Before you order printed film: seven things to prepare
Artwork, colour count, cylinders, run size and the sample — what to know before placing a print order on cellophane or nylon, so you pay for it once.
To order printed film you need: vector artwork (AI/PDF) with fonts converted to outlines, a defined colour count in CMYK or Pantone, the finished bag dimensions and thickness, the run size, and approval of a printed sample before the bulk run. Cylinder cost is paid once and is not repeated for later orders of the same design.
Most delays on a print order happen before the press, not on it: a file that will not open, a colour that is one thing on the buyer's monitor and another on film, or a run size that does not carry the cylinder cost. This list is what makes an order move without a round trip.
1. Vector artwork, not a picture
Send the design as AI, EPS or vector PDF. A JPG or PNG taken from a logo will show stepped edges once it is enlarged onto the cylinder. Convert every font to outlines so nothing gets substituted on our side.
2. Fix the colour count first
Print cost is tied directly to the number of colours, because each colour needs its own cylinder. A clean two-colour design is often cheaper than a crowded eight-colour one — and sits better on film. We print up to eight colours, but our advice is always the fewest colours that carry your brand honestly. If your corporate colour matters, give us the Pantone code: automatic RGB-to-CMYK conversion shifts it almost every time.
3. Cylinders are a one-time cost
A cylinder is engraved for each colour. That cost is paid on the first order and is not repeated while the design stays the same, which is why a first run costs more per pack than the ones after it — and why a small change after engraving is expensive.
4. Finished dimensions, not sheet size
| What to send | Why |
|---|---|
| Finished bag width × length | The web is calculated with seal and edge allowance |
| Thickness in microns | Gauge affects colour registration |
| Seal type or handle | Bottom seal, back seal, handled or zipped |
| Gusset, if any | Gusseted bags need a different print layout |
5. Respect the safe area
Leave at least 5 mm clear on every edge. Film moves slightly during printing and sealing, and text or a logo drawn against the edge can be trimmed. Put barcodes on a flat panel, never across a gusset.
6. Size the run realistically
Printing on film is a roll-to-roll process; press setup and colour registration carry a fixed amount of waste. Very small runs are therefore uneconomic. We do not publish a fixed minimum — it is calculated from dimensions, thickness and colour count. Send the specification and we will give you the number.
7. Approve the sample first
A printed sample is sent before the bulk run. It is the only stage where a colour or a position can be changed without paying twice. Fill it with your own product and store it the way it will actually be stored.
Why film and print should come from one place
When you buy film from a factory and take it elsewhere to print, every defect gets passed between two suppliers. At Navid Selfon the web is produced in the same hall where it is printed, so if registration drifts it is corrected on that line.
Send the artwork and specification and we will quote price and lead time precisely.
Send artwork and request a quoteWhat file format do you need for printing on nylon?
Vector AI, EPS or PDF with fonts converted to outlines. Raster files such as JPG are not suitable for roll-to-roll printing.
Is the cylinder cost charged every time?
No. A cylinder is engraved once per colour and is not charged again on later orders while the design is unchanged.
How many colours can you print?
Up to eight. In most designs a lower colour count gives a cleaner result and a lower cost.