Before you order printed film: seven things to prepare
Artwork, colour count, cylinders, run size and the sample: what to know before a print order on cellophane or nylon, and the minimum run per colour count.
By Alireza Ahmadi, Production line specialist
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.
- 1Vector artwork, not a picture
- 2Fix the colour count first
- 3Cylinders are a one-time cost
- 4Finished dimensions, not sheet size
- 5Respect the safe area
- 6Size the run realistically
- 7Approve the sample first
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 plate or cylinder. A clean two-colour design is often cheaper than a crowded eight-colour one — and sits better on film. We print up to ten 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 plate is made for each colour (an engraved cylinder in rotogravure). 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, and the minimum rises with the colour count: 1 colour from 150 kg, 2 to 4 colours from 300 to 500 kg, and 5 colours or more from one tonne. Send dimensions, thickness and colour count and we will give you the number for your own order.
7. Approve the sample first
A printed sample is sent before the bulk run. Identify corrections at this stage; changing artwork after engraving may require a new cylinder, with the cost agreed before proceeding. Fill the sample 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?
Send logos and text as vector AI, EPS or PDF with fonts converted to outlines. Photographs can remain raster images at sufficient resolution for the final print size; the artwork is checked before cylinder engraving.
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.
What is the minimum print run?
It depends on the colour count: 1 colour from 150 kg, 2 to 4 colours from 300 to 500 kg, and 5 colours or more from one tonne. Send dimensions, thickness and colour count for the figure on your own order.
How many colours can you print?
Up to ten. In most designs a lower colour count gives a cleaner result and a lower cost.
