Agree the file before you send it
Ask the printer which format, colour profile, bleed and layer conventions they require. There is no universal export setting that overrides a supplier's specification. Include the approved structural reference with your artwork so that nobody has to infer which template the design belongs to.
Check all the boundaries
Inspect cut lines, crease lines, seals, glue areas and safe zones. Continue background artwork through the required bleed, while keeping essential copy comfortably inside the agreed safe area. Look for elements that accidentally land on a fold or disappear underneath a flap. Use both the flat dieline and a 3D preview in CraftyWand.
Proof the words at actual size
Read every face, including the base. Check variant names, quantities, contact details and any required product information against the approved copy. Print a full-size reference to judge small text. If a barcode or QR code is part of the design, validate the finished output using the appropriate production checks rather than relying on its appearance.
Keep finishing instructions separate and clear
If the job includes white ink, foil, varnish or embossing, agree how those areas should be supplied and named. Do not assume a metallic-looking screen effect defines a production separation. Ask the supplier to confirm the artwork treatment for each finish before sign-off.
Send one unambiguous release
Name the final file with the product, variant and revision. Include a visual reference, dimensions, quantity and the agreed specification. Mark earlier files as superseded in your own records. Request a proof and approve that exact version. A clean handoff makes it much harder for an attractive but obsolete design to reach production.
Put the idea to work.
Choose a model, bring your own artwork and start building in CraftyWand.
Open CraftyWand free ↗Useful starting points
CraftyWand: current tools and free account access · Dieline library · Pacdora: current plans and features
