Sourcing Guide · Samples
Custom Packaging Samples: What to Check Before Production
Samples are where a packaging project is actually decided. Artwork can look perfect on screen and still mis-measure in hand, so every sample stage answers a different question — and nothing moves to production until you have approved it in writing.
Three sample stages, three different jobs
Digital artwork proof. The proof confirms copy, dieline and print position on screen. It is fast and cheap to revise, but it cannot prove physical dimensions or printed color — a file that looks right on a calibrated screen can still measure or print differently in hand.
Structural sample. Usually plain or unprinted, its job is fit: place your actual product inside and check internal fit, closure and packing. A structural sample answered with the real product catches sizing mistakes while they are still cheap to fix.
Printed and finished sample. This shows the selected material, printing and finishes. Ask whether it is produced with the intended production method — this is the printed sample vs production sample question: only a sample made the way your order will be made predicts the final result. Keep the written approved reference; it is what the production run is checked against.
Custom packaging sample approval checklist
- 01Dimensions — measured against the dieline, not the artwork
- 02Closure — seals, magnets, ties and flaps under real use
- 03Material — the selected substrate, weight and finish
- 04Logo spelling and position on every panel
- 05Color consistency — reviewed under more than one light
- 06Foil, embossing and specialty finishes
- 07Insert and filler fit with the actual product
- 08Accessories — ribbon, tags, tissue
- 09Packing — how the finished set ships
Approval has limits: a sample cannot prove shipping certification for your destination market, and it cannot guarantee mass-production consistency. It proves what you checked — nothing more.
Sampling terms
Free sample production includes logo printing and special finishes. Before a deposit is paid, sample shipping is paid by the buyer and can be credited against a subsequent order; once a deposit is paid, sample shipping is free. Sampling and production schedules are confirmed per project, against your specifications and destination.
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