How to Set Up Print-Ready Artwork for Paper Bags
10 July 2026 · 5 min read · VP Ventures, Edmonton
Nine out of ten artwork problems are solved before a file ever reaches the press. Here's exactly what to send — and what we fix for you — so your bags print sharp on the first run.
The short answer: send a vector file
A vector file (PDF, AI, or EPS) scales to any bag size without losing edge sharpness — it's the format your logo was probably designed in. If all you have is a PNG or JPG, send the largest one you have; anything around 300 DPI at print size works for most logos.
Don't have a usable file? Send what you have anyway. We check every file before printing and send a proof — if something won't print well, you'll hear about it before it costs you anything.
Know your print area
Bags print on the front and back panels; gussets (the folded sides) are best left clear of critical artwork because the fold crosses them. Your proof shows the artwork positioned on the exact bag size ordered, so what you approve is what prints.
- Keep logos and text out of the bottom fold zone
- One-colour artwork: send solid shapes, not gradients
- Full-colour: CMYK values print truer than RGB screenshots
- Small text: keep above ~8pt for clean edges on kraft
Kraft changes colour — plan for it
Ink on brown kraft shifts: whites go cream, yellows go warm, and pale tints can disappear. Dark, saturated colours print beautifully on kraft; light palettes belong on white stock. Your proof accounts for the stock you chose — approve it on screen knowing we've adjusted for the surface.
Next step
Custom printed paper bags →