Sample & Prototyping
Check the packaging before production starts
A sample should answer the next question in the buying decision: does the structure fit, is the artwork placed correctly, do the material and the finish work together. Choose the sample around the decision you actually need to make.
Sample types
Five ways to reduce uncertainty before the run
You may not need the most expensive sample first. Start with the question blocking the project, and move to a production-grade sample when materials and finishes are ready to approve.
- 01
Material sample
Compare stock, weight, surface and shade before the structure is fixed.
- 02
Plain sample
Check size, folding, closure and product fit on the final dieline, unprinted.
- 03
Digital printed sample
Review artwork placement, hierarchy and an indicative colour result.
- 04
Production-grade sample
Confirm the agreed material, printing and finishes as production will run them.
- 05
3D mockup
See the assembled box and panel layout before a physical sample is made.
Match the sample to the project stage
A sample is only useful when everyone agrees what it is meant to approve.
| The question you are answering | Sample to ask for | What it confirms | What it cannot confirm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will this board feel right? | Material sample | Texture, shade, thickness and surface character | Fit, artwork position or finishing registration |
| Does the product fit? | Plain sample | Dimensions, assembly, closure and insert fit | Final print colour and decorative effects |
| Is the artwork right? | Digital printed sample | Panel order, content placement and overall appearance | Exact offset colour and every production finish |
| Are we ready to produce? | Production-grade sample | Agreed structure, material, print and finish | Normal batch variation outside the agreed tolerance |
| Can we just see it first? | 3D mockup — free | Early appearance, panel layout and presentation | Physical strength, texture and the feel of opening it |
Sample process
Approve one decision at a time
The approved sample is linked to the latest artwork, dieline and specification, so production does not start from an older version.
- 01
Share requirements
Send product size, packaging type, quantity, artwork and the finishes you expect.
- 02
Confirm sample scope
Agree what the sample must validate and which effects are included.
- 03
Prepare files
Review dieline, artwork and production layers before the sample is made.
- 04
Make the sample
Use the agreed route and record any practical substitutions.
- 05
Review and revise
Check fit, appearance and handling, then close the required changes.
- 06
Approve for production
Freeze the approved version and use it as the production reference.
Review it against the specification
Look past whether the box is attractive. The useful review is specific enough to guide production.
- Finished size, product clearance and insert position
- Opening, closing, folding and whether the board holds its shape
- Artwork placement across cuts, folds and wrapped edges
- Board stiffness, weight and surface feel in the hand
- Colour against the proof method agreed for the job
- Foil, emboss, spot UV and lamination in the right place
Before you request a sample
Do I need a production-grade sample for every project?
No. If the open question is size or structure, a plain sample answers it for less money and less time. Use the production-grade route when the material, print and finish are what has to be signed off.
Will a digital sample show the exact production colour?
Not exactly. Digital output is useful for layout and for an indicative colour, but offset CMYK, Pantone inks, substrate colour and finishing all move the final result. The production-grade sample is the one that settles colour.
Can I change the structure after seeing the sample?
Yes, before production is released. A structural change means a new dieline and usually a second sample, because the cutting forme and the artwork both follow the shape.
Is the sample free?
The 3D mockup is free. Physical samples are quoted as a separate line with the project — material, print and make-ready all cost money — and the quote states whether the fee is credited against the bulk order.
How do you avoid producing from the wrong version?
The approved sample, the artwork file and the dieline are recorded together as one reference. Any later change is documented and approved again, so production cannot quietly start from an older file.
Can you send more than one sample option?
Yes. Tell us which boards, structures or finishes you want to compare and the scope is quoted clearly — two options are cheaper than one wrong production run.
How are samples shipped?
By courier, door to door, with tracking shared on despatch. Courier cost is quoted with the sample and charged at cost.
Get a packaging quote
Tell us what the sample has to prove
Product size, packaging type, artwork status, materials, finishes and target quantity. The sample route is recommended before it is quoted.
- Email · sales@colormixpackaging.com
- Based in · Guangzhou, China
- Response time · within one business day
Sample request
Last reviewed: 2026-10-26