Video Game Packaging

Video game [packaging is in fact, one of the biggest parts of packaging for this product.

The right packaging is what’ll be marketed to customers, whether it’s culture or the retro gaming aspects. 

This is definitely a bit niche, but it is evolving, and it’s worth looking at, especially with all of the changes that are there. 

Types of Video Game Packaging 

There are actually a few materials that are typically used in this kind of packaging. 

The first is shrink film, which is put over the boxes or the plastic cases, and it’s considered secondary packaging. 

While many are moving to cloud and trying to reduce the need for packaging that’s physical, a lot of major retailers in this industry still use this, especially for the computers and consoles necessary. 

Plus, it’s something that’s a part of the modern gaming industry, but for retro gaming, It’s exploded as of late. 

There is still a major demand for these used kinds of products, and they might shrink wrap the old games, even without the packaging it was originally in, so there is still a demand for that. 

It’s pretty easy to do, and usually just requires shrink tunnels and heat sealers to attach the shrink film to the product itself. 

The second part is boxes. 

There are those that still use a computer to play games, and also console gamers who use the console for this. 

Cartridge-based consoles are still quite popular, and they usually were done in cardboard and paperboard and used coupons, offers, and even instruction manuals, and was packaged directly into the shrink film. 

This is definitely a huge step forward, as cartridge-based types of systems are still as popular as they could be. 

They’re still sought out too, especially collectors looking for old cartridges in the boxes with packaging. 

They will shrink wrap these usually before the games get sold, and most of the time, the cartridges are packages in the film before they’re shipped out. 

While Pc uses more downloaded games, there is still a market at least for console and older vintage games to have the plastic attached to this. 

The Rise of Plastic cases 

Another big part of video game packaging are plastic cases. 

Usually, they’re either CD or DVD types of variant cases, and both of these usually have inserts inside, and also outside of the case is. 

The inserts usually showcase artwork, and other instructions or other selling points in these cases. 

Usually, the cases are wrapped in some kind of shrink film before they’re shipped out, especially if they’re new games. 

It also should be of note that some sellers will actually re-shrink some of their older games to pretend that they haven’t been opened. 

This can be a problem for some collectors, as those that are factory sealed in the shrink wrap, and never opened, are worth a ton of money for a lot of people. 

It’s important that for those who are selling this to be upfront with the seals that are used. It’s important as well for collectors to check to see if the packaging is original or if it isn’t, especially if you’re collecting to figure out the financial values of this. 

Video game packaging is definitely something that’s changed for a lot of people, and it actually is still very popular for those who ship this out. 

There are tons of questions to have especially if you’re choosing the shrink film type, the best dimensions of this, and whether you should use imagery and graphics for the container that you have too.

Plastic or Paper Packaging

Paper or plastic—this is a question a lot of people have, and it’s something that can pretty much determine the type of packaging for your business. Each of them have good and bad aspects of them, with plastics offering great convenience and ease that comes with this, but the paper is the more environmentally-friendly alternative. However, this is a bit more complex than you’d think, and we’ll go over each of the differences here.

 

Plastic 

Plastic of course is the most common way for consumers to package goods and is considered single-use packaging. Food packaging, grocery bags, and other materials are definitely plastic kinds.  There are also some products such as liquids, medical devices, and the like that do benefit from the plastic packaging due to the static electricity which can build up and fry it. 

The benefits of plastic include the following: 

• It’s generally really energy-efficient and cost-effective for production as well and can be molded into different colors, printing, and transparencies for the recognition of brands. 

• They’re lightweight and also pretty durable too, helping to reduce emissions 

• Offer protective properties, which is vital for electronics and health devices too. 

• They can be recycled up to 10 different times before the quality degrades 

The disadvantages are worth mentioning too, and they include. 

• It isn’t recycled that much, so it does end up in waterways, landfills, and can harm animals 

• It’s not very safe, and can possibly transmit to food products, and does pose a suffocation risk too

• It is costly to recycle 

• It has a low melting point so if put near heat sources, it can cause fires 

Paper 

Paper of course is a type of packaging that’s been around for longer, is a bit more attractive and doesn’t have as many environmental or safety concerns either. This is something that’s good for grocery items that can package on site, but it’s hard for anything that needs to be shipped or packaged for a long period of time. 

The benefits of paper include: 

• It’s fully reusable and recyclable, so it’s easier on the environment 

• It’s safer for both animals and humans, and it’s likely not to harm to the ecosystems 

• It’s a lot more attractive, and are great for good marketing experiences, and customers can then become advertisements for the products at hand. 

