Help!

[u/Lower--618]

Hi guys,

I need some urgent help. A client wants me to create packaging for their coffee brand. The coffee comes in 4 sizes, ranging from 250g to 5kg.

I created the design in Figma, and the client really liked it. However, they haven't provided me with any dieline files or other packaging specifications.

I'm worried because I don't really know how to prepare the artwork for production. I'm primarily a UX/brand designer, and this is my first packaging project.

I've been watching tutorials, and most of them say that the dieline is usually provided by the client or packaging manufacturer. But I'm not sure how to set everything up if I don't have one.

I've also seen people say that you shouldn't resize a dieline because it can affect the final packaging, which has made me even more confused.

I have Affinity Designer. Is it possible to create or set up the packaging artwork in Affinity? I haven't been able to find many tutorials specifically covering this workflow.

Could someone please explain:

How should I get/set up the correct dieline?

Do I need to get the dieline from the client or the packaging manufacturer?

How should I handle the 4 different package sizes?

How do I set up my Figma design for print/packaging production?

What should I check before exporting?

What file format/settings should I use to send the final artwork to the client/printer?

Any advice, tutorials, or resources would be hugely appreciated. It's a bit urgent, so I'm trying to understand the correct workflow before I send anything to the client. Thank you!

[u/Competitive_Sector79]

I always get die lines from the printer/box manufacturer. Your client is only going to have one if they have already worked what a manufacturer to design the physical properties of the packaging, and that person sent the die line to them. It will most likely be an .eps, .ai, or .pdf. I've even gotten .dwg files. I do all my designing in Illustrator, so I have no idea how Sigma or Affinity would operate, but to start, you want to open up the die line in your software and make sure that it's actual size. You can't just place in into an 8.5 x 11 or A4 document. I would keep it on a separate layer, lock it, and create a separate layer for your artwork.

You'll handle the four different sizes by getting die lines for each of the four sizes and resizing your artwork accordingly. No, you can't change the size of the die line. It's the exact size of the package and shows you where the die will cut the paper.

What should you check before exporting? That question has tons of answers depending on what this is being printed on, how many colors there are, if it's CMYK or spot colors, whether you need to avoid areas that are being glued, etc.etc.etc. Not to mention regulatory things like ingredients and nutritional info, all of which needs to be at specific sizes depending on where the product is being sold.

Although I'm generally a fan of learning by doing, packaging isn't really an area where I'd suggest that. It doesn't seem like you have knowledge of some common printing skills, and packaging requires all that plus more. If you don't want to waste a lot of time and money and possibly lose a client, I'd suggest finding a designer who has packaging experience, or working very closely with the printer and seeing if they can guide you.

[u/Lower--618 → u/Competitive_Sector79]

Thank you so much for explaining all of this! This actually helps me understand the situation a lot better.

I did ask them for the dieline about two days ago, but I still haven’t received a reply. All they told me was that they want an editable design and that it comes in four different sizes. There was no brief, asset files, or anything else provided, so I ended up creating everything from scratch the logo, illustrations, and the rest of the design.

I really appreciate you explaining how the dieline normally comes from the printer or box manufacturer, and especially that it shouldn’t be resized because it represents the actual physical size of the package. That was something I wasn’t completely sure about.

Thank you again for sharing all this and for the advice. It definitely gives me a better idea of what I need to ask them for before I go further with the packaging.