So you want to get some bags with your logo or artwork printed on them? Great! Using printed bags is a fantastic way to increase your brand visibility. At QIS, we want to make sure that you’re getting the best possible experience with your printed bags. That’s why we put this article together: to give you some useful artwork tips so you can get the best looking bags possible. Let’s jump right in. 1. Keep it Simple! One of the important things to remember is that in most cases, your purchasing customers aren’t going to be the only ones to see your bags. The general public will too - and they’ll be looking at the bags from afar. For that reason, you want to make sure that your artwork is simple enough that it can be clearly recognised from a distance. Take a look at the example below: All three of these bags have really bold, clear designs that can be seen from a distance, and they look great! 2. Use Complementary Colours It’s no secret that some colours work together better than others. Whether it’s in graphic design, visual art, advertising material or printed bags, the way your colours interact will have a huge impact on how effective your designs are. “But which colours complement which?” you ask. Well, you could spend hours researching colour theory to try and figure it out, or, for the purpose of printing on QIS bags, you could just read through the list below! Black print: try brown, white, aqua (light blue), lime (green), red, pink, orange or yellow bags. Make sure you avoid purple or black. White print: brown, black, aqua, red, pink, orange and purple bags work best. Avoid white and yellow bags. Red print: white, black and lime bags are your best bet. Avoid red, pink and orange bags. Yellow print: black, purple, aqua and red bags work best. Avoid white and yellow bags at all costs - you won't be able to see the print at all! Blue print: brown and white bags look best here. Avoid aqua, purple and black (unless it's a light blue) bags. Green print: Choose a white bag for best results. You can try brown or yellow bags as well, provided the green is dark enough. Most other dark colours: choose a white or yellow bag for best results; avoid purple and black. Most other light colours: choose a black or purple bag for best results, avoid yellow and white. Keep in mind that the same logic applies to artwork that has two or more colours. For example, even though Yellow and White would both work individually when printed onto black bags, you wouldn’t want to have artwork that had both Yellow and White. The two colours would be hard to distinguish together. That doesn’t mean we can’t do it though! We can print any colour/s that you desire. The list above is just a guide. Above: an example of colours working together beautifully with our print job that we did for Mott & Mulberry (note that this was a custom print job - due to the printing on the gusset - and similar jobs would have a longer lead time than our standard 2-4 weeks). 3. Include Your Website and Social Media Info This one is often overlooked, but it really goes without saying. If you’re committing to getting your bags printed, you’ll want to get the most exposure possible, and including your website is a great way to do this. It allows your customers and potential customers to immediately get in contact with you, and it also adds a sense of professionalism to your bags. Social media info is great too - especially if you use social media regularly in your business. 4. Choose the Right Bag Type for Your Brand Think about what you want your brand to communicate. Are you a high end fashion retailer wanting to communicate a certain sense of quality and professionalism? Printed matte or gloss laminated paper bags might be perfect for you - the bold finish and sleek design will certainly resonate well with your customers. Alternatively, if you focus on more boutique or natural products, you might want to communicate a more “earthy” feel. Printed calico or brown paper bags would be the choice for you. If you are a grocer, reusable non-woven polypropylene bags would be the best choice, especially given the recent plastic bag ban in Queensland and WA, and similar bans in place or coming soon in other states. Pharmacies and bakeries will need something more affordable, as your average sale value will be much lower. Printed flat pack paper bags would be the way to go here. Just because your bags are disposable doesn’t mean you can’t brand them! And finally, if you’re a food outlet, you may want to consider printed brown paper bags or printed takeaway bags. 5. Print Double-Sided! This will ensure that your artwork is seen from afar, no matter which way round your customer is holding the bag. It means you’re getting the most bang for your buck in terms of exposure - it does cost a little more to get a two-sided print, but the potential for more people seeing your brand is effectively doubled. Plus, if you are getting the same artwork on both sides you will only have to pay for one printing plate! Conclusion Hopefully you found these graphic design tips useful! If you have any questions about graphic design for printed bags, or any questions about printing in general, make sure you get in contact with our quoting team: [email protected]. Ready to start printing on your bags? Why not enquire here. All the best with your future marketing endeavours!