Printing your brand on a paper bag… that’s one of the easiest, most affordable ways to look professional, chic, and memorable.
Imagine your small business is part of a farmer’s market. You hand out free, delicious brownies to try and get people talking about your brand. But what good are the free goodies if people go home and can’t make out the name of the brand?
That’s when custom-printed paper bags come in handy.
This blog post is all about how to print on paper bags. Plus, we will discuss a few other handy details like:
- What are the types of paper bag printing methods?
- Pros and cons of each
- What types of paper bag printing is best for you?
So are you ready to learn? Let’s get started!
What Are The Most Common Methods To Print On Paper Bags?
There are a lot of different techniques to print on paper bags. But we are discussing the 4 most common ones here.
- Screen Printing: Versatile & Easy
Screen printing is the most popular and simplest printing technique that has been around for ages. You can print on a variety of materials, including:
- Paper
- Fabric (like cotton or polyester)
- Wood
- Metal
- Glass
- Plastic
What is it? Screen printing, also known as silkscreen printing or serigraphy, is a technique where ink is pushed through a stenciled mesh screen onto a surface, creating a printed design.
How does it work? The “screen” in screen printing is basically a stencil used to apply layers of ink on the printing surface. Here’s a simplified breakdown of the entire process:
- Start with the design you need to print. Prep your printing surface.
- Prepare the mesh screen by coating it with a photo-sensitive emulsion.
- Transfer the design by either hand painting a sticky opaque paint or printing onto the screen, or cuting out of an ultraviolet -masking film.
- The design is dried in an exposure unit that exposes it to UV light.
- After the stencil dries, the excess is washed away, leaving only your design.
- Now you can place your prepared stencil onto a paper bag, gift bag, fabric, or material of your choice, press ink through it using a squeegee, and leave the print to dry.
Each color in your design requires a separate screen, so multi-colored designs involve multiple screens and layers.
Pros of screen printing
- Vibrant Colors: The ink used in screen printing is thicker than in other printing methods, resulting in more vibrant colors.
- Durability: Screen-printed designs are long-lasting and resistant to wear and tear.
- Versatility: You can print on a wide range of materials.
- Cost-Effective for Large Orders: Once set up, printing large quantities becomes economical.
Cons of screen printing
- Not Ideal for Small Runs: The setup process can be time-consuming and costly for small quantities.
- Limited Detail: Fine details can be challenging to achieve, especially with complex, multi-colored designs.
- Environmental Concerns: Traditional screen printing uses inks and chemicals that can be harmful to the environment if not handled properly.
2. Flex Printing: Most Convenient & Efficient
Flex printing or flexographic printing boasts crisp, vibrant designs on materials like plastic, foil, or cardboard. This type of printing is perfect for not just paper bags but also
- Food packaging
- Labels and tags
- Corrugated boxes
- Newspapers and catalogs
What is it? Flexographic printing utilizes a flexible film or plates to transfer ink onto a variety of surfaces, making it a go-to method for high-volume packaging needs.
How does it work? Here’s a brief overview of how flex printing works:
- Create the flexible plates with the desired design.
- Ink is transferred to the plate via an anilox roller, ensuring a consistent ink distribution.
- The plate presses against the surface, transferring the inked design.
- Quick-drying inks ensure rapid production speeds.
This process is continuous and efficient, making it ideal for large-scale printing tasks.
Pros of flex printing
- High-Speed Production: Capable of printing at speeds up to 800 meters per minute, it’s perfect for large runs.
- Versatility: Prints on both porous and non-porous materials.
- Quick-Drying Inks: Utilizes fast-drying inks, reducing production time.
- Cost-Effective for Large Runs: Lower cost per unit when printing in bulk.
- Eco-Friendly Options: Supports water-based and UV-curable inks, minimizing environmental impact.
Cons of flex printing
- High Initial Setup Costs: Creating plates can be expensive, making it less ideal for short runs.
- Limited Color Range: Achieving precise color matching can be challenging.
- Less Suitable for Fine Details: Not the best choice for intricate designs or photographic images.
3. Foil Printing: For Gleaming Metallic Finish
Foil printing results in a shiny, metallic finish that stands out and adds a touch of elegance to the printed material. It is especially good for gift bags, tags, inserts, or paper cards for any occasion.
