What to ask your factory before you design

Documents you need

• The template for each piece (sleeve, labels, inner sleeve, booklet, J-card…) for the exact format and finish you are ordering.
• The prepress spec sheet: sizes, bleed, safe area, colour and delivery format.
• If the template has a date or version number, confirm it is the current one.

Technical questions

1. How much bleed does each piece need, and what is the safe margin?
2. Which colour mode and profile should files use? Do you accept spot colours (Pantone)?
3. Is there a total ink coverage limit?
4. Which PDF format do you require (for example, PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4)? Embedded or outlined fonts?
5. What is the minimum text size and line weight?
6. How should dielines or fold lines be supplied: on a separate layer, as a named spot colour, or removed?
7. One PDF per piece or everything in one file? Is there a file-naming convention?
8. Which finishes do you offer (matte, gloss, varnish, recycled board…) and how do they affect the file?

Process questions

• What kind of proof do you send before production (digital, physical), and does it cost extra?
• What is the file deadline to meet my production date?
• How many file revisions are included in the order?
• Do you need a barcode, catalogue number or other mandatory text?

If you have not chosen a factory yet

You can start with the visual concept, but final files must be built on the chosen factory’s template. Sleeve, booklet and J-card sizes vary between suppliers, so adapting a finished design to another template later usually costs more than waiting for it.