The disadvantages though are worth definitely looking at too, and they can include the following. 

• They take five times the energy it makes for plastic bags, about twenty times as much of the water, and it can cause a lot more greenhouse emissions over time 

• It’s not waterproof, so if you need something that’s waterproof, you can’t use that. 

• It’s much mor expensive, costing up to 10 cents each 

What’s more sustainable 

Some people think that paper is more sustainable, but the answer is a lot more complex than you think. Making paper does cost more energy and resources, and it creates a lot more greenhouse gases, solid wastes, and it can cost a lot more in terms of production. Paper is totally renewable as well, while plastic does come from oil, which is more finite. 

But most of the oil is given towards plastics, and there are other resource requirements that are reduced too, including water and energy. Paper tends to be heavier, takes up a lot more space, and is a lot more costly in terms of transport too. So definitely look at all of these factors before making a decision on what’s better for you.

Tips for Essential Product Packaging Design

Most people hold the notion that packaging is often done only to protect what is inside which is a wrong perception. Despite the fact that the main purpose of packaging is to protect whatever is inside, the main objective of packaging design is to create attraction. Your package should primarily act as your product ambassador. That is why it is important to invest in a packaging design that will keep you on the edge and give you a competitive advantage whether you are selling online or offline. The following are packaging design tips that will no doubt put you on a different level.

Tip one: Understand your Customers 

When creating a package, knowing the needs of your customers is vital. It is what will motivate the type of packaging design you will come up with. For instance, if your packaging is directed towards young men of ages between 16 to 25 then it will have a great distinction compared to if you were targeting ladies aged between 35 to 45 years. This is the kind of information which should drive tour packaging design.

Tip Two: Be precise in terms of wording

When it comes to a great packaging design, simplicity is golden. You should use a few and simple words such that when a customer comes across your product they can quickly tell what it is meant for and which brand it is. You should be aware that on average a customer takes approximately 4 seconds to look at a product on the store shelve. Consequently, you should avoid verbosity and fancy fonts that can easily deter a customer’s attention. Besides, ensure that you only include relevant information about the product.

Tip Three: Try Multiple Designs 

It doesn’t matter how well a package design appears, it is always important to ensure that your customers respond to it. For that reason, you should pick several designs and put it to test with say a focus group and determine if their response is in line with your objective with the packaging design. This will also help you to make any changes that you deem necessary depending on the responses from the focus group.

Tip Four: Stay up to Date 

No design however great it is can stand the test of time. That is why you should always be on the lookout trying to find out areas of improvement for your existing packaging supplies. Do not assume that your packaging brand is perfect and doesn’t require improvement.

Tip Five: Let Perfection be your Theme always 

Creating a quick and long-lasting impression on customers does not come easy. That is why you should work day and night to ensure that you create a packaging design that is super. It should be something which creates attention of even customers who might not be interested in the product. Try to imagine yourself as a customer and think of a brand or packaging design that you can’t avoid setting eyes on.

Tip Six: Quality printing 

There’s no other way to achieve great packaging design than having the best quality material. Remember customers are always conscious of the best type of packaging. Ensure that your packaging appears of high quality and at the same time keep it within your budget. Have a packaging design that will make a customer recommend your product to other people.

All about the Dieline

If you want packaging that looks good and communicates the message in certain containers, one way to do it is to utilize the dielines to help with really creating an impactful message. Here, we’ll go over all about the dieline, and why it’s something to consider with your packaging needs. 

What is It? 

This is basically a file that’s made digitally that contains notes on the design, the cut lines that’ll be used for the box along with any pertinent markings for the packaging options. It also includes it for a variety of other kinds of packaging, such as envelopes or even mailers too. 

How It’s Used 

Pretty much, this shows the different folding areas that are required to have a dieline. A few businesses utilize these for maps, various brochures that they have, 3D ads, and even other products. It’s considered a template that brands will use to help figure out just how you want to cut this, various graphics to use, and a whole lot of other cool things. 

The cool thing as well is that if you have a good box that worked in the past, you just want to utilize the dieline as a comparison tool, sending it to the company that makes this in order to make sure it hits the correct specifications. This is something that, when a person who is making the boxes gets this, they look, adjust it, and then make a prototype. If the prototype works, then guess what, you can actually start printing the design. It also may need another round to finalize any important aspects of the design. 

Dielines offer the following benefits: 

• Gives you accurate measurements, ones that are usually large so that you can protect the item within, but it isn’t going to completely eat up the budget or look like a waste of product. 

