Professional Artwork Setup for Printed Plastic Bags

At Express Print South Africa, we assist clients with professional artwork presentation and print preparation for plastic carrier bags, courier bags, heavy-duty bags and industrial packaging bags. Good artwork is one of the most important parts of plastic bag printing because it affects the final appearance, printing cost, colour quality and production lead time. Before any order is printed, the artwork must be presented correctly so that it can be checked, approved and prepared for production.

Why Artwork Presentation Matters

Plastic bag printing is different from normal paper printing. The printing process normally uses flexographic printing, where a printing plate, also known as a stereo or photopolymer plate, is made from your artwork. Each colour in the design requires its own separate plate. These plates are mounted onto cylinders, and ink is transferred onto the bag during production. Because of this process, the artwork must be clean, simple, clear and suitable for plastic bag printing.

For the best results, we recommend that customers avoid very fine detail, soft gradients, shadows and photographic images, as these may not print clearly on plastic bag surfaces. Solid colours, bold logos and clear text work best. A simple design with strong contrast will make your brand stand out better on carrier bags, courier bags and packaging bags.

Artwork File Requirements

Clients should supply artwork in a professional vector format such as AI, EPS or print-ready PDF. All fonts must be converted to outlines or curves to avoid font changes during production. Colours should be supplied as Pantone or PMS references where accurate brand matching is required. The number of colours must also be confirmed before quotation and production because the cost is affected by how many colours are printed.

It is also important to confirm the bag size, bag type, quantity and print position. Printing can be done on the front of the bag, the back of the bag, or both sides, depending on the order. For heavy-duty and industrial bags, printing may be done on one or two panels. Important design elements should be kept away from seams, folds, handles and sealing areas to prevent information from being cut off or distorted.

Approval Before Production

Before production starts, Express Print South Africa will require final artwork approval from the client. The customer must check all spelling, logo placement, colours, product information, contact details, barcode position and layout before approving the artwork. Once plates have been made or production has started, changes may require new plates and extra cost. Delays in artwork approval, payment or missing information may also delay the production lead time.

Printing Plate and Setup Costs

The cost of printing plates is normally a once-off setup cost. This cost is based on the number of colours used, the size of the plate required and the overall complexity of the design. One colour usually requires one plate. More colours and larger print areas will increase the setup cost. Once plates are made, they may be kept for repeat orders of the same artwork, meaning the plate cost may not need to be repeated on future reprints if the design remains unchanged.

Minimum Quantities and Production Planning

Plastic bag printing normally requires minimum order quantities because of machine setup, plate making and bulk production requirements. Customers should plan their packaging orders in advance and allow enough time for artwork checking, plate making, printing and finishing. Lead times are confirmed in writing once the order, artwork and payment have been approved.

Express Print South Africa Contact Details

EXPRESS PRINT SOUTH AFRICA
Sales Department
+27 63 132 8088 — WhatsApp
+27 67 741 0422 — WhatsApp

Admin
+27 73 625 5637 — No WhatsApp
info@expressprint.co.za
www.expressprint.co.za

Shop Address
Shop L23, Rivonia Central, Oriental City Rivonia,
Corner Rivonia Boulevard and 9th Avenue,
Rivonia, Sandton, 2128
Opposite News Café Rivonia