To supply print-ready artwork for custom printed paper bags, send a high-resolution 300dpi file (a PNG with a transparent background is ideal, though JPG, PDF, AI, EPS and PSD are also accepted), designed to sit inside the bag's defined print area rather than across the whole bag. Remember that white ink is not printed, so any white in your design will show as the natural colour of the paper. Get those three things right and your proof will come back looking exactly as you imagined.
Artwork problems are the single most common reason a packaging order stalls. Not because customers are careless, but because printing onto a pre-made paper bag works differently from printing a leaflet or a business card. This guide walks through exactly what to send, what to avoid, and how to check your file before you upload it to Fast Printed Bags.
Why bag printing is not the same as flat printing
A leaflet starts life as a blank sheet. A paper carrier bag does not. It arrives at the press already cut, glued, folded and handled, which is precisely what allows for very fast turnarounds - the stock is sitting on the shelf ready to go.
The trade-off is that printing happens in pre-defined areas on a finished bag, usually a design on the front panel and optionally a matching one on the back. There is no full-surface, wraparound or edge-to-edge printing, and gussets and bases are left bare. Every product page shows the exact printable area for that bag, so check it before you start designing rather than after. The full detail sits on the personalisation information and help page.
The file formats that work best
The goal is a file with clean edges, no unwanted background, and enough resolution to hold up when it is enlarged onto a bag panel.
- PNG with a transparent background (recommended): a transparent PNG at 300dpi lets your logo sit directly on the kraft or white paper with no visible box around it.
- PDF, AI and EPS: ideal if your logo was created in vector software, because vector artwork scales to any size without softening.
- PSD: accepted, but flatten your layers before sending to avoid surprises.
- JPG: accepted, but be aware JPGs cannot hold transparency, so a white background will print as a white rectangle - which, on kraft, will simply appear as an unprinted block rather than white ink.
Whatever the format, aim for 300dpi at the size the design will actually be printed, not 300dpi at thumbnail size. A logo pulled from a website header is typically 72dpi and will look soft and pixelated once it is scaled up to fill a carrier bag panel.
Outline or flatten your text
If your design uses a typeface, convert the text to outlines (or flatten it into the image) before sending. Fonts that are not embedded can substitute for something else entirely when the file is opened on another machine, and a substituted font is the sort of thing that only gets spotted after production.
Colour: what to expect on kraft and white paper
Printing is done by inkjet onto paper stock, which behaves differently from screens and from coated litho stock. Two points matter most.
Pantone matching cannot be guaranteed. Colours are reproduced as close as possible, but kraft and manila materials have a warm brown base that tints anything printed on top of them. A cool blue on white paper will look noticeably warmer on kraft. If exact colour is critical, order a printed sample first from the printed samples range and judge it in daylight before committing to a full run.
White is not an ink. This is the point that catches people out most often. Anywhere your artwork is white, the bag material itself shows through. A white logo designed for a dark website background will effectively vanish on a white bag and appear as bare brown paper on kraft. If your logo only exists in a white or reversed-out version, ask about a dark alternative before ordering. Metallic colours such as gold and silver are reproduced as flat colour equivalents, and foiling and embossing are not offered.
Go easy on large solid blocks
Big areas of heavy, flat colour can show slight banding through the inkjet process. Designs with line work, outlined logos, and moderate colour coverage reproduce more cleanly than a large block of dark ink. This is also true across paper stand-up pouches and twist handle paper carrier bags alike.
Designing for the print area, not the bag
Sketch your design into the printable area shown on the product page, then leave breathing room around it. Small shifts in placement can occur when printing onto pre-made packaging, and product dimensions can vary by up to 20mm, which is standard across the packaging industry. A design that is deliberately centred with clear margins absorbs that tolerance invisibly. A design pushed hard to the edge of the print area does not.
Also worth knowing: because these are pre-manufactured stock bags, occasional manufacturer branding or barcodes may appear on parts of the product. It is worth reading our earlier guide to design tips for custom printed packaging alongside this one.
The proof stage is your safety net
Nothing goes to print without approval. A visual printed proof is issued before production begins (sample orders excepted), and you can amend the design until you are completely happy with it. Use that moment properly: check spelling, check the logo has not been stretched, check the colour looks right against the material, and check nothing important is sitting too close to an edge.
Minor adjustments such as resizing can be handled, but a full design service is not offered - the artwork you supply needs to be final and press-ready.
One last thing: you must own the artwork
By uploading a file you are confirming you have the rights to use every logo, image and typeface in it. If you have commissioned a designer, make sure the copyright was transferred to you rather than merely licensed for one use. The UK government's guidance on copyright ownership is a sensible starting point if you are unsure where you stand.
Frequently asked questions
What file format is best for printing on paper bags?
A 300dpi PNG with a transparent background gives the most reliable result, because it removes any background box and lets the artwork sit cleanly on the paper. Vector files such as AI, EPS and PDF are equally good, and JPG and PSD files are also accepted.
Can you print white ink on kraft paper bags?
No. White ink is not used, so any white in your artwork will appear as the natural colour of the bag material. On a kraft bag, white areas will show as bare brown paper. If your logo exists only in a white version, supply a dark or full-colour alternative instead.
Can you print over the whole surface of a bag?
No. Printing is done onto pre-manufactured stock bags in pre-defined areas only, typically the front panel and optionally the back panel. Full-surface, edge-to-edge and wraparound printing are not offered, and gussets and bases are left unprinted. Each product page shows the exact print area available.
Will my Pantone colour be matched exactly?
Exact Pantone matching cannot be guaranteed, particularly on kraft and manila stock where the warm base material influences the printed colour. Colours are reproduced as closely as possible. If precision matters, order a printed sample before committing to a full run.
Do I get to see a proof before printing?
Yes. A visual printed proof is issued for approval before production starts on all printed orders, excluding sample orders. You can request amendments until you are happy with the design.
Is there a setup fee for artwork?
Orders under £100 excluding VAT carry a one-time setup fee of £49.95. The fee is waived on re-orders of the same product using the same artwork, so repeat runs are cheaper.
Ready to get your design onto a bag?
Prepare your file at 300dpi, keep it inside the print area, avoid white artwork, and you are most of the way there. Browse the full range of kraft and white paper bags at Fast Printed Bags, from tape handle carrier bags to paper mailing bags, upload your artwork, and a proof will be with you before anything is printed. If you are not sure whether your file will work, get in touch and we will take a look before you order.