Guides
Materials & Printing
Boards, flutes, inks, coatings and finishes, in plain English.
21 guides
Materials & Printing
Aqueous Coating: The Recyclable Finish for Everyday Boxes
Aqueous coating explained: what the water-based finish protects, aqueous vs UV coating vs lamination, sheen options, recyclability and cost on boxes.
September 15, 2026 13 min read
Materials & Printing
Chipboard and Greyboard for Rigid Boxes: Thickness and Wraps
Chipboard boxes explained: greyboard thickness in mm, gsm and points, which wrap papers to choose, how rigid boxes are built and what to check in a sample.
September 15, 2026 15 min read
Materials & Printing
CMYK vs Pantone for Packaging: Getting Brand Colors Right
CMYK vs Pantone packaging explained: how each color system works, why brand colors shift on different boards, when PMS matching is worth it and how to proof.
September 15, 2026 14 min read
Materials & Printing
Corrugated Flutes Explained: E, B, C and Double Wall, and Which Your Box Needs
Corrugated flute types explained: A, B, C, E and F flute heights, E flute vs B flute, double wall combinations and how to pick the right board for your box.
September 15, 2026 15 min read
Materials & Printing
ECT vs Burst Strength: Reading the Box Certificate Correctly
Edge crush test vs burst strength explained: what ECT ratings and Mullen tests measure, how to read the box maker's certificate and which rating to specify.
September 15, 2026 15 min read
Materials & Printing
Embossing vs Debossing on Packaging: Depth, Dies and Design
Embossing vs debossing on boxes: how raised and recessed logos differ, realistic depths by board, die types, design rules and when each finish is worth paying for.
September 15, 2026 14 min read
Materials & Printing
Foam vs Paperboard vs Molded Pulp Inserts: A Protection Test Guide
Foam vs cardboard inserts compared by how they fail in drops, what drives their cost and how recyclable they are, plus a simple test plan to choose the right one.
September 15, 2026 15 min read
Materials & Printing
Foil Stamping on Boxes: Gold, Silver and Holographic Foils
Foil stamping packaging explained: hot vs cold foil, gold, silver and holographic options, file setup rules, which boards work and what foil adds to box cost.
September 15, 2026 15 min read
Materials & Printing
Food-Safe Inks and Coatings for Packaging: What Brands Must Know
Food safe packaging inks and coatings explained: FDA food contact rules, direct vs indirect contact, migration, functional barriers and PFAS-free grease resistance.
September 15, 2026 15 min read
Materials & Printing
Inside Printing on Boxes: Cost, Design Ideas and When It Pays Off
Inside printed boxes explained: what interior printing costs, which box styles support it, design ideas, artwork setup rules and when it is worth paying for.
September 15, 2026 13 min read
Materials & Printing
Matte vs Gloss Lamination for Boxes: Look, Durability and Cost
Matte vs gloss lamination compared for custom boxes: how each changes color, resists scuffs and fingerprints, photographs and costs, plus when to choose which.
September 15, 2026 13 min read
Materials & Printing
Packaging Finishes Guide: Lamination, Coatings and Special Effects
Packaging finishes explained: how coatings, laminations, foil, spot UV and embossing stack together, what each costs and how to pick the right combination.
September 15, 2026 15 min read
Materials & Printing
Packaging Print and Die-Cut Tolerances: What “Close Enough” Means
Packaging print tolerances explained: typical die cut tolerance, registration and color variation ranges, and how to design artwork that looks right on every box.
September 15, 2026 14 min read
Materials & Printing
Paperboard Thickness Guide: Points, GSM and Caliper Explained
Paperboard thickness explained: convert points to mm and inches, why pt vs gsm has no fixed ratio, and which caliper suits your product box size and weight.
September 15, 2026 14 min read
Materials & Printing
Printing on Kraft Boxes: White Ink, Dark Colors and Realistic Expectations
Printing on kraft boxes explained: why colors shift on brown board, how white ink works, which designs print best, file setup tips and what kraft printing costs.
September 15, 2026 13 min read
Materials & Printing
SBS vs Kraft vs CUK Paperboard: Which Board for Your Carton?
SBS paperboard vs kraft vs CUK board compared: how each is made, print quality, strength, moisture resistance and which carton board fits your product.
September 15, 2026 14 min read
Materials & Printing
Soft-Touch Lamination: The Velvet Finish Explained
Soft touch lamination explained: how the velvet finish is made, how it shifts color, why it scuffs, how to pair it with foil and when it is worth the cost.
September 15, 2026 13 min read
Materials & Printing
Specialty and Textured Papers for Luxury Packaging
Textured paper packaging explained: linen, felt, leather-grain and pearlescent wraps, how they print, foil and wear, and how to spec them for luxury rigid boxes.
September 15, 2026 13 min read
Materials & Printing
Spot UV on Packaging: Design Rules and Best Uses
Spot UV packaging explained: how it works, how to set up the file, registration tolerances, raised UV, the best base finishes and what it costs on custom boxes.
September 15, 2026 14 min read
Materials & Printing
Types of Packaging Materials: A Plain-English Guide for Brands
Types of packaging materials explained simply: corrugated, SBS, kraft, CUK, rigid greyboard, films and pulp, with what each costs, protects and suits.
September 15, 2026 13 min read
Materials & Printing
Window Film for Boxes: PET vs PLA vs No Film
Window film for boxes compared: PET vs PLA vs an open die-cut window, with clarity, heat, food contact, recycling and cost tradeoffs so you can pick the right one.
September 15, 2026 15 min read
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