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Packaging Artwork & Instruction Guide for Toys
Packaging is both commercial and practical—it must attract buyers, protect the toy, and meet labeling rules.
Instruction guides are time-consuming and design-critical: clear diagrams, compliant warnings, and often multiple languages. We design and route both through your factory and accredited lab so what's printed is retail-ready and compliant.
What this phase achieves
Retail-ready box + insert
Approved structure & materials, damage-aware, shelf-friendly.
Barcodes & cartons
UPC/EAN on unit, ITF-14 on cartons, carton marks & pallet notes.
Compliant artwork
Age/battery labels, warnings, and country languages placed right.
Transit-ready
Drop-test plan, pack-out checks, and rub/ink durability notes.
Instruction guide v1.0
Clear, multilingual, diagram-first, print-ready PDF package.
Scope of work
Packaging artwork
-
Dielines
(bleed/safe/glue/white/varnish layers) -
Age grade & warnings;
battery/chemistry labels if needed -
Claims/icons review (marketing + legal)
-
Color mgmt (CMYK/Pantone), overprint/trapping
-
Print-ready PDFs + soft proofs
Barcodes & data
-
UPC / EAN on unit; ITF-14 on cartons
-
Quiet zone, size, contrast, print method
-
Carton marks:
item / qty / NW / GW / orientation
Structural packaging
-
Box style
(SB/RSC/tuck/window/clam) -
Inner trays: blister, pulp, foam, folded card, polybag
-
Hardware: hang tab, anti-theft, tamper seals
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Carton architecture & pallet pattern
Transit & validation
-
Drop-test plan (ISTA as required)
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Pack-out & rub tests; humidity check
-
Lab/retailer artwork approval routing
Instruction guide
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Parts, assembly/usage, battery, care/disposal
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Warnings & cautions; icon legend
-
Multilingual layout & pagination
-
Accessibility & readability design
Printing and testing are performed by approved suppliers/labs; we design, plan, and coordinate.
Compliance overview (EU / US / UK)
EU / CE
Age grade & warnings; 0-3 symbol if applicable;
manufacturer/importer details; language(s) of sale. Electric toys:
appropriate safety/battery marks.
UK / UKCA
BS EN 71 labeling mirrors EU;
language per country; manufacturer/importer on pack/manual.
US
ASTM F963 + CPSIA tracking label; choking warnings where applicable; battery labeling;
retailer-specific notes (e.g., CPC reference).
Final labeling is confirmed with your accredited lab/retailer; we implement and route revisions.
Artwork rules (designer checklist)
Dieline & layers
-
Bleed ≥3 mm; safe area; glue flaps; fold direction
-
Separate layers for white/foil/spot UV/varnish
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Overprint preview & trapping checked
Type & images
-
Outline final fonts; minimum legal text size
-
Images 300 ppi at size; CMYK only
-
Total ink limit per printer profile
Instruction guide rules
Content
-
Product ID, parts list, assembly/usage
-
Battery insertion/removal (if any)
-
Warnings/cautions; care & disposal
-
Contact details; revision/version
Design
-
Diagram-first; icon legend; bold warning blocks
-
Language sets per market; pagination rules
-
Print-ready PDF + native package
Barcodes & retail data
Unit codes
UPC-A (US) / EAN-13 (EU/UK) with correct size & quiet zone; high contrast; avoid varnish over bars unless specified.
Cartons
ITF-14 for master cartons include
item/qty/orientation; scannable after tape/straps.
Optional QR for video/manual.
Structure & inner protection (choose by priority)
Clear blister / clam
Best visibility & anti-theft; sealing/tooling cost; check retailer plastic policies.
Folded card nest
Fast & low cost; good for simple shapes; moderate protection.
Pulp / corrugated tray
Eco feel, crush strength; molded tooling time; stable for long transit.
Polybag + supports
Dust protection, light cost; warning print; thickness rules apply.
EPE/EVA foam
Clear, multilingual, diagram-first, print-ready PDF package.
Prototyping & print path
1
Blank box
Cut/crease sample to verify structure & dieline.
2
Digital mockup
Full graphics on near-final stock; cost varies by size/finish.
3
Plates & die
Printing plates and cutting plate (window/blister tools if needed).
3
Mass print & QC
Ink rub, color target, barcode scan, glue & assembly checks.
Drop testing on different corners and heights verifies protection during transport-often mandatory.
The inner tray determines protection and unboxing-choose it carefully while balancing cost.
Good dielines improve retail display and user experience; manuals must be clear and truly instructive.
Drop test & transit readiness
Align the required ISTA method with your buyer/retailer, run pack-out, simulate corner/edge/flat drops, record damage, adjust trays/void fill, and re-test if needed. Confirm pallet pattern & top-load; consider humidity conditioning for long sea freight.
What you provide • What you get • Timeline
What you provide
-
Brand assets & claims; barcode numbers (GS1)
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Lab/retailer requirements & markets
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Translations (or choose our service)
-
Factory printer specs (if fixed)
What you get
-
Final dielines & print-ready PDFs
-
Manual PDF + native files
-
Carton marks & barcode verification snapshot
-
Transit pack plan & mockup
-
photos
Typical timeline (reference)
-
Structure & blank box: 3-5 days
-
Artwork & manual vl: 5-10 days
-
Digital mockup: +5-10 days after art lock
-
Plates/die & print slot: 1-2 weeks
Actuals vary by size, finishes, language count, and printer capacity.
Cost drivers & add-ons
Cost drivers (informational)
-
Box size & finishes (foil, spot UV, window)
-
Manual page count & languages
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Tray type & tooling (blister/pulp molds)
-
Digital mockup size & stock choice
-
Retail extras (anti-theft, hang tabs, seals)
Optional add-ons
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Translation management & legal review
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3D pack renders & shelf mockups
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QR micro-site for video/manual
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Sustainability material swaps
FAQs
Do you print the packaging?
Who approves warnings, symbols, and age grade?
What barcode types do we need?
How do we minimize retail damage/returns?
Can you include QR codes (videos/manuals)?
Do you work with our existing printer?
What’s the typical timeline?