Common Packaging Box Mistakes Malaysian Businesses Make and How to Avoid Them
I still remember my time working in an advertising agency many years ago as an Art Director. When the packaging artwork was completed, it would first be passed to the Art Director for checking and to the copywriter for spelling and wording checks.
After that, the artwork would go to the Creative Director for approval. Once approved, it would then be passed to the servicing team, account executive, account manager, and account director for another round of checking before it was finally shown to the client.
Everyone involved had to sign the artwork approval form. This was to make sure the colours were correct, all text was accurate, and there were no spelling mistakes. Once the client approved, the artwork would be sent for colour separation and CMYK colour proofing.
The checking process was very tedious, but it was necessary. A mistake in packaging artwork could get the advertising agency into serious trouble. In some cases, people could even lose their jobs.
Most of the packaging brands we handled were from large international companies. They were very strict. Any mistake on their packaging could seriously damage their brand and reputation.
Why Is Packaging Design Important?
Today, when you visit a supermarket in Malaysia, you will see shelves flooded with different packaging boxes. Many small and medium companies no longer use advertising agencies. Instead, they engage small design studios or freelancers to design their packaging boxes.
These designers are often quite junior and have limited experience. Many also lack proper knowledge of packaging artwork and printing requirements. As a result, mistakes in packaging design and artwork are quite common.
A poorly designed or badly printed packaging box creates a bad first impression. It reduces the perceived value of the product and can even affect sales. Many of these mistakes can actually be avoided with proper planning and experience.
By understanding these common mistakes, Malaysian businesses can improve their Packaging Box Printing Malaysia process and protect their brand image.
Common Packaging Box Mistakes That Can Cost Your Brand
1. Logo Colour Is Not Consistent
Consumers remember brands through their logo and colours. But sometimes, when companies change printing suppliers or printing operators, the logo colour changes.
International brands in Malaysia are very sensitive about logo colour. You cannot have a Coca-Cola logo printed in the wrong shade of red. If that happens, the entire batch of packaging may have to be thrown away.
Inconsistent logo colour creates confusion and makes the brand look unprofessional.
2. Using the Wrong Material
One of the main reasons companies choose a packaging box printing company in Malaysia is price. When price becomes the only consideration, quality is often sacrificed.
Using low-quality material can result in packaging boxes that are weak, easily bent, or look cheap. A wobbly or flimsy box gives a very bad first impression.
If the packaging does not look presentable, consumers may doubt the quality of the product inside. Trust is lost even before the product is opened.
3. Using the Wrong Colour Mode for Offset Printing
This is one of the most common mistakes we encounter.
Images and designs prepared in RGB instead of CMYK will cause colour problems during offset printing. RGB is meant for screen viewing, such as computers and televisions, not for printing.
Even digital colour proofs are usually RGB-based. You cannot rely on digital proofs alone to confirm whether the artwork is properly prepared for offset printing. The final artwork must be checked to ensure it is in CMYK.
Another common mistake is black text created using CMYK colours instead of solid black. When printed, the black text may look blurry or appear as overlapping colours.
4. Typo and Spelling Mistakes
Malaysia imports many products from China, and it is quite common to find spelling mistakes on imported packaging. Because of this, many consumers already associate spelling mistakes with low-quality products.
When local brands make spelling mistakes, consumers may feel the product is not reliable. Confidence in the product is reduced immediately.
Spelling mistakes may seem small, but they can seriously damage brand credibility.
5. Poor Print Finishing
Print finishing such as gold or silver hot stamping, spot UV, and special coatings are meant to make packaging stand out. They also give consumers the feeling that the product is premium.
If the finishing looks messy, misaligned, or poorly done, consumers may question whether the product is worth the price. First impressions matter a lot in packaging.
How to Avoid These Common Packaging Mistakes
1. Use Pantone Colour for Your Logo
Always ask for your company’s corporate identity (CI) manual before preparing or checking the artwork. The CI manual will show the correct logo specifications, including Pantone colours, CMYK breakdown, and the do’s and don’ts of logo usage.
This helps you check whether the artwork follows the brand guidelines and whether the logo colour is correct before sending for printing.
Pantone colours give the highest level of colour consistency. Even if you change printing companies or printing machines, as long as the correct Pantone colour code is used, the logo colour will remain consistent.
This protects your brand identity and prevents customers from seeing different shades of your logo on different batches of packaging boxes.
2. Refer to Material Samples
Always ask the printing company to show you samples of packaging boxes they have produced before. This helps you choose the right material and paper thickness.
Seek the printer’s opinion and request a packaging box mock-up. This allows you to test whether the product fits properly inside the box.
3. Work with a Printing Company That Has a Graphic Designer
The more people checking the artwork, the better.
Many designers today have limited printing knowledge. Even if the design looks complete, it is best for the final artwork to be checked by an experienced graphic designer from the printing company.
With years of packaging printing experience, they can spot issues such as RGB colours, incorrect black text, or finishing problems before printing starts.
4. How to Check Spelling Properly
Design software has spelling check functions, but I still prefer the old method.
Print out a hard copy. Use a red pen. Check every single word against the provided text. This method was taught to me by a copywriter many years ago, and it still works best.
Checking on screen is convenient, but printed copies help catch mistakes more effectively.
5. Check Print Finishing Carefully
With today’s design software and printing technology, finishing errors are less common. However, for large-volume or important jobs, it is still advisable to monitor the print finishing process.
This ensures that everything is done correctly before full production is completed.
6. Avoid Shortcuts — Always Do a Packaging Box Mock-Up
The safest way to avoid mistakes is to request an actual packaging box mock-up.
While real hot stamping or spot UV may not always be possible for mock-ups, modern digital 3D hot stamping and spot UV technology can closely simulate these effects. Even special finishes can sometimes be sampled.
With a mock-up, what you see is what you get. This gives you peace of mind before mass printing.
Conclusion
Mistakes in Packaging Box Printing Malaysia are common, but most of them can be avoided with experience, careful checking, and the right printing partner.
Good packaging is not an expense. It is an investment. It affects how customers perceive your product, your brand credibility, and ultimately your sales.
With more than 30 years of experience in Packaging Box Printing Malaysia, Uniquelink understands the common mistakes businesses make and how to avoid them. From material selection to printing and finishing, experience helps prevent costly errors before printing starts.
If you are planning your packaging box printing project and want to avoid unnecessary mistakes, please contact Uniquelink. We will be happy to share practical advice and help you produce packaging that looks professional, presentable, and reliable.