FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

MAZUS offers all major box printing methods:

• Digital printing – ideal for small runs, large box sizes, complex graphics, and packaging prototype production.
• Screen printing – suitable for one- or two-color designs, especially when metallic inks (e.g. gold or silver) are needed on small to medium box quantities.
• Offset printing – used when high-quality printing is required for large quantities. It’s a great choice when the packaging will be laminated, UV varnished, or foil stamped.
• Flexographic printing – applied for high-volume orders when printing directly onto corrugated cardboard is needed.

Once we evaluate your packaging project and production volume, our team will recommend the most suitable printing method.

Digital and screen printing are two very different printing technologies. Both methods deliver high-quality results, but the choice between them depends on the packaging design, box size, and the quantity ordered. Let’s compare both methods:

Digital printing for packaging (with FLATBED printers):

• Printed directly from a digital file, with no physical printing plates.
• Enables full-color (CMYK) and white ink printing.
• Metallic inks (such as gold or silver) cannot be used.
• Ideal for complex graphics, including photographic images.
• Suitable for small runs and fast turnaround.
• Not efficient for medium or large runs, as FLATBED printers are relatively slow.
• Suitable for large-format packaging, as FLATBED printers can handle large print areas (e.g., 1650×3200 mm).

Screen printing on boxes (Silkscreen):

• Each color is applied using a separate mesh screen.
• Best suited for single- or two-color designs.
• Cost-effective for medium and large runs, though it requires screen preparation, which adds to the cost.
• The printing process is relatively fast, but the overall turnaround time may be longer due to the time needed to prepare the screens.
• Not suitable for very large packaging formats or large print areas.

In short: Choose digital printing when your packaging design is colorful, includes complex graphics or photographs, and you need a small quantity of boxes. Use screen printing when your box design uses one or two colors only (especially if you want metallic inks like gold or silver) and you are producing a larger batch of packaging.

Yes, MAZUS can print both your logo and full packaging design.

Printing can be applied to the outside or the inside of the box, depending on your needs. We offer several printing methods:

• Digital printing – ideal for complex designs, gradients, photographs, small production runs, and especially for printing on colored board or colored corrugated cardboard. Digital printing is also used to create packaging samples (prototypes) to present the packaging concept to clients or for photoshoots. Usually, 2–3 sample boxes are printed, and different designs are possible.
• Screen printing – best suited for one-color or two-color logos and simple designs, especially when metallic inks are required or printing is done on colored materials. Screen printing is not used for detailed full-color designs or photo-based artwork — other print methods are better suited for that.
• Offset printing – high-quality CMYK printing used for large production runs, especially when the packaging requires lamination or additional finishing such as UV spot varnish or foil stamping. It’s ideal for high-end retail packaging where print quality and brand appearance matter.
• Flexographic printing – used for large-volume orders when printing directly on corrugated cardboard. This is a cost-effective option for marking or branding logistics boxes or shelf packaging where high-end print quality is not essential, as flexo has certain limitations in precision and consistency.

No matter which method you choose, to get the best result, it’s important to provide a production-ready print layout file that meets our technical requirements.

If you only have a packaging concept consisting of illustrations, text, and a logo, our designers can help convert it into a proper print-ready file. If you don’t have any technical files (e.g., not even a proper vector version of your logo) or only a design idea, you can order full packaging design services from MAZUS. We also provide consultations to help you choose the most suitable printing method.

Yes, MAZUS offers the option to print on the inside of the box. However, there may be some design/layout limitations. Let’s go over the available printing options for inner surfaces.

1. If you need a small quantity of packaging, the printing will be done using digital or screen printing. In this case, we cannot cover the entire inner surface with a solid background color. We can print text or design elements in CMYK as well as white, silver, or gold inks.
2. The same applies when printing on colored boards. Small quantities (e.g., 10–50 units) can be digitally printed using UV flatbed printers with CMYK + white ink. Medium quantities (e.g., 100–300 units) can be produced using screen printing. In this case, the design must be in one or two solid colors.
3. For larger runs (e.g., from 300 units), full background printing on the inside becomes possible using offset printing. This enables all printing options – full-color CMYK and metallic inks like silver and gold.
4. For very large quantities (e.g., 2000–3000 units), we can print the inside using flexographic printing. This allows 1 or 2 colors and full-surface printing, but if the area is large, the background might not appear perfectly even due to the nature of flexographic printing.

Inner-side printing is often chosen for brand experience, usage instructions, or to create a surprising unboxing effect that enhances the product's presentation.

If you’re choosing to print on both the outside and inside of the box, note that this will increase the cost of production. For price-sensitive packaging, we recommend printing only on one side — either the outside or the inside, depending on your brand priorities.

If you need help deciding how, where, and what to print on your boxes, contact the MAZUS team — we’ll help you choose the most suitable solution.

Yes, MAZUS offers all major finishing options for packaging, which add visual appeal, durability, and a premium feel to your boxes.

Lamination (glossy, matte, etc.). Lamination covers the surface of the packaging with a plastic film, providing:

• increased resistance to moisture and abrasion
• a visual effect: glossy or matte finish
• the ability to add other decorations (e.g., UV varnish on top)

UV Varnish on Selected Areas. A special varnish is applied and cured using UV light to highlight specific design elements indicated in the layout. UV varnish is highly effective on dark backgrounds but barely visible on light-colored surfaces. UV varnish:

• used for spot gloss effects
• highlights logos, graphic elements, or text
• can be combined with lamination

Foil Stamping. This is a printing technique where a colored metallic foil (usually gold or silver) is applied with pressure and heat:

• creates a bright, smooth metallic effect (gold, silver, or other colors)
• gives your packaging a luxurious look
• commonly used for logos, brand names, or decorative accents

These finishing techniques are typically applied in offset printing projects.

If you're designing a high-end or gift-ready package, we recommend consulting with our designers — they’ll help you choose the most suitable finishing method and explain what kind of result to expect.

Embossing (relief pressing) is not applied to corrugated cardboard, as this material has a layered structure with air gaps. As a result, the embossing effect is not clearly visible and the surface may deform.

This technology is best suited for solid cardboard packaging – for example, made from GC1, GC2 or similar grades, where the surface is smooth and uniform. In such cases, embossing provides a high-quality, elegant and premium appearance.

Foil stamping is generally not applied directly to corrugated cardboard, as this material has an uneven, porous surface with air gaps. As a result, the foil layer does not adhere evenly, and the surface may show streaks or irregularities caused by the corrugated structure.

If a foil effect is desired, it is recommended to apply foil not directly on corrugated cardboard, but on a coated top layer – for example, chalk-coated (GC) board laminated onto the corrugated sheet. In this way, the foil stamping is done on a smooth surface, ensuring a high-quality, even, and visually appealing result.

Please send a print-ready logo that includes the brand color specified in CMYK or Pantone. Do not send JPG, PNG, or other raster image files, as these are pixel-based graphics that lose quality when enlarged or printed at larger sizes. Such files do not allow precise reproduction of logo shapes and colors, and therefore are not suitable for professional printing.

For printing, the logo should be provided in a vector format, using one of the following file extensions: .PDF, .AI, .SVG, or .EPS