Design Center Support

The Design Studio is our innovative, easy to use, online design toolbox. Now, you don’t have to be a professional to create custom packaging. Our virtual design studio allows users to design a custom box without the need for special software or industry tools to create a rapid prototype. Your package virtual design is displayed online and in 3D. Industry standard files can be created and can be used to purchase the print plates and cutting die along with manufacturing actual printed and product ready packaging.

The Design Studio is for anyone who wants to have hands on input into their package design. The Design Studio makes customizing packaging designs easy!

• Graphic Designers
• Brand Managers
• Package Designers
• Small Businesses for any industry
• Startups/Kickstarter Creators
• Large Corporations
• Manufactures
• Anyone who needs a custom box!

The Design Studio is a program created for users to easily design a box for any application. The uses are endless allowing for individuals and businesses to create a package for their products, shipping cartons or display items. For example:

• Creating a box for a consumer product
• Creating Advertising and Display POP materials
• Creating a box for a startup (Subscription Box, Mailing service, etc.)
• Custom gift and party items
• Personalizing packaging at any level

Yes. We have one box style in each category for you to try out. Register to get access to all the designs and be able to store your designs and artwork.

Of course! The program is very easy to use, making it simple and easy to create the perfect design. The Design Studio makes it simple to create and relay your concepts to your team members. Here are some non-professional uses we’ve seen:

• Shipping Containers
• Startup / Kickstarter Packaging
• Retail Product Packaging
• Adding branding to products you ship every day
• Products you ship on Etsy, Ebay and other sites to create brand awareness

Yes, of course we offer prototyping services! When your design is completed, our program provides the ability to download your file to our design team who can make your concept a reality! Please note that the prototype may not contain the art – more for size and strength validation.

While The Design Studio provides you with many of the necessary tools to create a box, you may still want to use other graphic software offerings to help create retail ready packaging where precise and detailed information is a requirement for your end product. Remember however, that all the files The Design Studio exports can be manufactured at Trenton Corrugated.

We offer over 170 box designs, from a regular slotted carton (RSC) to mainstream Point of Purchase (POP) displays, trays and retail ready packaging.

No, The Design Studio is entirely web based. This means you can access it anywhere, on any computer using your personal login to access the system. The Design Studio also remembers your designs and uploads when you create an account.

No, The Design Studio does not store any files on your computer. The Design Studio uses cloud storage to keep a library of digital assets in your Media Manager area. This makes it simple to continuously add files and designs to your library. Stored designs are also on the cloud, saved in the My Boxes area.

The Design Studio uses your computer browser engine to run. Chrome is a preferred browser on multiple platforms as well as Safari on the Mac and Edge on Microsoft platforms. To create a better user experience, The Design Studio works best on computers and tablets.

The Design Studio exports several file types: Spec Sheet (Used for quoting a design), PDF Print Card (Shows how your graphics appear on a flat CAD design), DXF (Used for importing into a CAD program), HPGL (File used to send to a cutting table for sample making), EPS (Detailed drawing of the box design used to import into an alternate design application for exact design processes), and DDES3 (Detailed CAD drawing that can be imported directly into a CAD or 3D rendering program). The Design Studio also exports a HIGH-RESOLUTION PDF file that can be sent directly to Trenton Corrugated for rapid prototyping.

We offer three finishes: White/White, Kraft/Kraft and White/Kraft. Several options are available for those who may need finishes for both inside and outside the box either in Kraft (standard industry shipping finishes) or White (premium printing surface). These options can be toggled in the “Materials” dropdown of the Design Studio. The options that you select here will be reflected on the emailed PDF for us to follow.

The Design Studio offers different substrates (White/Kraft) on different grades (32, 44, etc.). We also offer B, C, BC, E and F flutes for the corrugated material and various points of thickness for turned-edge boxes.

Yes! You are able to apply graphics and color to the interior and exterior of a box. When in the Design Studio, click the “Apply Graphics” tab and click on either the “Outside” or “Inside” tab to switch between the sides of the box to apply graphics.

