FAQs

To get started, it helps to have a general idea of your bottle type, artwork, quantity, timeline, and budget. Even if all details are not finalized, our team can guide you through the process and help define the best approach.

Lead times for glass bottle printing typically range from 2 to 6 weeks, depending on the size and complexity of the project, time of year, and production requirements. First-time orders may take longer due to the production sample process. Your team will receive a more accurate timeline once project details are reviewed.

Yes. We strongly recommend production samples for new projects to ensure accuracy in color, placement, and overall design. For simpler, single-color artwork, samples may not always be required. Your sales representative will guide you based on your project.

We print on a wide range of glass bottles and jars, from 5 ml to 3 liters. This includes cylindrical, oval, and square containers. We also offer UV printing on coated glass and pad printing for lids and closures.

We can print up to 10 colors, but most designs use 1 to 4 colors for the strongest visual impact. Direct-to-glass printing is a spot color process, so simpler, more intentional designs often deliver better results than highly complex artwork.

All decorated glass ships from our Richmond, California facility. You can arrange pickup or we can coordinate freight on your behalf.

Direct-to-glass printing (also known as screen printing or applied ceramic labeling/ACL) applies inks directly onto glass bottles and jars using different ink systems, including ceramic, precious metal, and UV inks.

Ceramic and precious metal inks are fired at high temperatures, fusing into the glass to create a highly durable, long-lasting finish. UV inks are cured using ultraviolet light, offering a broader color range but with slightly less durability.

In most cases, ceramic direct-to-glass printing is preferred for its durability and premium finish, while UV ink direct-to-glass printing is used when specific color or application requirements make it the better option.

Direct-to-glass printing is ideal when you want a more premium, durable, and integrated look. It eliminates issues like peeling, wrinkling, and staining, while allowing for more creative design options such as 360-degree artwork that is not limited by dielines.

UV printing is best used when printing on coated or frosted glass, when exact color matching is required, or when a design includes colors that cannot be achieved with ceramic inks.

Color coating applies a solid or tinted color to the bottle, which can be opaque, translucent, or transparent with a gloss, semi-gloss, or satin finish. Frosting creates a satin finish while still allowing the product inside to remain visible. Both are spray processes, but they achieve very different visual effects.

Yes. Many projects combine techniques such as direct-to-glass printing, UV printing, color coating, frosting, and pad printing to achieve a layered and more customized final design.

4-color process printing uses Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black to create full-color images through layered dots, similar to traditional printing.

Direct-to-glass printing uses spot colors, where each color is applied individually using a dedicated screen. This results in cleaner, more consistent color and is better suited for bold, simplified designs on glass.

Glass is a highly recyclable material, and printing directly on glass eliminates the need for paper labels and adhesives. This can help reduce material use and support more sustainable packaging choices. In addition, using UV printing can reduce production energy requirements and is often considered a more sustainable decoration option depending on the application.

Color registration refers to how accurately multiple colors align during printing. Because each color is applied separately, slight variations can occur. Designs with very tight alignment between colors may require adjustments or slower production speeds to maintain accuracy.

Ceramic inks fuse with the glass bottle or jar during the firing process, and screen-printed labels are therefore more durable and not susceptible to the stains, scuffs, and tears you see on paper labels. With the labels already printed on the bottles, you will improve the efficiency of your bottling line. Filling lines can run quicker and will be easier to manage.

The most significant advantage is the branding impact and the appeal of a screen-printed label. The high-quality look engages the consumer and showcases your brand. It also allows you to employ design techniques that you can’t use or would be too expensive with paper labels.

It is essential to assemble a packaging team. At a minimum, this team should consist of a professional and experienced label designer, the decorator, and the bottle supplier. The team will work together to make sure the label to be designed can be decorated on the desired bottle and printed within a predetermined budget.

Before you dive too far into the design process, make sure that your team understands your budget, timeframe, and the bottle choices that you are considering. Collaboration in the early stages can prevent disappointment and lost time/resources later on.

We accept Adobe Illustrator files (.ai, .eps, .svg, .pdf) with fonts outlined or included. Photoshop files (.psd, .jpg) are also accepted at 300 dpi or higher. All linked images should be embedded or included with the file.

Lines should be no thinner than 0.5 pt to ensure proper reproduction during printing. Thinner lines may need to be adjusted to maintain quality.

