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By the horizbox packaging team · 28 Oct 2026 · 6 min read · Ordering guides

What Files Do You Need for Custom Packaging? Artwork, Dielines and Samples Explained

Most first-order delays are not about printing. They are about artwork files, a missing dieline, or a sample that was skipped. Here is exactly what to send, and what happens if you do not have it yet.

Artwork files

• Print-ready PDF or AI files
• Artwork at 300 dpi
• CMYK colour mode, not RGB
• If you are unsure about a file, send what you have and ask — it is faster than guessing and re-exporting

If you do not have a dieline

A dieline is the flat structural drawing of the box: fold lines, glue areas and panel sizes. If you do not have one, our structural designers build it free within 24 hours from your inside dimensions and product size. Do not try to draw one by hand from an existing box unless you can measure it accurately.

Samples: blank first, printed second

Blank structural samples are free. They check size, fold and fit, and they are the fastest way to catch a sizing error. Printed colour proofs take 3–5 working days, and you only cover the courier. For a first order, a sample before mass production is the step that most often saves a full run.

The order checklist

• Box style and inside dimensions (length × width × height)
• Material, printing and finish
• Quantity, starting from a single sample if needed
• Artwork files, or a note that you need a dieline first
• Shipping terms: EXW, FOB or DDP, with most US clients choosing DDP

Common mistakes to avoid

Measuring the outside of the box instead of the inside, forgetting the insert and closure, and sending RGB artwork that shifts in print. All three are caught by a dieline and a sample, which is why those two steps come before production, not after.

Product and factory photos from horizbox.