For best results, images with large dimensions, fine details, or that will be scaled up to dimensions larger than the original dimensions of the image should be provided at a resolution of 300 dpi or higher. Images that are less detailed, will print small on the box, or will not be scaled up in size can be provided at a resolution of 150 dpi or higher. Whenever possible, we suggest using Vector-based art in SVG or PDF file formats with CMYK color for the best possible final print. Resolution refers to the amount of detail that an image contains, and is measured in “Dots Per Inch” or “dpi”. Using high-resolution artwork allows for a more detailed and higher quality final print. Please be sure that your image is within the recommended dpi at 100% scale or higher.
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*High resolution images typically create larger file sizes that may increase the amount of time it takes to upload the file before adding it to a box

The Design Studio exports in the CMYK format, (CYAN, MAGENTA, YELLOW and BLACK) color profile. Images seen on screen are represented in RGB so a variation in color may be present in the Design Studio, though it will appear correct on the exported files such as the High-Resolution PDF. When using vector art (SVG/PDF) we recommend double checking that it is in CMYK and not RGB for the best color accuracy.

We offer 12 categories ranging from Pizza boxes to Pallet Displays. In total, there are over 170 unique designs to choose from.

We accept PNG, SVG, PDF and JPG for artwork. These files can be dragged and dropped into the Media Manager and sorted or you can simply click the “Choose Graphic” button in the “Apply Graphics” section of the Design Studio.

We offer video tutorials on our website, explaining all of the features of the Design Studio and how to use them. If you want further information about a function, you are welcome to contact us at info@trentoncorrugated.com

The Design Studio offers a variety of standard box styles that may match an existing dieline you already have. The library offers over 170 industry-standard designs that can be resized to your needs. Currently we do not have the ability to import an existing CAD file. To import your finished artwork, select the “Full Page Graphics” tab. Your existing graphic can be arranged on an existing design from the library and resized to fit our CAD.

Contact our design team at info@trentoncorrugated.com or you can visit our website to view our step-by-step tutorial on how to design a box.

Yes! You are able to upload any image you’d like, as long as it’s a JPEG, JPG, PNG, SVG or PDF. Please remember to upload the highest resolution image you can, as it will scale up when the box is being printed. SVG file format ensures quality printing at any size on your new design.

We offer hundreds of free graphics to start your design. The graphics range from animals to standard handling warnings, all following a black silhouette style.

You able to upload JPEG, JPG, PNG, SVG and PDF files for your graphics using the drag and drop process in the section called MEDIA MANAGER.

Every design has basic and custom design capabilities. Remember, when you enter basic dimensions you are entering inside dimensions. Extended parameters can also be altered using the ‘Advanced’ tab in each design. This is for more experienced users of the platform.

Currently, you are not able to import your own box styles into our program. If you have a specific design or series of designs you would like to take from concept to manufacture, please contact us at info@trentoncorrugated.com

There are two ways for you to upload your graphics, through the Media Manager or while already creating a box. We suggest you upload through Media Manager to easily organize your files. Simply click the “Media Manager” tab at the top of the Categories page. Start by creating a folder for your artwork and then drag and drop your files into the designated area at the bottom of the screen. The Design Studio offers full storage of your graphics asset on its cloud-based storage platform. An alternative is selecting the “My Graphics” section of the “Apply Graphics” tab and click “Select a Graphic” at the bottom of the list. This will allow you to upload a file directly into your archive that you previously created in another graphic design application. Downloading the EPS file from The Design Studio engine will allow a precise map of graphics to your structure using the APPLY GRAPHICS tab.

Yes, you can do this by going to the Categories section of the site and clicking “Media Manager” at the top of the page. Once in Media Manager, your graphics will be organized in files if you created them. If not, your graphic will be towards the bottom of the “Main” folder. To delete a graphic, simply hover over the one you want to delete and click the (X) at the top right. You will be prompted to check a box confirming that you are aware that it will be gone forever. Once you agree, click the “Okay” button and your graphic will be deleted.

A die-line is a two-dimensional drawing which tells us the exact size and design of a box. It also explains where to cut and where to crease the design. The Design Studio exports both a drawing of these dimensions, as well as a file that can be imported into another graphic program for detailed editing called an EPS view.

After importing the EPS created by The Design Studio, you can start building graphics on each panel of your new carton design. Make sure to allow proper artwork alignment including bleeds, traps and text design.

