A printed carton does two jobs at once. It protects your product, and it puts your brand in front of every warehouse worker, courier and customer who handles it. Printing on corrugated board works differently from printing a brochure, though. Knowing how it works helps you get a box that looks sharp without paying for things you don't need.
How cartons are printed: flexo
Most printed cartons, including ours, are printed by flexography (flexo). A flexible printing plate is made for each colour in your design. The plates are mounted on the press and ink is transferred straight onto the corrugated board before it's cut, creased and glued into a box.
We print flexo in up to 4 colours. Flexo is excellent for:
- Logos and brand marks
- Bold text, product names and model numbers
- Handling marks: "This Side Up", "Fragile", "Keep Dry", stacking limits
- Simple graphics, icons and solid colour blocks
It's less suited to photographs, fine gradients and very small text. Those need full-colour printing processes that cost much more per box. For shipping cartons, a clean one- or two-colour design almost always does the job better.
Designing for corrugated board
Corrugated board isn't smooth paper, and most cartons are brown kraft. A few rules make a big difference:
- Colours print darker on brown board. Strong, dark colours (black, navy, deep red, dark green) stand out best. Pale colours can disappear into the kraft.
- Keep lines and text bold. Very thin lines and tiny text can fill in or break up on fluted board.
- Mind the folds. Keep logos and text clear of score lines and flap edges, where the board bends.
- Choose a smoother flute for finer print. E and B flute give a flatter surface than A flute. See our single wall vs double wall guide for how flutes compare.
- Less is more. One confident logo on two panels often looks more premium than artwork covering every surface.
Artwork: what to send us
Either way works:
- A print-ready file. If you have a designer, send vector artwork (AI or PDF) laid out on our die-line for your carton size.
- Just your logo. Send your logo file and tell us what you want printed where. Our team will prepare the layout and send you a proof.
Want to see your idea on a box first? Our free Carton Studio tool lets you place your logo on a carton at your size and preview it in 3D. You can then send the result with your enquiry.
From enquiry to delivery
- Brief. Send us the carton size (or your product size), board, quantity and the number of print colours.
- Quote. We quote the cartons and the one-off plate cost, usually within 2 hours during opening hours.
- Artwork and proof. We check or prepare your artwork and send a proof showing what prints where. Nothing goes to press until you approve it.
- Plates and sample. We make the print plates and can produce a sample, so you can check the print and fit before committing to the full run.
- Production and delivery. Your printed cartons are produced at our Selangor plants and delivered across the Klang Valley.
What affects the cost of printed cartons
- Print plates are a one-off cost per colour. They're stored and reused, so repeat orders of the same design don't pay for plates again.
- Number of colours. Each extra colour adds a plate and a print pass.
- Quantity. Setup is spread across the run, so the price per box falls as quantity rises.
- The carton itself. Size, board and paper grade still drive most of the price. Our guide to what affects carton box prices covers these.
Minimum order quantities and lead times depend on the carton size and design, so ask us for a quote with your details. We'll tell you exactly what applies to your job.
Ways to keep printed cartons affordable
- Start with one colour. A single dark colour on kraft looks professional and keeps plate costs low.
- Use one design across sizes. A logo-and-marks design that works on several carton sizes keeps your branding consistent.
- Order for the season, not the week. Ordering a larger run and taking deliveries in batches lowers the unit price without filling your warehouse.
- Keep the design stable. Every change to the artwork means new plates.