Blog · August 31, 2026

The Artwork Checklist: What to Have Ready Before Your First Proof

A first proof goes smoother when the boring pieces are ready before anyone starts moving logos around.

August 31, 2026 · 4 min read

A proof is not where you want to discover that the barcode is missing, the logo is a 600-pixel JPEG, or the nutrition panel is still being rewritten. That is how packaging jobs get slow and annoying.

The first proof does not need to be perfect. It does need enough correct information to check size, placement, print method, and production details. Here is what to gather before proofing starts.

Start with the correct box or print specs

Artwork has to fit something real. Before design work gets too serious, confirm the basic specs:

• Box style: mailer box, shipping box, folding carton, tuck box, sleeve, label, insert, hang tag, or something else.
• Size: length, width, and depth, using inside dimensions for boxes unless told otherwise.
• Material: kraft, white, corrugated, paperboard, coated stock, uncoated stock, or label stock.
• Quantity: boxes start at 500 units, and print goods start at 1,000 units.
• How it will be used: shipping, retail shelf, subscription kit, display, gift packaging, or product protection.

If you are still measuring the product, use the guide on how to measure a box. If you are not sure what box type you need, the cheaper answer is often a standard shipping box with a label instead of a fully printed mailer. The guide on which box do I need can help sort that out.

Use the right dieline, not a similar one

The dieline is the flat template your artwork sits on. It shows cuts, folds, glue areas, panels, flaps, and bleed. A dieline from a different box size or supplier is not close enough. Close enough is how logos end up on dust flaps and warning text lands under glue.

Before proofing, make sure the artwork is built on the current dieline for the actual item being quoted. If you are supplying your own dieline, label the panels clearly: front, back, top, bottom, left, right, inside lid, outside lid, and so on.

If the word dieline still sounds like print shop fog, read what is a dieline before you start placing artwork. Ten minutes there can save two rounds of confusion later.

Prepare logos as vector files

Your logo should ideally be supplied as vector artwork: AI, EPS, or a proper PDF. Vector art can scale up or down without getting fuzzy. A PNG can work in some cases, but it is usually not the best master file for packaging.

Have these ready if you have them:

• Primary logo
• One-color logo
• Reversed logo for dark backgrounds
• Icon or mark without the wordmark
• Brand colors, preferably with CMYK or Pantone values

If all you have is a low-resolution image pulled from a website, say so early. It is better to know before the proof than after someone has built the whole box around it.

Collect all required copy before layout

Packaging copy tends to arrive in pieces. A tagline here, ingredients there, a warning statement in a different email, and a barcode sitting on someone’s desktop. Put it all in one document before proofing starts.

Common copy items include:

• Product name and variant
• Tagline or short description
• Ingredients, materials, or contents
• Net weight or volume
• Directions or care instructions
• Warnings or compliance language
• Country of origin
• Website, social handle, QR code, or customer service contact
• SKU, UPC, batch area, or expiration date area

Do not rely on the designer or printer to catch legal requirements. They can help make the panel readable, but the final wording needs to come from you, your compliance person, or whoever is responsible for the product.

Check barcodes and QR codes at actual size

Barcodes and QR codes are small until they are a big problem. Make sure they are final before the first proof if possible.

• Use a high-resolution barcode or vector file.
• Keep enough quiet space around it.
• Do not stretch it to fit a narrow panel.
• Test QR codes before sending files.
• Confirm the URL or tracking destination is final.

If a QR code points to a temporary page, that is fine for testing, but mark it clearly. Otherwise someone may approve the proof with the wrong destination.

Know your color expectations

Screens lie. So do office printers. A color that looks rich on a laptop may print flatter on kraft board, warmer on uncoated stock, or cleaner on white paperboard.

For the first proof, gather any brand color references you have: Pantone numbers, CMYK builds, previous printed samples, or brand guidelines. If you do not have those, be honest about what matters. “Dark forest green” is easier to work with than “make it pop.”

On kraft packaging, white ink matters. Without white ink, light colors can look muted because the brown board shows through. Sometimes that is the point. Sometimes it is not. If budget is tight, a one-color black print on kraft is often the cleaner and cheaper choice than fighting for bright colors on the wrong material.

Set up bleed, safe areas, and panel direction

Artwork that runs to the edge needs bleed. Important text and logos need to stay inside the safe area. These are not decorative printer rules; they allow for tiny movement during cutting and folding.

Before the first proof, check for:

• Background colors or patterns extending into the bleed area
• Text kept away from cut lines, folds, and edges
• Logos not crossing fold lines unless intentionally designed that way
• Artwork orientation matching how the box opens
• Inside and outside panels clearly identified

Orientation is especially easy to miss on mailer boxes. What looks upright on the flat dieline may be upside down when the customer opens the lid. If you are working on a shipper or mailer, it may help to compare the options in mailer box vs shipping box.

Decide what finishes are actually needed

Foil, spot gloss, embossing, soft-touch coating, and extra ink colors can all look good. They can also add cost and production steps. Decide what is required before proofing, because finishes affect artwork setup.

If the product is new or the budget is still being tested, keep the first run simple. A plain kraft tuck box or mailer box with a well-placed sticker or label may do the job without paying for a complicated print setup. Fancy can wait until the reorder proves it is worth it.

Name and package your files clearly

Messy file names slow everyone down. Use names that explain what the file is. Not “finalfinal2.pdf.” Something closer to “brand-name-mailer-10x8x4-outside-art.pdf” is better.

A clean artwork folder might include:

• Editable art file
• Print-ready PDF
• Linked images, if any
• Outlined font version
• Brand guide or color notes
• Barcode and QR code files
• Copy document
• Reference images or mockups, clearly marked as reference only

Fonts should either be outlined or supplied with proper licensing. Images should be high resolution at the size they will print. For most packaging, that usually means 300 dpi at final size, though large-format or simple graphics can vary.

Understand what the first proof is for

The first proof is there to check layout, content, size, orientation, print areas, and production setup. It is not a physical sample unless that has been quoted. It is also not the best time to rethink the product name, rewrite every panel, or switch box styles.

Southpoint’s process is simple: send specs, get a straight quote within 1 business day, approve the proof, then production and delivery. Every order starts with a quote, not instant checkout. The quote is one number including plates, dies, and shipping, so there is less guessing while artwork is being checked.

The best proofs come from boring preparation: correct dieline, final copy, usable logos, clear colors, working codes, and realistic expectations. Not glamorous. Just cheaper than fixing avoidable problems later.