Whether you have your own design team to create your artwork, or need a turnkey solution from idea to finished product, International Plastics is ready to work with you!

We boast a highly talented graphics department that can help achieve the look you need to insure an exceptional product. We also offer up to 2 hours of free artwork/prepress time on your order! A $150 value!

To Submit Your Artwork:

You may submit your art files through your International Plastics Plastics Sales Representative via email. To send files larger than 9 mb, you will need to use our FTP site by clicking HERE. Please notify your I.P. Sales Rep once your file has been uploaded.

Specifications for Submitted Artwork:

Acceptable Art File Formats

The International Plastics Art Department uses Adobe CS4 software. We can accept both PC and Mac files, although we work on a Mac OS X platform. We prefer that original files be sent in Illustrator format so we can manipulate the artwork and make spot color ready.

Adobe Illustrator CS4 (preferred). All text must be converted to outlines.

Adobe Acrobat PDF. Send your vector art saved as a PDF with full Illustrator editing capabilities.

Adobe (Macromedia) Freehand. All text must be converted to curves and document exported as an EPS or AI file.

Corel Draw. All text must be converted to curves and document exported as an EPS or AI file.

Adobe Photoshop CS4 (PSD or Tiff). Only for 4-color process (CMYK) or Grayscale (black & white) images.
All 4-color process (CMYK) Photoshop files must be 100% of imprint size and 300 dpi minimum.
All Photoshop Grayscale images must be sent at 100% of imprint size and at least 600 dpi.

Linked or Embedded Images. If an image is linked to your file, we will need the original linked image also. All linked raster images must adhere to our Photoshop guidelines above. Do not embed images.

Unacceptable Art File Formats

Art charges will apply for recreating your image in Adobe Illustrator.
Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher or WordPerfect documents cannot be accepted as art.

JPEG, GIF, BMP, PCX, or other low-resolution raster images are not acceptable art for all imprints. If your only art is in one of these formats, there will be an art charge to recreate the art in an acceptable vector or high resolution format.

Other Areas of Interest:

Extreme care and effort is given to achieve the results you are looking for. However, most times design adjustments are necessary to accommodate the limitations of Flexographic plates and presses. Common areas of concern are trapping, halftone screens, small type or reversed type, UPC bar codes, and bleeds. Process Printing can be achieved but is very involved and very costly. If your budget is limited we strongly suggest spot colors and simple line art.

Custom Art (Flexography) Limitations
Custom Printed bags and film are printed through a process called flexography. There are several limitations to "flexo" printing in comparison to offset printing, which is seen in magazines, catalogs, and basically anywhere full color pictures are printed on a flat "paper" surface. The quality of flexo printing, while good, is not going to match the standard of what is seen in offset printing. Flexo printing uses a smaller line screen, which means color gradations can appear choppy. As well, flexo printing does not hold registration near as tight as offset printing, this is due to the nature of printing on poly, stretching and tension.

Raster Art VS Vector - What's the Difference? Click Here to Find Out (Acrobat Reader Required)

Process VS Spot Printing - What's the Difference? Click Here to Find Out (Acrobat Reader Required) The difference between 4 color process (CMYK) and spot colors Registration of inks White block for writing area on bag UPC (Universal Price Code) - what works and what doesn't Ink printing off of a side of a bag - or often refered to as a bleed

Ink Colors - Please refer to this handy PMS color chart (.pdf) to be able to make a more accurate decision when choosing spot ink colors. Please note that due to variations in computer monitors, that this is not exact color representation, but rather, a "go-by". Please refer to a professional printers PMS coated spot color swatch book to have a more accurate understanding. We certify that cadmium, hexavalent chromium, lead and mercury are not intentionally introduced into our product’s formulation; and that the cumulative sum concentration of cadmium, haxavalent chromium, lead and mercury does not exceed 100 parts per million (ppm). We certify that our products comply with the following elemental content restrictions: Antimony (Sb) not to exceed 60 ppm, maximum; Arsenic (As) 25 ppm, maximum; Barium (Ba) 500 ppm, maximum; Cadmium (Cd) 75 ppm, maximum; Chromium (Cr) 60 ppm, maximum; Lead (Pb) 90 ppm, maximum; Mercury (Hg) 60 ppm, maximum; Selenium (Se) 500 ppm, maximum.

Screens / Tints - All screens printing with solids will print at a 55 line (a very "Rough" look compared to offset printing) up to a maximum of 65 lines. We cannot blend screens of spot colors to achieve graduated blends of color. When 2 or more colors are blended together the job becomes a 4 color process job. The percentage of tints or screen should be no lower than 15% and no higher than 80%. Any lower and the screen will more than likely not show up, any higher than 80% and the screen fills in and might as well have been 100%.

Art Charge - Any work required to bring artwork up to camera ready quality will be billed at $75.00 per hour.

Film Colors - We have many different film colors that are available. Here are a few standard stock film colors that we offer. Depending on dimensions, quantity and thickness of bag or film custom film can be made / extruded to a customer's need.

Trapping - When preparing artwork for trapping of colors (overlap colors require registration), there must be no less than a 1/16” trap. Create trap at 1/16” or with a 3 to 4 pt. stroke rule. Caution should be taken when trapping certain ink colors which may create another undesired color when printed.

Printable image - area is generally 1” from sides of the bag and 1” from the bottom of the bag. The image is positioned 4” from the top on Patch Handle bags to avoid the handle and seal area, and generally 2 1/2” down for all other types of bags. ie: a 12"(W) x 15"(L) bag would have an image area of 10"(W) X 10"(L). CLICK HERE FOR EXAMPLE

Bleeds off the edges of the bag require 3/4” bleed off both sides, as well as the top and bottom.

Eye-spots - Some bags will be printed with a small, solid, rectangular box in the lower corner of both sides of the bag. This box, or eye-spot, helps assure the accuracy of bag size during manufacturing.

Copy or ink changes - The following changes made during the printing of bags, require a minimum of 3000 pieces per change:
Ink Color Change @ $150.00 (G) per change. Full Printing Plate Change (for print image larger than 2”x 3”) @ $150.00 (G) per change. Slug Printing Plate Change (for print image 2”x 3” or smaller) @ $80.00 (G) per change.

Whether you have your own design team to create your artwork, or need a turnkey solution from idea to finished product, International Plastics is ready to work with you!

To Submit Your Artwork:

Specifications for Submitted Artwork:

Acceptable Art File Formats

Unacceptable Art File Formats

Other Areas of Interest:

Custom Art (Flexography) Limitations

Raster Art VS Vector - What's the Difference? Click Here to Find Out (Acrobat Reader Required)

Process VS Spot Printing - What's the Difference? Click Here to Find Out (Acrobat Reader Required)