Custom print
Custom Printed Poly Mailers
Artwork is laid out for a surface. A design that reads beautifully on flat film loses its edges on a cushioned one and its contrast on a translucent one, and the file that worked for one format usually needs redrawing for another.
So the format decision comes before the design decision. This page compares what each printable format does to artwork, so you brief a designer once rather than twice.
Not sure which of these to order?
Describe what you ship and we will point you at the right one, then quote it. A recommendation costs nothing.
Which one fits
Custom Poly Mailers
Flat film. Takes anything, including photographic artwork.
Read the detail
Personalized Bubble Mailers
Cushioned surface. Bold shapes only, no fine detail.
Read the detail
Custom Frosted Poly Bags
Translucent. Dark inks and restrained layouts.
Read the detail
Bee Poly Mailers
Repeat patterns, which survive packing better than a placed logo.
Read the detailWhat each surface does to artwork
Take the most delicate element in your identity and read down the column you are considering.
| Row label | Flat film | Cushioned | Frosted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine lines | Hold | Break up across the texture | Hold, if dark |
| Small type | Reads | Closes up | Reads, if dark |
| Large solids | Even | Shows the dimple pattern | Reduces the transparency you paid for |
| Photographic images | Reproduce | Go muddy | Not suited |
| White ink | Depends on the base | Works on dark bases | Washes out over contents |
| Repeat patterns | Excellent | Good, at large scale | Good, restrained |
Constraints that apply to every format
Four things catch first-time buyers regardless of which surface they choose.
The flap folds over
Anything placed near the top edge disappears once the bag is sealed. Keep the important elements clear of it.
The label has to go somewhere
Design a clear zone for it, or accept that it will land on your artwork on a large share of parcels.
Film needs bleed
Artwork intended to run to the edge needs an allowance, or part of the run gets a white sliver on one side.
The bag is seen packed, not flat
A composition drawn edge to edge on a flat template distorts once there is something inside.
Questions about custom printed poly mailers
Which mailer format reproduces artwork most cleanly?
Flat film, by a clear margin. It reproduces fine detail, photographic images and multi-colour palettes. Cushioned and frosted surfaces both work but need artwork designed for them rather than adapted to them.
Can I use the same artwork across several formats?
Usually only with adjustments. A design that works on flat film generally needs heavier lines and larger type before it works on a cushioned surface, and darker inks before it works on frosted film.
Does printing on more than one format cost more?
Each format is a separate setup, so yes. Where you are running several, quoting them together is more economical than ordering them separately.
Check artwork against a format
Send what you have and tell us which format you are considering. We will tell you honestly what will survive and what needs changing.