Lid boxes: tray, lid and bleeds

1. Craft and industrial manufacturing

Before we even talk about bleeds, we must understand that the method of manufacture depends on the quantity ordered, and the template changes according to the method. We systematically provide the template adapted to each order.

Handcrafted manufacture (small quantities)

For unique prototypes (1 copy), small run (1 to 50 copies) and some validation projects, the boxes are crafted: table-shaped cutting, hand-assembled and bonded. The supplied template looks like this: a zone noire central represents the material that will be folded inside the box (internal rabats), and the bottom shall extend at least to that black zone.

The black zone does not print (except for specific interior printing requests). No text, logo or pictogram is put in it. But the background must cover it to prevent a white net from appearing on the visible edges of the box once mounted.

Industrial manufacturing (average and large series)

For series from about 100-200 copies (the exact threshold depends on the format), the manufacturing passes on to a ligne industrielle : offset printing, press cutting, automatic groove, folding and back-up. The template is different: it indicates a red line corresponding to the final cutting area, and the bleeds are not shown on the template itself.

On this industrial template, we need to add 5 mm of bleeds beyond the red lineThis value is higher than the usual 3 mm because the industrial boxes go through several steps (printing, groove, folding, back-adhesive) that combine tolerances. 5 mm ensure that no white net is exceeded even in case of accumulation of offsets.

2. Quiet area and black area not to be filled

Regardless of the manufacturing method, two universal rules apply to all boxes:

• Do not put text, pictograms or logos within 3 mm of the edges (cuts and folds). This is the standard quiet area.
• Do not leave a black zone in the final template. In craft manufacture, the bottom must cover the black zone; in industrial, the bottom must extend into the bleeds.

The classic error on a first box template is to leave the black rectangles of the template in the final file delivered to the manufacturer as it is. Our studio detects this error in pre-flight, but it slows the start of production.

3. Text, logos and pictograms on the 4 sides

On a lid box, there is 4 side sides (front, back, right, left) in addition to the top and bottom. And be careful: these 4 sides do not have the same reading direction.

Configuration conventionnelle

• Front and rear face (lengths) : horizontally oriented texts, normal reading.
• Right side (right width) : vertical oriented texts, read from bottom to top.
• Left side (left width) : vertical oriented text, read from top to bottom (inverse direction of right side).
• Dessus : normal reading direction, identical to the front face.
• Dessous : normal reading direction, identical to the front face.

This convention allows a buyer who takes the box in any direction to always be able to read the texts by slightly orienting the box. The logic is the same as for the books in the radius: you turn your head to the right to read the slice.

4. Cup and lid: two separate files

A lid box is composed of two separate rooms : there tray (bottom, smaller) and the lid (the top, slightly larger, which is inserted on the bowl) These two pieces are made separately, sometimes on different materials and finishes (e.g. a soft-touch film-coated lid with hot gold-gold, and a simpler bowl in standard matt finish).

Therefore, please provide two separate files :

• A PDF tray with its dedicated template, bleeds, reading sense on all 4 sides.
• A PDF lid with its dedicated template (slightly larger than the box for the box).

Name files explicitly: boite_projet_cuvette.pdf And boite_projet_couvercle.pdf. If you have Pantone color references or specific finishes (painting, selective varnish, gilding), indicate them by file in your brief.

5. Most common box formats

For details of materials (compact 1500 micrometres, 135 g/m2 coated paper backing), finishings (matt or soft-touch coating, selective varnish, embossing, hot gold-gold) and alternative structures (box with drawer, magnetised box, telescopic box), see our personalized game boxes page.

6. Premium finishes on B2B boxes

The box is the most visible element of the game, and it is on it that we concentrate the premium finishes in B2B:

• Soft-touch coating on the lid : skin fishing sensation, immediate luxury perception.
• Selective varnish on title, logo and some visuals : matt/gloss contrast that prioritizes reading.
• Hot dormur (gold, silver, copper) : title or logo in opaque metal, book effect connected.
• Gaufring of the logo or ornament : tactile relief in addition to visual.
• 3D varnish : exceptional finish for very high-end editions.

All these finishes are documented in detail in our glossary of printing finishes. For a project combining several finishes, request 48h quote With your briefing.

7. Files to Provide for a Box

As with case, supply two versions per piece :

1. A version with the tracks (cut lines, folds, black zones if artisanal) is used at the studio for validation.
2. A version without the tracks, with only the visuals and final colors. Serves in production.

This is 4 files in total for a complete lid box: bowl with lines, bowl without lines, lid with lines, lid without lines. This is what our studio requires to be able to control and launch quickly.

8. Checklist before sending the box file

• Received Template identified: artisanal (black area to cover) or industrial (5 mm off red line)?
• Lost 5 mm of recovered (industrial) or black area (craft) bottom
• No black area remaining in final file
• Quiet area 3 mm respected on 6 sides (4 sides + above + below)
• Text direction checked face by face AFTER mounting (and not only on the unfolded)
• Cup and lid in two separate files
• Two versions per file: with and without tracks
• CMYK Coated Fogra 39, 300 dpi mode, vectorized fonts
• Specific finishes (soft-touch, selective varnish, gilding, embossing) per piece

For technical bases applicable to all media, see our general information sheet. For trays (which have special rules in terms of 20 mm bleeds), see the dedicated trays sheet.

French manufacturing process B2B

Understanding the downstream process illuminates file preparation choices. Here are the main manufacturing steps in order:

1. Receiving and checking the file (24 to 48 hours). Our studio checks: CMYK mode, resolution, bleeds, vectored fonts, quiet area, text meaning per face. If not compliant, return with detailed report for correction.
2. BAT validation (Good to shoot, 24h). We send a PDF or physical BAT according to your choice. Explicit validation mandatory before launch.
3. Pressing and printing (3-7 days)Offset for medium and large series, digital for small quantities and prototypes. Plant inks on all our B2B supports.
4. Finishes (1 to 5 days depending on options). Film coating, selective varnish, hot gilding, embossing, polishing of the songs: check our glossary of finishes.
5. Cut, fold, back-up, assembly (2-5 days). On our industrial lines or in ESAT workshop for manual operations with high added value.
6. Quality control and packaging (1 to 2 days). EN71 compliance test on games intended for a family or child audience, visual inspection of the whole lot.
7. Shipping (24 to 72 hours)Delivery France metropolitan via partner carrier. Possibility of logistics storage at our home for orders spread over time.

Average total time: 3 to 5 weeks depending on complexity, finishes and quantity. For urgent orders (seminars, trade shows), we offer an express mode on certain formats: request a quote.

Regulatory compliance and certification

Board games intended for the general public or children must meet several standards:

• EN71-1, EN71-2, EN71-3 European standard on the safety of toys (mechanical resistance, flammability, chemical migration). Our cards, cases, boxes and trays for children or families are systematically tested. See our page on safety standards toy.
• CE : compulsory marking for sale in the European Union. Cover EN71 and other directives.
• REACH European Chemicals Regulation. Our inks and film-coated products are REACH compliant.
• PEFC / FSC : certifications for sustainable forest management. We work with certified papers on request.
• ESAT (Establishment and Labour Support Service) : our partner workshop in Brittany is a ESAT, which allows the client companies to count their orders under the obligation to employ disabled workers (Law of 11 February 2005).

In your brief, specify the expected certifications: we adapt the materials and processes accordingly.