For some analog printers, certain graphic requirements are more forgiving to the process. Make sure to save your artwork as a High-Resolution PDF file format that can be re-imported into The Design Studio for proofing purposes in 3D format. This finished file can be loaded from the FULL-PAGE GRAPHICS tab. This is where you can properly align the artwork with the CAD drawing.

Remember, the dimensions you enter into the measurements page are inside carton dimensions. Any resize of the design will become visual in the CAD file drawing. Changing material thickness also alters the panel dimensions of the design.

The unique structural template (CAD Die-line) we send you to build your art has been designed to flow through our system smoothly and accurately. It is very important that this template not be altered or rotated. The printed art is cut out based on the original template orientation. Rotating the die-line in your artwork may yield unintended results.

To ensure your custom packaging cuts correctly, it is very important that the unique structural die-line we send you is included as part of the print file. The structural drawing will contain Spot Colors for the cut and crease lines in the Swatch menu. These colors are used to tell the cutting and creasing machines how to convert your unique product. Do not delete or convert the spot colors into CMYK, and do not delete the die-line layer.

Within Adobe Illustrator, create a new layer either above or below your die-line layer to add your custom artwork to. All artwork added to this layer should be CMYK (no Pantone or spot colors).

Too much ink in any one area can lead to printing and drying issues, which affect everything from how quickly your project can be printed, to possible issues in the cutting and finishing processes. Too much ink saturation can lead to other problems like ink smearing and smudging.
For instance, black elements built using 100% Black, 100% Cyan, 100% Magenta and 100% Yellow have ink coverage of 400% which will not cure properly and result in quality and production issues. Using a color build of 100% Black, 30% Cyan, 30% Magenta and 30% Yellow, you end up with a similar result without the print issues.

If your art includes black, we recommend it’s built as a rich black with 30% cyan (C), 30% magenta (M), 30% yellow(Y) and 100% black (K). For best results, include a .5pt stroke of 100% black (K) to avoid print overspray.

All artwork should be converted to CMYK. Please convert any RGB colors and images to avoid unexpected color shifting. All Pantone (PMS) colors should be converted to CMYK. Pantone and spot colors are not supported.

We recommend using size 10 and larger for fonts, and using a heavier weight for text that is reversed-out. All type should be outlined in your final artwork file. Fonts below 10 point may not print legibly, especially if a font is thin (or features of a font are thin, like serifs or cross bars). When reversing type, use one weight heavier than the weight you intended to use. Avoid specifying small trademark and register mark symbols to print in reverse, as they may fill in when printed.

To ensure your custom packaging prints correctly, we require that all fonts be converted to outlines.

Final artwork files must maintain a minimum bleed of .125″ (1/8th-inch) on all edges and into glue flap.

Margins, rule outlines, or copy that does not bleed needs to be no less than .125″ (1/8th-inch) away from die line and scores.

UPC-A type barcodes need to be at least 150% size (approx. 2.2″ wide). In order to scan properly, the height of the bars is not as much of a concern, but we recommend them to be at least .5″ (1/2-inch) tall.

Check image resolution to provide the best quality print. If images are at a resolution of 150 dpi or lower at 100% scale this can result in a loss of sharpness and “pixelated” look. Straight lines will have a “staircase” effect.
For best results, all artwork and image resolution should be no less than 300 dpi.

All images should be embedded into your artwork file PDF. Make sure placed images have the correct file extensions: “.png” or “.svg” at the end (e.g.,”Image.tiff” or “Image.eps”). Include only the page layout documents and the supporting files required for your project. Place graphics at 100%. Any graphics placed less than 100% takes longer to output and may require additional prepress time. Placed images and artwork should be in the CMYK color space.

If you have placed an order for two-sided printing, when you receive your dieline:

1. Open your dieline file in Adobe Illustrator
2. Unlock the dieline layer
3. Duplicate your artboard, including the dieline layer, so that you have two artboards with dielines
4. Lock your dieline layer and create a new layer to insert your artwork for both sides of your box.

Please note that Artboard 1 will print as the OUTSIDE of your box, and Artboard 2 will print as the INSIDE of your box.

The export email you receive from The Design Studio contains secondary files for industry usage but also contains a link to download a High Resolution PDF file that can be opened for an exact proof of how your finished artwork will be printed. Make sure to view that file before proceeding to print your newly created design.