Art Guidelines
When using the PDF file containing the dieline from RBC Custom Packaging, please follow these simple rules to get the best results for your packaging print.  We recommend using Adobe Illustrator  to link this to build your artwork.

Note: For outside printing only, there is only one template in the PDF file.  For both outside and inside printing, there are two templates in the file.  Please do not alter the file or reconfigure the layout of the templates as the layout is critical to our printing workflow.
Do not rotate or alter the template  we provide you as it is structural drawing specifically designed to flow through our print workflow.  Rotating or altering the dieline may result in the file not printing correctly.  This especially applies to two-sided printing (the top dieline in the PDF is the Outside and the bottom Dieline is the Inside)
PDF files are the only files we accept for printing.  It is best to use vector-based  software applications as Adobe Illustrator for building art files and saving/exporting your native file in PDF format before providing us your final file.  Two- Sided Print projects must be saved as a single PDF where page 1 (the top image) is the outside print, and page 2 (the bottom image) is the inside print.  The file must remain in this position to work on our automated system workflow.

• The PDF template contains a dieline layer that must remain in the file. This structural dieline included in this template is engineered to cut correctly when your box is processed for printing, so it is important that  this dieline be included in the final file you send back to us. The structural drawing layer you see will contain Spot Colors for the cut and crease lines in the Swatch menu.  These Spot  Colors are used to tell the cutting and creasing equipment how to convert your unique art, so everything works properly.  Therefore,  do not change the Spot Colors to CMYK because they will print on your box.
• All artwork must be converted to CMYK. Please convert any RGB color and images to CMYK to avoid unexpected color shifting.  All Pantone (PMS) colors should be converted to CMYK.  Pantone and Spot Colors are not supported.
• Convert all text to outlinesto ensure your custom packaging prints correctly.  This is a necessary requirement.
• Add .125” of BLEEDon all edges and into the glue flap for all your final artwork.
• All images must be embedded into your artwork file PDF. Make sure the placed images have the correct file extensions (ex: Image.tiff or Image.eps).  Place graphics at 100%
• Rich Black settings. If your art includes black, we recommend building it as a Rich Black with 30 cyan (C), 30 magenta (M), 30 yellow (Y) and100 black (K).  For best results, include a .5pt stroke of 100% black (K) to avoid print overspray.
• Image resolution should be no less than 300 dpi.

This quick tutorial will walk you through how to open your dieline in Adobe Illustrator and build artwork that meets our criteria. This walkthrough assumes you have basic familiarity with Adobe Illustrator or a similar vector-based software.

If you have never used a vector-based illustration program, you might consider hiring a professional graphic artist. Or contact RBC Custom Packaging and ask for our professional packaging designers assistance (there is a fee for design services) at support@rbcpackaging.com
Right-click on your PDF dieline and select Save As or drag the file to your desktop.
1.Open Adobe Illustrator.
2. Select File > Open and select your file from the location where it was saved. You will be presented with your custom dieline.

3. In your Layers panel, create a new layer and drag it beneath your dieline layer. Be sure your dieline is always visible and the top-most layer in your file.

4. If you selected “Print – Outside & Inside” when ordering your box, you will receive a two-page dieline file by email. Make sure you have the latest version of Adobe® Illustrator to open both pages of your dieline – the first page on the left is your outside artwork, and the second page on the right is your inside artwork. Lock your dieline layer and create a new layer to insert your artwork for both sides of your box.
5. Design your fantastic item! Place your custom artwork in the new layer that you created in step 3 or 4. Make sure to follow all of our artwork guidelines. For help with how to use Adobe®Illustrator click here. 
6. When designing your item, make sure your artwork is inside of the green bleed line. Any color or artwork that should print to the edge of your item needs to bleed past the edge of your item 1/4 inch. Any artwork outside the bleed line will be automatically removed during artwork processing. All important images and copy should be at least 1/8 inch from cut and crease lines.

