Master Your Packaging Design: Finding the Right Tool for the Job

First things first, let's talk about the hierarchy of design programs. Our customers use a variety of tools, but we've sorted them into three categories: good, better, and best, according to our experience and the opinions of our in-house experts—the prepress department. If you’re planning to purchase your packaging through Roastar (we’re blushing already), these recommendations are especially useful, as they go hand in hand with the Roastar artwork approval process.

Canva is a friend who’s always ready to help. It’s simple to use and pretty intuitive, with a plethora of free designs to choose from and customize. No need to start from scratch here. Plus, Canva offers a free version that runs on a browser, making it accessible to everyone.

However, it’s not without its quirks. The free version doesn’t support CMYK, which is a bummer for print projects (like your custom packaging). If you’re not familiar, CMYK refers to ink colors used in printing, while RGB colors are light-based and what you see on your screen. When we convert your artwork file to CMYK, you will notice that the neon orange in your design looks darker than it did in Canva, as an example. That’s because ink can’t replicate the vast swath of colors RGB can produce, so some colors may appear different when you receive your first digital proof.

Another quirk of Canva is that fonts can’t be embedded. Our prepress wizards can fix a missing font most of the time, but it’s another bump in the process. We should also mention that if you'd like a kraft material, or you’re looking to add some shine to your packaging with metallic effects, Canva isn’t your best option as it’s a challenge to set up the right layers.

While more obscure than other applications on this list, CorelDRAW can do a decent job. It can convert fonts to objects, an important step in our artwork submission process that ensures no fonts are missing. But it's not the most beginner-friendly option out there, and you'll have to pay a yearly subscription. However, if you’re already familiar with it, CorelDRAW can be a handy tool in your design arsenal.

Adobe Photoshop is a powerhouse when it comes to effects and tools. You can work in layers to create complex designs, and it offers high-quality output. The downside? The file sizes can get pretty hefty and cause issues during our artwork approval process (PDF file sizes need to be smaller than 100MB). There's also a bit of a learning curve. But once you get the hang of it, Photoshop is a fantastic tool for creating stunning designs.

Now, let’s talk about the crème de la crème of design programs—Adobe Illustrator. Our handsdown top pick, this versatile tool handles photos, vectors, HD graphics, and more, making it the Swiss Army knife of design software. With endless fonts and tools at your disposal, you can bring any idea to life. Sure, it has a learning curve — and a pretty steep one at that — but in our humble opinion, it’s worth it. Plus, Illustrator is what we use here at Roastar, so you know you’re in good company. Of course, quality comes with cost, which means Illustrator is one of the pricier programs on the market.

We’ll be upfront: Adobe InDesign isn’t the best tool for our templates. It’s workable for designs being printed on a plain white material, but you’ll run into issues with kraft. It’s also tricky to set up metallic effects. All in all, it’s not our favorite platform to use with our templates. You’ll be much better off using one of Adobe’s other design tools.

What if creating stunning packaging didn’t require pricey tools or a steep learning curve? If you’re short on time and resources, our Design Lab is the perfect solution for you. Start by selecting a gusset bag, flat bottom bag, or tin can. Choose your favorite everyday, seasonal, or holiday pattern, and then add a logo and some text. Voila! In just a few minutes, your beautiful packaging is ready to order. For ready-to-use designs, our MOQs are just 100 for bags and 10 for tin cans.

With no design experience required, the Design Lab is your ticket to a great first impression without busting your wallet or pulling your hair out trying to learn a new design tool.

After all that information, let’s keep it simple here. If you’re new to design, start with Canva. It’s free (and still affordable if you upgrade to Pro) and easy to figure out. Even without Illustrator’s tools, you can still manage some pretty complex designs. You might hit a few bumps during the artwork approval process (like the document being the wrong size), but it’s a great way to get started without a huge investment. Canva Pro offers more features for a beginner-plus demographic, making it a solid choice if you want to dip your toes into the design world.

For a smoother experience, we recommend adding in the bleed when you set up your Canva file instead of using the “add bleed and crop marks” setting when you export. Otherwise, the document size will be too big. Also, delete any template images or lines before exporting. This is a common issue that’s difficult to fix since Canva doesn’t support layers in the same way as Photoshop or Illustrator.

Despite the platform’s quirks, if you keep these tips in mind, it’s perfectly possible that your Canva creation will breeze right through the artwork approval process.

Let’s talk money. Advanced platforms like Illustrator come with a price tag — a significant point of consideration for small businesses or solo entrepreneurs. Reflect how much use you will continue to get out of your purchase. If you’re not passionate about design or don’t see yourself revamping your artwork often, it may not make sense to invest in top-tier software.

It all boils down to if you want to spend your time learning complex design software, or if you would rather opt for a simpler (and less pricey) design tool. To help you decide, keep in mind that most of these programs are purchased on a monthly or annual basis. In other words, rather than coughing up a big chunk of change for software upfront, you can test it out month to month and cancel once you’ve had your fill.

This may all seem overwhelming, but here’s the good news: All these platforms integrate with our printing process as long as the file is set up correctly (more info on that here) — and as always, our friendly team of experts is on standby to help you.

If you’re going to invest significant time and resources into learning one platform, Adobe Illustrator is the way to go. It’s powerful, versatile, and creates the highest quality artwork. Plus, with monthly payment options, you can try it out without a long-term commitment. But rest assured, whether you’re working with Canva or Illustrator, you’ve got the tools you need to bring your packaging designs to life.

Ready to get started? Let's make some magic happen! Review our artwork specifications to begin your artistic adventure.