• Offer visuals to test them and see if it works. You can use this dieline to see if the place for the logo and whatnot the correct way is to do this. 

• Offer performance testing to see if this is the best way to get the box to the customers, and if there are errors, it can be corrected before mass-production 

• Get feedback for important parts of it, letting the management, graphics team, marketing team, and the legal aspects of it get finalized, offering decisions that do minimize the waste that’s there. 

A big thing to understand is that not everything might need this after the first round of printing, but if you do have a box you’re looking to possibly create, then use a dieline. 

Dieline parts 

Every single dieline made is not the same, and the application of this along with the decisions made in marketing are a big part of this. The trim line is a big part as it sows the final dimensions of this, and of course the shape too. You’ve also got the bleed line, which is outside of where the rim line is, and it pretty much showcases the visuals needed, and offers space for each of these parts to be placed properly. 

There’s also the line for folding which shows the folds along with the flaps. You’ve got perforated lines which shows what can but torn to ensure that the marketing and design fits this. There are also inner lines to showcase handles or holes that are needed, along with windows. Finally, you’ve got the glue lines, which are lines that show where adhesive needs to be. Businesses use these for a variety of reasons, and they offer benefits.

5 Shapes and Uses of a Folding Carton

A folding carton is a vital product for packaging companies. A folding carton is manufactured from paperboard by folding, cutting, printing as well as lamination. The end process of the entire creation of a folding carton is transporting the final product to manufacturers who need to use the boxes for shipping products. That is the generation of shipping boxes. These boxes have different uses that range from transportation to packaging and just storage at home. One of the interesting features of a folding carton is their ability to fit into any transport means under transit. They are then unfolded upon delivery. Folding cartons have a variety of uses depending on the shapes. Here are a few forms and applications in which folding cartons can be found:

Straight Tuck End

Straight tuck end folding carton has a vertical tuck at the end just like its name. These shipping boxes have an open end featuring flaps that run perpendicular to each end. The style is most of the time used in making chocolate wraps as well as energy bars and other minute food products, cosmetics and small volumes electronic devices.

Tuck Top

This may sound like an incorporated diving mode, but the reverse tuck top carton features an open end that facilitates durable flaps locking into place. The durable flaps provide longevity. This is an ideal box when it comes to shipping heavy items. It is also easy to open hence the convenience. Some of the uses include the shipping of wine bottles, perfumes, snacks like chocolates and office supplies like staplers.

Sleeve

Derived from its name, these shipping boxes have a straightforward and sleek open end. The end of the box sleeves on the product to spice the look of the package through custom designed boxes. The packaging of the product will acquire an extra layer with the aim of providing a secure package for the product. Additionally, the packaging will be ready for a social media presence.

Cake Box

This is a standard packaging carton in various pastry shops. A cake box is derived from the design of cakes. Most of these cartons take a square shape. They can be utilized in the packaging as well as the transportation of cakes and light weight delights. Some of the additional items a cake box can transport include clothing and pastries. Also, the cake box can have a translucent touch for the seller to give the client a clue on the contents of the box. A cake box is durable enough. This means that a cake box offers protection to valuable and sensitive products.

Hanger Box

If you are wondering how to transform your shelf space into a huge space to accommodate more items, a hanger box is what you are looking for. This is one way to maintain great shelf space. The hanger box is convenient in that one end closes. It also features a tiny hook space that allows the user to hang metal rods for clothes. This is a leading technology in cosmetics stores.

Conclusion

Different boxes have different shapes. The shapes determine the use of the boxes. With a clear understanding of these shapes and uses, it is easy to shop for or manufacture the right box required for shopping. Depending on the requirements of the clients, the form of the box should incorporate the use. These boxes come in different colors, themes, designs, logos, and preferences. Consider offering your clients a wide selection of variety.

Custom Designed Boxes: Are they Worth It?

Custom boxes have become something even more popular for a lot of reasons. But are they worth the efforts? Aren’t they going to cost more and take a lot more time and effort to put together? Is it worth it, especially when putting it all together while also launching your brand? Well yes, and that’s because packaging is an integral part of the success a person has with the product, and if you mess this up, it’ll damage the brand’s perception, so it’s something you don’t want to mess up. 

Why Care about Product design 

The packaging shouldn’t be a super detailed thought and it’s something that a lot of brands usually think about last. It may seem like the simplest thing, but a lot of people get the packaging wrong. The right packaging can make or break a business, and it can be a big part of it.  If you’re looking to make your packaging stand out and work, it has to be brand-aware, good for users, cohesive and simple to use, functional, and also user-friendly and does have thought to this too. For example, for eco-friendly brands, green or recycled packaging is important. If your demographics are a bit younger, the packaging needs to be eye-catching, fun, fresh, and good for social media presence. If you’re making products for older people, then you want something that’s easy to use. 