Most fonts are legible at 6 pt. For thin fonts, strokes should not be smaller than 0.5 pt. We recommend reviewing artwork at actual size to confirm readability.

The printable area depends on the bottle shape and size. Typically, printing is applied to the main cylindrical surface. For wine bottles, artwork usually starts at least 20 mm from the base. Our team will provide exact specifications based on your selected bottle.

We do not design from scratch, but our Art and Prepress team works closely with your designer to prepare artwork for production. We ensure files are properly set up and make any necessary adjustments for printing.

The cost of printing on glass bottles varies depending on factors such as artwork complexity, number of colors, bottle type, and order volume. Because each project is unique, the best way to get accurate pricing is to request a quote.

Key factors include the number of colors in the design, bottle shape and size, order quantity, use of specialty inks such as metallics, and any additional processes like coating or frosting.

Direct-to-glass printing can be used for smaller runs, but pricing becomes more efficient as volume increases. It is often most cost-effective for mid to large production runs.

Yes. Custom color matching and the use of precious metal inks such as gold or silver may involve additional costs due to materials and production requirements.

The main differences are durability, color selection, and the curing process.

Ceramic inks fuse with the glass during a lehr firing cycle. They are very durable and are scratch resistant, and water stable. However, some colors, especially very bright colors such as pinks, are challenging to achieve with ceramic inks.

UV inks offer a much broader color pallet and are very vibrant. Instead of passing through a lehr oven, these inks cure using UV light. As a result, they are not as durable as ceramic inks, but their production is more energy efficient.

We offer precious metal gold, silver, and copper inks. These inks offer a high luster and shine and are suitable for premium packages. They can be printed alone or in conjunction with ceramic inks. Because these inks contain actual precious metals, they are more expensive, and there is a surcharge for their use. The price estimate depends on the amount of ink laydown the artwork requires and the current spot pricing for the precious metal ink chosen.

The Pantone Matching System (PMS) is a color system of thousands of numbered swatches. These swatches convey colors by referencing the actual Pantone book listing colors as numbers.

We require you to provide us with PMS colors to communicate the colors you are looking for for your artwork. Once you have selected your specific Pantone colors (i.e., PMS 187 C), please submit them with your artwork as a callout. If you want us to match a previously printed color or item, e.g., an existing paper label or a capsule, you will need to send us the physical sample for a color match process. It is essential to understand that the same color can look slightly different when printed on various substrates, e.g., paper versus antique green glass.

Yes, we can ship you color samples/swatches from our extensive color library to help you select the perfect colors for your artwork. As the same color appears different on different colored glass, we will print the color swatch on your chosen glass color, e.g., antique green, flint, etc.

If you can’t find the perfect color in our library, we can create custom colors and match them to other substrates, e.g., foil capsules. Please note that color matching can be a lengthy process and extend your lead time. A perfect match can not be guaranteed, especially when working with ceramic inks. Stocking fees will apply.

We can print on a wide variety of glass bottles and jars, including different shapes and sizes. However, certain designs may need to be adjusted depending on the bottle style and surface.

We can print on both clear and colored glass. The appearance of the final design may vary depending on the base glass color, which is something we account for during the design and color selection process.

Yes. UV printing can be applied to both frosted and color coated glass. In some cases, frosting can also be applied over direct-to-glass printing for a layered effect.

Yes. Bottle shape and surface area can influence how artwork is applied. Cylindrical surfaces are the most straightforward, while more complex shapes may require adjustments to ensure optimal print results.

Ceramic direct-to-glass printing is highly durable. Because the ink is fused into the glass, it will not peel or wash off and is resistant to fading and wear under normal use.

Yes. Ceramic direct-to-glass printing is water-resistant and can withstand typical washing conditions. It is designed to maintain its appearance over time.

Printed glass is designed to withstand normal shipping and handling conditions. The durability of ceramic inks helps maintain the integrity of the design throughout the supply chain.

Designs should be simplified to work within a spot color process. Fewer colors and clean, intentional artwork typically produce the best results. Please feel free to reach out to us during the design process before finalizing artwork. Our team can help guide adjustments to ensure your design translates well to glass.

Common issues include using too many colors, relying on gradients, or placing elements too close together. Designs that are not optimized for spot color printing may need to be adjusted for the best outcome.