Route 1 · design check
Digital printed sample
3–5 days after artwork approval.
- Printed and assembled to the dieline
- Shows design, colour and finish combination
- Used to change artwork before tooling
- Best for first runs and design decisions
Sampling
Packaging samples, before anything is produced
Every order passes through a physical sample. It is the point where design, board and finishing meet — and the only reliable way to know how a box feels in the hand.
Two sample routes
Which one you need depends on the question you are answering.
Route 2 · production check
Production-run sample
7–10 days after specification is fixed.
- Made on the same board and process as bulk
- Confirms structure, fit and opening resistance
- Signed off as the inspection reference
- Best for rigid boxes, inserts and new tooling
Bulk production then runs 15–22 working days after sample approval. The two sample routes sit before that clock starts.
What we need to make a sample
- Product dimensions and weight, or the product itself for a fit check
- Quantity per size, so tooling and sample method match the run
- Artwork as AI, PDF or EPS with fonts outlined
- Finishing decisions: foil, emboss, laminate, spot UV
- Insert requirement: foam, pulp, paperboard or none
What you receive
- The physical sample, assembled as it will ship
- Photos of the sample before dispatch
- The dieline used, so your designer works to the same shape
- A sample sheet recording board, print, finishing and approval
The approved sample becomes the reference for the bulk inspection. If the bulk order does not match it, that is our problem to correct — which is why the sample is signed rather than assumed.
Sampling questions
Why are there two kinds of sample?
A digital sample answers a design question: does the colour, foil and texture work together. A production sample answers a manufacturing question: will this board, dieline and assembly hold on the line. They are different decisions and they are made at different points.
Is the sample free?
Sample and tooling costs are quoted as separate lines with the project. The quote states whether the sample fee is credited against the bulk order, so there is no ambiguity later.
Can I change the artwork after the digital sample?
Yes, that is what it is for. Changes before the sample are free within the design scope; changes after a sample has been made may need a new sample and a new fee, which is stated before we proceed.
Do you send samples by courier?
Yes. Courier cost is quoted with the sample and charged at cost. Tracking is shared as soon as the parcel leaves.
Request a quote
Request a sample
Send the product details and the box direction. We confirm the sample route, the fee and the date before anything is made.
- Email · sales@colormixpackaging.com
- Based in · Guangzhou, China
- Response time · within one business day
- Minimum order · 500 pcs per size