Designing a Box 

Custom packaging helps with this, since it can help you make sure that you’re hitting the correct targets. For starts, you can choose the box style type that’s there, and you can choose wither one, two or four colors to print on there, and sometimes more, and you also may want to decide if you feel like printing on a couple of sides, or on every single side. Once you’ve decided on a few of these, you definitely want to work on the design aspects of this. There are a few things that should be finalized now, including the logo size, the image of the brand, and the different box sizes out there needed. 

Types of printing 

You also want to choose the type of printing that you want for this too. You can choose digital printing which lets it be put directly on top of the box, which is ideal for small amounts of orders. There is also litho laminating, which offers prints that are magazine quality, and over six different colors, and this is good for over 300 boxes, sometimes more. There is also flexographic printing, which is put on custom products directly, and offers three-color printing types. 

Why choose this 

The thing is with custom boxes, you get to choose the packaging that you need, and lets you use the correct kind of container for shipping. Custom designs let you ship this so that you can save a bit of money and time, and also look better too. You can create boxes that fit the brad with this, which means that people will remember this a whole lot more. it also offers benefits too. 

For example, you don’t have to use filler for the innards of this, and you also do reduce the shipping and dimensional weight that’s charged to this. Finally, you don’t have to use as much corrugated boxes and other materials. Overall, if you haven’t chosen to use this yet, you’ll want to make sure that you get the right results from this, and also get the benefits that you want from this and what you want to achieve as well too.

Why Bulk container Liners are Ideal for Shipping

Bulk container liners, which are known as sea bulk liners, are a type of packaging system that’s used to create and facilitate, while also securing the transit of different dry and flowable goods within different shipping containers in the ocean. 

Essentially, they’re a barrier that protects the product, and also separates it from the floor and walls of the container. 

You can load the liners through a belt thrower, a pneumatic, or a conveyor system.  There are different ways, which ensure a way for you to clean through, and then discharge each of the products once it gets to the destination.
Plus, they save a lot of money, especially when compared to using bulk bags or small bags for transportation. 

Who Uses These? 

Well, they’re used in a variety of different industries because they’re cost effective, practical, and also protect a lot of bulk items during storage and transit. 

Essentially, any item that’s dry and flowable will be packed within this. 

The most common usages include: 

• Soybeans 

• Grain 

• Rice 

• Fertilizer 

• Sugar 

• Soda ash 

• PET resin 

• PP resin 

However, there are a lot of different industries that are using this, as they protect the materials during the transit process, and also storage, but also contribute to better savings, less waste, and better operational efficiency as well. 

The advantages of Such 

Packaging these in bulk is a great way to save costs while also transporting the products. 

Here are the main benefits of using these bulk container types of liners for your needs. 

Less Transportation Costs 

A lot of bulk containers allow for the loading to; be denser, especially when you’re just comparing it to other shipping container packaging. Through the maximizing of this, a lot of products are transported with just one shipment, which leads to lower transportation costs for each unit.  The liners also help with minimizing the different spaces that are empty in the container, which reduces the need for more shipments. 

Gets rid of Secondary Packaging 

A lot of bulk packaging usually requires some secondary packaging, including boxes, bags, and pallets, in order to protect these materials while you ship them. Bulk containers, however, serve as the main primary packaging, which eliminates that need for secondary packaging, so it saves you a lot on labor and materials costs. 

Minimizes Loss and Spillage 

A lot of bulk container liners offer a barrier that’s secure, in order to prevent more spillage and even loss during the transit process. 

Through the reduction of water, and by ensuring that the materials do reach the destination in one piece, a lot of businesses are able to avoid the losses that come with lost and damaged types of goods. 

Better Efficiency for Loading and Unloading 

Many liners streamline the sea container types of loading and unloading processes. With each of these liners put in place, the materials are discharged from each of these containers without any extra time spent on cleaning and handling. This causes the labor costs to decrease, reducing this, and also decreases the time that’s needed to load and unload each of the items and their operations. 

Better Storage 

A lot of bulk containers are also used for storage bags, so you don’t have to worry about transporting materials from one type of container to the next, which reduces the shipping and handling types of expenses.  They also can easily be stacked, which helps with reducing warehouse space use. 

This is a great way to ship items and is more efficient than before.