What is it? Foil printing is a specialty printing process that uses heat, pressure, and metallic or pigmented foil to create striking designs on various materials. It can be used on a variety of materials including:
- Traditional and kraft paper
- Cardboard
- Leather
- Plastic
How does it work? Foil printing involves these key steps:
- Your desired design is crafted and prepared for printing.
- A metal die is created with the design etched into it.
- The die is heated and pressed onto the foil, which is then stamped onto the material, transferring the design.
Pros of foil printing
- Visual Appeal: The metallic finish adds a luxurious and professional look.
- Versatility: Suitable for various materials and products.
- Durability: Foil prints are long-lasting and resistant to fading.
- Customization: Available in various colors and finishes, including matte, glossy, and holographic.
Cons of foil printing
- Cost: The process can be more expensive than other printing methods, especially for small runs.
- Complexity: Requires precise setup and may not be suitable for intricate designs with multiple colors.
- Environmental Concerns: Traditional foils may not be recyclable, though eco-friendly options are emerging.
4. Digital Printing: Precise Designs For Kraft Paper Bags
Digital printing is perfect when you need to create a few custom paper bags with your logo and don’t want to spend hours setting up a bulky machine, plates, or stencils.
What is it? Digital printing is when you use a digital printer to send the image, and it prints directly onto the paper.
How does it work? It works just as easily as your home printer. All you need to do is:
- Design your artwork.
- Feed your paper bag, gift bag, or kraft paper bag into the printer.
- Calibrate the printer according to your paper bag’s thickness.
- Hit “print” to let the ink directly apply onto the surface.
The inks are instant-drying so you don’t need to worry about curing or drying your treat bags.
Pros of digital printing
- Easier than most techniques: Great for DIYers or small biz owners
- Budget-friendly: Cheap for small runs because there are no crazy setup costs
- Fully customizable: It can handle full color prints, including black, white, and everything in between
- No MOQ: You can print one or print one hundred.
- Ideal for fast turnarounds: Digital printing orders are fulfilled fast. Be wary of suppliers that deliver in two weeks
Cons of digital printing
- Short-lived: Not as durable as screen printing for heavy-use packaging
- Less adaptability: Works best on flat, smooth paper—some textured bags may be a problem
- Suitable for small orders: Not as cost-effective for thousands of bags—offset or flexo might be better for that
- Paper bag size limitation: Limited to specific size ranges, depending on the printer
Which Paper Bag printing Technique is The Best For You?
To help you choose the best printing technique, here is a side-by-side comparison of the 4 printing techniques we discussed above:
| Criteria | Screen Printing | Digital Printing | Flex Printing | Foil Printing |
| Best For | Medium to large runs, bold logo prints | Small custom batches, full-color images | High-volume packaging (e.g. mailer bags) | Luxury packaging, premium gift/treat bags |
| Minimum Quantity | Moderate (50+) | Low (1+) | High (500+) | Moderate (100+) |
| Material Compatibility | Paper, kraft bags, fabric, etc. | Smooth paper, flat bags | Flexible packaging, plastics | Paper, card, some plastics |
| Cost (per unit) | $$ | $ | $$ (scales well) | $$$ |
| Color & Finish | Solid colors, no gradients | Full-color, photo-quality | High-res, full-color | Metallics, matte, gloss, holographic |
| Turnaround Time | Medium | Fast | Medium | Medium |
| Pros | Durable, vibrant, ideal for branding | No setup, quick and easy, perfect for custom prints | Efficient for bulk, professional finish | Luxurious look, tactile finish, brand elevation |
| Cons | Setup time, limited color blending | Not ideal for textured/curved surfaces | Requires setup, not economical for small runs | Higher cost, less eco-friendly, not for all designs |
The takeaway?
- If you want small batches of kraft paper bags with complex images or multiple colours… go for digital printing.
- If you only want to print bold logos on paper bags that vibrant and long-lasting… go for screen printing.
- If you need a bulk order with thousands of paper bags (perfect for large businesses)… go for flexo printing.
- And if you want to add shine or luxury to your packaging… go for foil printing.
And if you want to design and create your paper bags with highest quality and least fuss, hand over your design ideas to the designers at PackWo. We work alongside you to optimize your design for the best outcome to ensure a memorable experience for your customers.