7. Embed all images. In your, Linkspanel select the settings icon on the right and select Embed Image(s)

8. Outline all fonts. First, select all items on your document by pressing command + Athen select Type > Create Outlines

Color Mode is CMYK. File > Document Color Mode > CMYK Color

Here is an example of artwork ready to be saved:

10. Select File > Save As to save your new PDF. You can use the default Illustrator settings.

For our custom corrugated boxes, we do not offer white ink.
Our digital print supports the CMYK color spectrum. If you have white in your design, please choose Standard White, Premium White, Premium White with a Gloss Finish, or one of our PurePrint materials as your base material, so wherever you have white in your design, there will be no applied ink and the white of the box will actually show (see picture below). 

Premium White with Gloss Finish: If you choose this material finish, please note that there will be no glossy effect where there is no ink in your design.

Choosing Kraft Material When You Have White in Your Design

Kraft material is great to give a rusty, environmentally-friendly look to your design. If you have white in your design, however, you cannot choose Kraft as your box material.

An alternative method to replicate the look of white ink on a kraft box that you may consider is to purchase a white box instead and simulate the Kraft material by placing an image of Kraft material as a background image in your artwork file.

Also, note that light colors/pastels are very faded or completely change tones on Kraft material. 

We have a graphics engineer inspect the artwork to ensure there are no technical issues with your file.  The dieline file we provide you and the one that you should return to us, is the file we use in our automated print workflow.  By submitting your artwork file to us, you acknowledge that  you have proofed your artwork for copy, images, composition, and acknowledge that your file meets the Artwork Guidelines provided by RBC Custom Packaging. You also confirm that you have obtained any necessary licenses to reproduce copyrighted or trademarked property.

Common errors found that impact the file from working in our automated workflow includes: flattening of the dieline layer into the artwork layer, the inclusion of Pantone spot colors, rotating the dieline layer from its original position (for outside and inside printing there are two dielines that should not be changed or rotated), some image resolution or missing artwork bleeds.

This is not an aesthetic assessment of your artwork. We are able to catch errors from the majority of our RBC Custom Packaging orders (orientation errors, color issues, etc.) but we are relying on you to proof your file and meet the Artwork Guidelines & Graphic Checklist provided by RBC Custom Packaging. We do not look at (misspellings, word spacing, or grammar) images (size, orientation, resolution, etc.), and composition.

For more information on how to properly set up your artwork for our automated workflow, please refer to the Artwork Guidelines & Graphics Checklist, or follow our step-by-step guide for working in Adobe Illustrator. 

RBC Custom Packaging only supports PDF’s.  One PDF artwork file per item to customize. For double-sided artwork, the outside page should be first, and the inside page second.  If we gave you the dieline file, it is properly laid out this way and should not be altered.

RBC Custom Packaging has professional graphics packaging designers available if you need assistance.  We can help with the basics of getting your digital assets and text properly laid out on the dieline… to full blown packaging design.  There is a fee for these services.  Please contact support@rbcpackaging.com and let us know what you need, and we will contact you and provide you with a design quote.

A dieline is like a blueprint of your unique box dimensions.  A dieline serves as the template for how the final packaging will be printed and formed to contain your product.  They also serve to tell the packaging equipment when to cut the printed material in our automated workflow.

We send one out to you for each custom order your place with us. Open this dieline with Adobe® Illustrator to add your custom artwork to the file, and then send it back to us via support@rbcpackaging.com (or the free online service WeTransfer.com if the file is over 8MB)
Below is an example of a dieline template.

At RBC Custom Packaging, we use our own optimized dielines and provide them free of charge when you place an order with us.
If you have the dieline you wish to use for your project, you will be required to place your design on the template you receive by email after placing your order. This will allow our pre-press team to make sure your production file is compatible with our machinery and processes.

Printing on Kraft

Printing on White

Helpful Tips to Keep in Mind
Colors and color saturation will appear differently on a white substrate than a kraft substrate and will impact the final color appearance of the ink.

Kraft material is a great option to give that natural look and feel to the design. Keep in mind that light colors, like pastels and grays, do not print accurately on kraft. Light colors require a brighter substrate to be printed accurately, while dark colors work well on kraft substrates. White ink does not print on kraft. If white is used in the design, it will show up as the kraft/brown color. Please keep this in mind when logos and images will be used that have the color white (negative space) in the design.

Logo on White

Logo on Kraft