Packaging Artwork Handoff: Control the File before the Proof
Set a file owner, dieline version and approval path so the printer works from the intended packaging artwork.
A packaging proof can look correct while the wrong master file is still travelling between teams. Kaida's support FAQ lists artwork formats such as AI, PDF, EPS, TIF, PSD and high-resolution JPG, and says a dieline can be offered when artwork is not yet prepared. The useful step for a buyer is to decide which file is the controlled master and how each revision will be approved. File format alone does not answer that question.
Create a small file register
For each SKU, record the artwork filename, version, date, product name, pack size and owner. List the dieline version separately. If the brand supplies editable art and a view-only PDF, mark which one controls text and which one shows the approved appearance. Do not rely on a filename such as 'final_new_2'; it becomes ambiguous as soon as a legal-copy change or color adjustment arrives.
Include a short change note whenever a file is replaced. It should say what changed, where it changed and who requested it. A reviewer can then check the affected area without guessing whether the whole pack was redesigned.
Lock the dieline and proof together
Confirm the finished dimensions, fold or seal areas and print boundaries before the design team signs the proof. If a dieline changes, issue a new artwork version even when the visible graphic is unchanged. The approved PDF proof, editable source file and dieline should all carry compatible identifiers. This prevents a printer from applying a current graphic to an old physical outline.
Reviewers should check the actual text, barcode data and required warnings in addition to color and image placement. Each of those elements may have a different owner. Collect their approvals in one release record rather than treating a designer's visual approval as permission for all content.
Release one production package
Send the supplier a single release folder with the master art, reference proof, dieline, color references and approval log. State whether any old file may still be used for existing stock. When the first printed sample arrives, compare it with that release folder and record the outcome. The buyer can then trace an unexpected print back to a specific file decision instead of reopening the entire design history.