Artwork guide
Get your file print-ready the first time.
Start from the template for your size, follow four rules, and your proof comes back clean. We check every file before it goes anywhere near a press.
The checklist
Four things every file needs
- 01
CMYK colour
Set your document to CMYK. RGB colours shift when they're converted for print, especially bright blues and greens.
- 02
1/8 in bleed
Extend background colours and images 1/8 in past the cut line on every side, so no white edge shows after trimming.
- 03
Fonts outlined
Convert all text to outlines (Type › Create Outlines in Illustrator) so fonts can't be swapped. Keep an editable copy for yourself.
- 04
Sharp images
Photos and textures should be 300 dpi at the size they print. Logos are best as vector artwork.
Templates
Get the dieline for your size
Each template is an Illustrator file and a PDF with the cut line, bleed and safe area on their own layers. Tell us your sizes and we'll email them to you.
| Size | Gusset |
|---|---|
| 3.25 x 4.75 in | 2 in |
| 4.375 x 6 in | 2 in |
| 5 x 8 in | 3 in |
| 7 x 9 in | 3 in |
| Size | Fits |
|---|---|
| 2 in circle | Seals, jars, small pouches |
| 2 x 3 in | 4.375 x 6 front, any back |
| 2.5 x 4 in | 5 x 8 front, bottles |
| 3 x 4 in | 5 x 8 front |
| 4 x 6 in | 7 x 9 front |
Label fit is approximate, because the zipper and gusset reduce the usable front of a pouch. Check placement on the template before you order.
Reading the dieline
What each line on the template means
- 1Bleed. Extend your background to the outer edge. It gets trimmed off.
- 2Cut line. Where the pouch is trimmed. The edge of your finished pouch.
- 3Safe area. Keep all text, logos and barcodes inside this box.
- 4Zipper. Where the zipper sits. Nothing important here, it gets covered.
- 5Tear notch. Small cuts where the pouch tears open. Keep text clear of them.
- 6Bottom gusset. The fold that lets the pouch stand. Artwork below it ends up underneath.
Common mistakes
What we fix most often
Text too close to the edge
Anything outside the safe area can get trimmed or fold into a seam.
Artwork under the zipper
The zipper strip covers what's behind it. Move logos and text below it.
No bleed
Backgrounds that stop at the cut line leave thin white slivers after trimming.
Barcodes shrunk too far
Small barcodes may not scan. Keep them at the size your barcode provider recommends.
What your label says is up to you. We check that your file will print well, not that it meets labelling rules like ingredients, net quantity or bilingual text. For food, start with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Rather not do this yourself?
We'll fix up your file for $95, or design your pouch from your logo for $495. Pick it when you ask for your price.