FAQs

Answers to Common Questions

From file prep to final delivery, we know packaging comes with a lot of details. Here, you’ll find straightforward answers to the questions we hear most often, to help you feel confident at every step.

What does Printed Specialties produce?

We specialize in custom folding cartons and packaging solutions across a variety of industries, including food and beverage, health and beauty, tech, and more. From structural design to final production, we offer a full range of services under one roof.

Chances are, we do — or we can create it. We have hundreds of existing die lines on file, and our in-house design center can engineer a custom solution to fit your product perfectly.

No problem. Reach out to our team with your product specs, and we’ll help you determine whether we can adapt an existing design or create something from scratch.

Great! Just send us your artwork and any relevant project details. We’ll confirm the die line, review your specs, and move forward with production planning.

We recommend Adobe Illustrator or other vector-based design software. Avoid using raster-based programs like Photoshop unless necessary. If you’re unsure, our design team is happy to help.

4-color process (CMYK) uses a blend of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks to create full-color images. PMS (Pantone Matching System) uses standardized inks for exact color matching. CMYK is great for full-color jobs; PMS is best for brand-specific spot colors.

Our prepress team reviews all files before printing and applies necessary trapping to prevent visible gaps between colors. Still, if you’re setting up your own files, we can guide you on best practices.

We typically print with line screens between 150–175 lpi depending on the job. Higher screens can offer more detail but may require finer control during production.

Don’t worry — we check every file before going to press. If we notice something off, we’ll let you know right away and work with you to get it corrected.

While we can work with legacy file types, we prefer industry-standard formats like Adobe Illustrator or PDF/X-1a. If needed, we can help convert your file for production.

Small files can be emailed, but for larger or multiple files, we recommend using our FTP or cloud upload system. Contact your rep for access instructions.

For quality and consistency, we prefer to handle all imaging in-house. If you’re sending film, please contact us first to confirm compatibility.

We do our best to match approved contract proofs, but some variation is inherent in the printing process. If color accuracy is critical, we recommend requesting a press proof.

A gang run is when multiple jobs are printed on the same sheet to save time and reduce costs. It’s a cost-efficient method but can introduce slight variation between jobs.

Yes. For tight color control and exact matching, we recommend running your job individually, especially if it’s part of a branded series.

We offer a wide selection of paperboard, including SBS, kraft, recycled, and specialty coated boards. Our team can help you choose the right stock for your product’s needs and appearance.

In printing, we typically produce slightly more or fewer pieces than ordered. This accounts for setup and press variation. Industry standards allow for +/- 10%, but we always strive to stay as close to your ordered quantity as possible.

Yes. Grain direction affects folding, cracking, and structural integrity. Our production team ensures the correct grain direction based on your carton’s design.

We offer a variety of coatings including aqueous, UV, soft-touch, matte, gloss, and specialty finishes. We can help you select the right one based on your product and design goals.

We can ship via LTL freight, common carriers, or arrange for local delivery or customer pickup. We’ll work with you to find the most cost-effective and timely option.