Short answer: Custom printed food packaging goes through five stages: artwork & prepress → proofing → plate making → printing & forming → QC & packing. Our standard terms are 30,000 pcs MOQ per size and artwork, about 7 days for samples, and about 30 days for bulk production after sample approval.
Stage 1: Artwork and Prepress
Everything starts with your design files. Our prepress team checks three things before anything is printed:
- File format: Vector files (AI, EPS, or PDF) are required. JPG or PNG can work for simple logos, but anything that must stay sharp at full-wrap size should be vector.
- Dieline fit: Your artwork must sit correctly on the bowl or cup dieline — the flat template the package is cut from. We provide the dieline for your size; you (or your designer) place the artwork on it.
- Color mode: Files should be built in CMYK. RGB files get converted, and conversion is where surprise color shifts come from.
If your files need cleanup, we flag exactly what to fix — we don’t silently “make it work” and print something you didn’t approve. (Full file checklist: see our artwork requirements guide.)
Stage 2: Proofing — What You Approve Is What We Print
Before any plates are made, you approve a proof. For most buyers this means a physical sample of the actual bowl or cup with your artwork printed on it — produced in about 7 days.
This is the step that protects both sides. Color on screen is never color on paper; ink behaves differently on white board versus kraft stock. The proof is your binding reference: once you sign off, bulk production matches the proof, not the PDF on your screen.
Stage 3: Plates and Setup
Approved artwork goes to plate making. Each color in your design needs its own plate, and each size-and-artwork combination is a separate print run — which is exactly why our MOQ is 30,000 pcs per size and artwork, not per order total. The setup cost (plates, machine calibration, color matching) is fixed whether we print 3,000 or 30,000 pieces.
Stage 4: Printing, Coating, and Forming
The printed paperboard is coated for food contact and moisture resistance, then die-cut and formed into bowls or cups. Printing, coating, and forming happen as one continuous production flow, which is why color approval must happen before this stage — there is no economical way to “adjust the color” mid-run.
Stage 5: QC and Packing
Finished pieces are checked against your approved proof: print registration, color consistency across the run, forming quality, and packing to your specification (bulk cartons or retail-ready packaging).
Typical Timeline
| Artwork check & prepress | 1–2 days |
| Physical samples | ~7 days |
| Your approval | On your schedule — this is usually the longest variable |
| Plate making & production setup | Included in bulk schedule |
| Bulk production | ~30 days after sample/order confirmation |
| Sea freight (if applicable) | Plan separately with your forwarder |
Work backward from your in-hand date. If you need product on shelves in 90 days, artwork should be finalized roughly 50 days before that — the approval step, not the factory, is where most timelines slip.
FAQ
Can I change the artwork after approving the proof?
You can, but it restarts the clock: new plates must be made and new samples produced (~7 days). Finalize artwork before proofing to protect your timeline.
Do you keep my plates for reorders?
Yes — plates from your first run are kept on file, so reorders skip plate-making time and cost. Just confirm the artwork is unchanged when you reorder.
One design, three sizes — is that one MOQ or three?
Three. Each size is a separate dieline and a separate print run, so the 30,000 pcs MOQ applies per size-and-artwork combination.
Can you print on kraft (uncoated) board?
Yes, but expect colors to print slightly muted compared to white board — uncoated stock absorbs more ink. Your physical proof will show the true result before we commit to the run.
Ready to start? Send your artwork and specs for a free prepress check — get a free quote. For file specs, see what artwork files you need; for color questions, see brand color matching; for a smooth first inquiry, see what to prepare before requesting a quote.
