Print Production: Packaging

Course details

Packaging is where engineering meets design. Learn about the basics of designing packages for everything from foodstuffs to fragrance, in ways that are practical for manufacturing and shipping, and make the products visually appealing. Author Claudia McCue reviews the types of containers real packaging engineers consider, and then concentrates on folding cartons, which can be created with the tools available to most designers: Adobe InDesign and Illustrator. Learn how to create dielines (the flattened view of your product) and add artwork and text. Then find out how to print and cut out a mockup version of your packaging, and prepare the job for professional printing. Claudia also takes you for a quick view of the factory floor, where products are packed into their final containers.

Learning objectives
Deciding on the type of package
Considering the consumer experience
Replicating an existing package
Adding flaps and fold-in tabs
Using Illustrator and InDesign for layout
Creating a dieline
Checking the mockup
Preparing your jobs for the printer

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Welcome
02 - About this course
03 - About the exercise files

1. Types of Packaging

04 - Building a roadmap - Deciding on the type of package
05 - Examining basic types of boxes
06 - Combining packaging materials - Complex packaging

2. Planning a Package

07 - Making the decision of packaging type
08 - Considering the consumer experience
09 - Accommodating instructional legal copy, barcode, etc.

3. Dieline Road Map

10 - Reading a dieline (cut vs. fold indicators, flaps, etc.)
11 - Examining a package die
12 - Replicating an existing package - Basic panels
13 - Adding flaps and fold-in tabs
14 - Refining tab and flap shapes
15 - Creating rounded corners

4. Designing in Illustrator

16 - Why Illustrator is perfect for packaging
17 - Laying the groundwork - Start with the dieline
18 - Creating a bleed guide
19 - Adding artwork - Handling bleed, trim, and glue
20 - Preparing your job for the printer
21 - File formats for print

5. Designing in InDesign

22 - Using InDesign - Pros and cons
23 - Importing the dieline
24 - Adding artwork - Handling bleed and color intersections
25 - Preparing your job for the printer
26 - File formats for print

6. Final Steps

27 - Printing and cutting the mockup
28 - Checking the mockup
29 - Fulfillment and assembling the final piece

Conclusion

30 - What I hope you've learned in this course
31 - Next steps

Print Production: Packaging

Authors

Claudia McCue