What Is Window Patching in Packaging?
Window patching is the process of applying a thin, clear film over a die-cut opening in a box. That opening lets a customer see the product inside without opening the package. The window gets cut first. Window patching happens after, at the finishing stage, when a machine glues the film in place. It sounds simple. […]
Box Insert Types: Foam, Cardboard, Molded Pulp & Plastic
A box insert is the shaped piece that sits inside a box. It holds your product in place. It cushions it during shipping too. The material you pick changes things. Foam, cardboard, molded pulp, or plastic all protect differently. They look different too. Each one is accessible at different order sizes. Most guides compare protection […]
Corrugated Flute Types: E, B, C, F Flutes Compared
Corrugated flutes are the wavy paper layer sandwiched between the flat liners of a cardboard box. The letter grade, A, B, C, E, or F, tells you how thick that wave is. It also tells you how many waves pack into each foot of board. Thicker flutes cushion better. Thinner flutes print cleaner and fold […]
Soft Touch Lamination: The Luxury Finish Explained
Soft touch lamination is a thin plastic film applied over printed packaging. It leaves a velvety, matte-suede feel under your hand. It’s the finish behind most boxes that feel expensive before you even open them. Run a finger across a soft touch box next to a gloss one. The difference is immediate. One feels like […]
What Is SBS Paperboard? (C1S vs C2S Explained)
SBS paperboard stands for solid bleached sulfate. It’s a bright white, virgin-fiber board made through the sulfate (kraft) pulping process. That pulp gets bleached until the board is white all the way through, not just on the surface. Printers like it because it takes color sharply and consistently. Brands like it because it looks premium […]
Aqueous Coating vs UV Coating: Which Protects Better?
Aqueous coating and UV coating protect a box in different ways. UV coating cures into a hard, glossy shell with strong resistance to chemicals and scuffs. Aqueous coating is water-based. It dries softer and more flexible. Neither one wins outright. UV holds up better against wear on a flat panel. Aqueous holds up better along […]
What Is Kraft Paper? Types, Weights & When to Use It
Kraft paper is a strong, tough paper made through the kraft process. It comes in two main looks: natural brown, or bleached white. Brands use it for bags, wraps, and box exteriors. It’s known for its tear strength and its raw, honest look. The name “kraft” comes from the German word for strength. That’s fitting. […]
GSM vs PT: Paper Thickness & Weight Explained
GSM and PT measure two different things. GSM stands for grams per square meter. It tells you how much a sheet of paper weighs. PT stands for points, a measure of physical thickness. One point equals 0.001 inch. The two are related, but they’re not interchangeable. A common shortcut divides GSM by roughly 25 to […]
Cardstock vs Cardboard vs Corrugated: Picking Box Material
Cardstock, cardboard, and corrugated aren’t the same thing. Cardstock, also called paperboard, is a single dense sheet. Cardboard is a casual term. People use it to mean either paperboard or corrugated. Corrugated is a three-layer structure. It has two flat liners with a fluted layer sandwiched between them. That fluting is what gives shipping boxes […]
Offset vs Digital Printing for Packaging: Costs & Quality
Offset printing wins on per-unit cost once you’re ordering in volume. It also covers the widest color range, including most Pantone spot colors. Digital printing packaging wins on low minimums, faster turnaround, and zero setup cost. For a typical four-color box design, the breakeven usually falls between 1,000 and 5,000 units. Where it lands depends […]