They mainly include paper-based materials (such as coated paper, kraft paper, corrugated paper, and specialty paper), plastic materials (such as PP, PE, PVC, and PET), as well as metal, glass, and composite materials (such as aluminum-plastic composite film). The choice depends on product characteristics and usage scenarios.

Offset printing is suitable for high-volume, high-precision color boxes and posters; flexography is suitable for large-roll materials such as plastic bags and corrugated cartons; gravure printing is suitable for food packaging bags and cigarette boxes that require a thick texture; screen printing can be used on irregular surfaces (such as cups and toys); digital printing is suitable for small-batch, customized packaging.

It is necessary to ensure that the image resolution is ≥300dpi, use the CMYK color mode, reserve a 3-5mm bleed area, avoid using light colors or gradients for small text, convert important text to curves, and consider material adaptation (such as using spot colors for light-colored text on dark paper).

Traditional printing (such as offset printing and gravure printing) has a higher minimum order quantity (e.g., ≥500 for cartons, ≥1000 for color boxes); digital printing does not require plate-making, and the minimum order quantity can be as low as 1, making it suitable for small-batch customization.

They are mainly caused by differences in equipment, materials, and batches. It is difficult to avoid them completely, but color differences can be reduced by providing physical samples, proofing in advance, and specifying spot colors (such as Pantone colors).

Compression resistance is tested with a pressure testing machine; moisture resistance is tested by simulating a high-humidity environment with a moisture testing machine; drop testing checks for damage by dropping packages from a certain height; seal testing checks for air leakage in sealed packaging. Third-party testing reports (such as ISTA standards) can be requested from the printer.

They include degradable plastics (PLA, PBAT), recycled materials (recycled paper, recycled plastic), and plastic-free alternatives (kraft paper, bamboo pulp molding). Degradable plastics cost 30%-50% more than ordinary materials; recycled materials are close in cost to virgin materials; some plastic-free materials are comparable in cost to similar plastic packaging.

Simple styles (such as ordinary cartons) take about 7-10 days, while complex styles (such as color boxes with bronzing, UV, and other processes) may take 10-15 days, including design confirmation (1-3 days), proofing (2-5 days), mass production (3-10 days), and logistics (1-3 days).
 

Small batches are suitable for digital printing, which does not require plate-making but has a higher unit cost than traditional printing. For long-term mass use, traditional printing is more cost-effective, as the larger the batch, the lower the unit cost.

Avoid using light colors (such as yellow) or gradients for small text, as they may not print clearly. Important text should be converted to curves to prevent printing errors due to missing fonts. Light-colored text on dark paper is recommended to use spot colors (such as bronzing) to improve readability.