FAQ's Printed paper cups

Artwork Submittal

General Artwork for new custom print orders should be submitted to TPCC in a digital file format. In order to speed the process along, and minimize mistakes, we recommend that the customer or customer’s graphic designer contact the TPCC Graphics Department before beginning the artwork submittal process.

Artwork templates (the die-lines which represent the cup’s printing surface) will be provided to the customer either through e-mail or on disk. The customer will use these rectangular shaped templates to layout their artwork. Artwork should be created/submitted to TPCC in any of the following file formats (Macintosh format is preferred): Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop and Freehand. Please do not submit artwork in Corel Draw format. Files should be minimum 300dpi. If files are to be created and submitted in Freehand, please first contact the TPCC Graphics Department for special instructions.

After the customer has completed the design work according to specifications, on the TPCC provided templates, the electronic files should be sent to the TPCC Graphics Department either: a) by uploading the files via the FTP upload link on the TPCC website at www.printedcupcompany.co.uk; b) by sending the files on a floppy or zip disk to the Graphics Department address below; or c) via e-mail as a stuffed archive (.sit format) attachment to graphics@ printedcupcompany.co.uk. Artwork files will not be returned unless specifically requested.

To speed up your order, we would suggest sending a copy of the artwork as a low resolution PDF for sales staff to be able to see what is required.

Design Guidelines

In addition to the design specifications which are included on the artwork templates discussed above, the following list of items must be considered when designing artwork.

  1. Cup templates must be opened in Adobe Illustrator. (Please do not create and submit your design in Corel Draw.)
  2. Do not adjust the die-line parameters on the template (“live area” and “bleed”). Artwork must be within the “live area”.
  3. We would prefer clients not to curve or warp the artwork. It should be submitted in the rectangular form provided in the templates.
  4. Artwork should be formatted for Macintosh. All Photoshop files must be submitted in CMYK format at 300dpi.
  5. Pantone (spot) and/or CMYK color codes must be specified in the artwork file or in other documentation submitted with artwork.
  6. All artwork must be accompanied by any fonts (or all fonts should be outlined) and placed pictures used in the artwork.
  7. We would suggest a minimum point size of 8/10 depending on font used.
  8. Avoid using a solid, dark color for the background of your artwork. Dark colors tend to make the cup’s surface hotter.
  9. Avoid using encircling printed bands. It is difficult to have the ends of the bands line up evenly at the seam. Any unevenness in the production of the cups can make the ends not line up perfectly and make the artwork look sloppy.
  10. Avoid using solid colors, heavy text or other designs near the seam (5mm spareback is advisable), especially to the right of the side seam. Any design or copy in your artwork that must be visible on the finished cup, should be kept at least 2mm from the trim line on the cup templates.
  11. Avoid circular patterns, concentric circles, as these can not be distorted to look round on a conicle shape, and may look egg shape on the final product.
  12. On Single Wall cups, due to the forming process, the bottom 6mm of the cup can suffer from scuff marks, and a balance needs to be found between leaving a white band, and having design smudged in forming process

  13. It would be advisable to avoid printing designs within 6mm of the top of the cup, as when lid is placed on cup, it will hide part of the design. Also registration vertically can be +/-2mm so designs printed to close the rim can disappear.

Graphic Design Services

Unless the customer has experience with a digital design process, it is strongly recommended that a professional graphic designer is to be used to create and submit artwork. As a convenient option The Paper Cup Company offers graphic design services. Our services range from minimal design preparation of formatting existing artwork into plate-ready form, to helping the customer design their custom printed cups from existing artwork (such as adapting a design from a business card, menu, brochure, etc), to creating a custom printed cup completely from scratch. We charge an hourly rate and will provide an estimate of charges in advance of any work performed.

Included in the one-time plate charge discussed above is the cost of processing the final flat artwork submitted by the customer into curved plate ready format, a colour proof (including mailing cost for customer approval) and printing plates.

Charges for additional graphic design services will be billed according to the following rate schedule:

Graphic Designer Time = £25/hour
Scanning: = £25/scan
Retouching (if needed for photography) = £60per hour
Revised full-colour prototype: £30 per revised prototype