What You Give is What We will Print
I don’t know whether anyone has ever experienced this before. You pass your artwork to a printer. The printing company shows you a digital proof and then just proceeds with printing. If anything is not right, the printer says, “What You Give is What We will Print.”
To a good designer who loves what they do, this can be very frustrating. They have spent sleepless nights and long hours creating the artwork. It does not matter whether it is a brochure, leaflet, or packaging box. The most important thing is to see the final printed product look as good as the effort that went into it.
Mistakes like colours not in CMYK, black fonts not in solid black, or registration not correct can happen. The consequences can be serious. The printer may complain that the designer did not do their job correctly. The designer may say the printer did not check properly. And sometimes, the designer gets blamed or even fired by the client.
If you ask me who is wrong in this situation, I will be honest — I think the designer should take responsibility.
The Problem with Graphic Design in Malaysia
In Malaysia, there are more than 20 to 30 design and communication schools and colleges. Every year, many graduates enter the market looking for jobs. Apart from advertising agencies and design studios, many companies have their own design departments to handle internal design requirements. But often, if you work as a designer in such a company, there is no senior designer to guide you. Fresh graduates rely mostly on what they learned in school or college.
Experience is very important. I worked seven years in three advertising agencies before starting freelance work. What I learned came from long hours, late nights, and working overnight. That is where I gained knowledge about design, artwork, photography, and printing. My personal record was working from Friday to Monday morning without sleep. I also appreciate all the seniors who taught me so much along the way.
Working in a single company’s design department, handling only limited product design, can limit a junior designer’s knowledge if there is no senior to guide them. Experience cannot be learned from books. Practice is the key to becoming good.
Making Mistakes is Part of Learning
The Chinese saying, “Failure is the mother of all success” (失败为成功之母), means that mistakes and failures are essential for success. They provide lessons and experience that help you improve.
The first thing we must understand is that we should not be afraid of making mistakes or getting scolded by our boss. The most important thing is to learn from mistakes and make sure the same mistakes are not repeated. I strongly believe that if you are not willing to try and make mistakes, you will not learn. You will stay stagnant and never improve.
Where to Gain Experience
The best place to learn design and printing is in advertising agencies and design studios. Working on different products for different clients helps you gain knowledge faster. You learn how to come up with concepts, handle different types of products, communicate with clients, and work with printers.
Many fresh graduates avoid these companies because the starting pay is low. But these companies know that experience is more important than money in the beginning. Without experience, a designer cannot go far. That is why most companies require at least three years of experience in graphic design, apart from a degree or diploma, before hiring a designer.
Do not be influenced by friends. When I joined an advertising agency, most of my friends were earning more money than me. Some were selling cars or mobile phones, and they earned higher salaries than me. But I was lucky that my parents did not depend on me financially. I loved what I did. I loved to draw and design.
Eventually, my passion and persistence helped me learn more, gain experience, and earn more. Some of my friends stayed in sales and their income did not improve. Passion, persistence, and enjoying what you do are very important.
Experience Matters in Printing
Unlike some printing companies that say, “What You Give is What We will Print,” at Uniquelink, we take the time to check every artwork before printing. Whether it is a book, brochure, leaflet, or packaging box, we make sure the artwork is ready for printing.
Our designers have been with us for more than 15 years. They started with little knowledge and now have expertise in printing that goes beyond most designers. When it comes to artwork, even as the creative head, I help when extra checking is needed. I have seen artwork from Europe where all the text was in CMYK, and we advised the designer to change all text to solid black.
Many times, the artwork or packaging design is not 100% ready for printing. We work closely with designers to make sure the printing result is good and professional.
Never Compromise — Do a Mock-Up
We specialize in Packaging Box Printing, and we always encourage our clients to do a real packaging mock-up before printing.
Custom-made packaging boxes often use multiple layers of paper. Using the actual paper material and a digital colour proof, we create a real mock-up so the client can see exactly how the final product will look. Print finishing, such as gold or silver hot stamping and spot UV, is simulated using our digital 3D hot stamping and spot UV. The client can see how the finishing will make the packaging stand out.
The mock-up also allows the client to place the product inside the box to check if it fits neatly and whether it is protected. Only when the client is satisfied with the mock-up do we proceed with production and printing.
Final Thoughts
Designers can make mistakes. Printers can make mistakes. We are all human. The important thing is to check carefully and fix mistakes before production. Most designers appreciate this initiative and continue working with us happily.
Taking the time to create a real mock-up gives clients peace of mind and saves everyone time and money. Our philosophy is simple: What You See is What You Get, not “What You Give is What We will Print.”
If you are looking for professional and reliable Packaging Box Printing in Malaysia, whether it is a brochure, leaflet, book, or custom packaging box, please contact us. We will work closely with you to check your artwork, create digital colour proofs, produce an actual mock-up, and ensure your final product looks exactly as you want.
You can reach us at Uniquelink. Let us support your next packaging project and make sure your product stands out on the shelf with quality, accuracy, and professionalism.