We are so thankful that you’ve trusted us with one of the most important parts of your business identity: Custom Printed Packaging.
We are very pleased to offer your custom printed bags, labels, ribbon, boxes and tape, and more! We print on many of these products in house, and also with our many domestic and global partners.
The Custom Printing Process
Follow the steps below to get familiar with the process of ordering custom printed packaging:
The Packaging
Pick from any packaging shown in our custom printing category. We can print on a wide range of items such as bags, boxes, labels, packing tape, and more!
Some items have limited options for print colour or style, while others give you free reign to design the packaging of your dreams. Find all of this information in the custom printing listings or contact us here.
The Logo
We require your logo in a vector graphics file. A vector image file is a type of digital graphic that can be scaled infinitely without losing clarity. They can be printed at any resolution without losing detail or appearing pixelated.
Common vector file formats include SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics), AI (Adobe Illustrator), EPS (Encapsulated PostScript), and PDF (Portable Document Format). If you need help getting your logo into a vector graphics format, just ask!*
*An artwork fee may apply to your order if you require a logo conversion.
The Proof
Once you choose your packaging and we receive your logo, we will make a detailed proof so that you can visualize what finished product may look like. This is the time for you to make any adjustments to your order such as colour or logo placement. Please note that proofs are only an approximation of the final product. The final product may be slightly different in colour and size and logo placement varies a bit as part of the production process.
We are happy to work with you to design the printed packaging you have in mind; however, logo size and placement will be limited by the size and type of packaging you select, also the amount of fine detail and number of colours in the logo will determine which printing process we can use and as such the cost and timelines will depend on this. We will work within these limits to ensure you are happy with your outcome.
For our local printing production we focus on single colour logo’s with moderate level of fine detail. However, when we see your logo, we can advise on the printing options for your needs.
No adjustments will be made after you have signed off on your proof, so take your time with this step to ensure you are satisfied with the final product.
The Printing Plate
One you have signed off on a proof we will proceed to make a printing plate.
Printing plates are essential components in the printing process, serving as the means to transfer an image or text onto the packaging you have chosen. A plate fee will apply to your first order of printed packaging*.
Different printing methods use distinct types of plates. For example, the hot stamp printing uses metal plates, and ink printing uses polymer rubber plates. You may need more than one printing plate depending on the number of colours you are printing or the size of packaging you have chosen.
*Plate fee will vary. The amount will be quoted before we make your plates.
Time to Print!
Once the printing plate has been made, we schedule your job with our printing department.
Lead times for custom printed packaging can range from 2 weeks to up to 90 days or more for large orders not printed in-house. The printing process can involve various printing methods, depending on the chosen products. Each printed packaging job undergoes quality control checks to ensure that the printing is accurate, the colors are consistent, and the overall construction meets the specified standards.
Once complete, the product is packaged and shipped to you!
Place an order
Interested in ordering some Custom Printed packaging for your business?
Contact us to begin the process!
Good things to include in your message are:
- Desired packaging (Type, size, quantity, etc.)
- Logo information (File type, colour, etc.)
- Special requests regarding two-sided printing, additional colours, etc.
Great Examples of Custom Printing
The Royal Alberta Museum: Two colour Hot Stamping on Manhattan Paper Shoppers
The Fudgery: Digitally Printed Self-adhesive labels
The Rosarium: Hot Stamped Satin ribbon
Black Market Provisions: Four colour printing on faces & gussets on a Non-woven Reusable bag
FAQs
The cost of custom printing can vary greatly depending on many factors. We can provide you with a detailed quote once we determine the style of packaging, quantity, print style, and other factors.
In general, here are some costs to keep in mind when considering Custom Printed packaging;
Cost of packaging: Consider the base cost of the packaging you are selecting. A more expensive base packaging will raise the overall cost of your printing job.
Print cost: We charge a per unit print cost to cover the print itself. This is usually around $0.25 per print though this can change depending on things like the quantity of the order or the number of colours being printed. Some items, such as Custom Printed labels & tags, already include this print cost in the listed price.
Set-up Fee: Some printed items require a set-up fee. This fee covers the cost to set up the press for your specific job. Though the Set-up Fee can vary, it is usually $25-40.
Plate Fee: Many orders will require a Plate Fee, starting at $75.00+. This covers the cost to make your logo into a printing plate. You only need to pay the plate fee the first time you make an order with your logo. Plates can then be re-used for future orders. Any changes to your logo design or size will require a new plate.
Deposit: We require a 50% deposit before we will start printing your order. The balance is due once the printing is completed.
Other Fees & Costs: Additional print charges may apply for multi-side or multi-colour print jobs. A Design Change charge of $5 may apply if we change your logo design halfway through a run. Custom packaging or print colours may result in additional fees. A Pantone colour match is $45. Shipping charges may apply.
*All prices listed here are approximations and are subject to change.
Timelines can vary depending on the job and the time of year. For custom printed bags printed on our press in Kelowna, it typically takes about a week to produce printing plates for a new job and a further 2 to 4 weeks to print. These times can fluctuate depending on the season, taking longer depending on the volume of jobs currently in our queue. Hot stamped bags can take between 4 to 6 weeks on average, custom packing tape, between 3 to 4 weeks, custom labels between 3 to 5 weeks, custom ribbon around 4 weeks, custom hang tags around 4 to 5 weeks and pricing gun labels between 2 to 4 weeks. All of our ETA’s are approx. and we do our best to complete them in the timeframe, if you are in a rush or require the product by a particular date, please be sure to let the CSR know at the time of the order.
All custom printed items are final sale. We will provide a proof for you to sign off on your design before the printing process is started to ensure you are happy with your final product.
We have many different choices for paying for your order. You can pay with Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or online banking, cash or debit. Visa-Debit cards may only be used in person at one of our locations. You can also apply for Net 30-Day terms by asking for a credit application when you order.
See our full list of FAQs here.
Curious about the printing process?
See the video here to watch one of our printing presses in action!