark color shows through easily, we print white ink twice, like applying two coats of paint. The first layer blocks the brown background; the second builds a solid white finish. This helps logos and other printed details stand out against the kraft background.
UV printing works especially well on shiny metallic papers such as gold, silver, or holographic cardstock.
UV printing provides inks with instant-drying power; special liquids solidify into a rock-solid state under UV light in seconds. No more waiting hours for prints to dry! UV printing machines cost more upfront. However, it reduces production time by skipping certain drying steps.
