Laminated Bags — Design Guide
From choosing a shape to approving your final proof — here’s every step in designing a laminated tote that’s completely yours.
Our custom laminated bags are built for brands that can’t be reduced to a one-color imprint. With full-color CMYK printing, edge-to-edge bleeds, and your choice of gloss or matte finish, every panel of the bag becomes a canvas. Here’s exactly how the process works — from the first decision to the finished product in your hands.
What’s Possible
Real laminated bags from real brands
Every bag below started as a blank silhouette and a set of artwork files. The six-step process further down this page is how each one got made.
Farmers Market
Edge-to-edge CMYK print on laminated woven PP — full bleed front and back panels.
Grocery / Retail
Standard grocery silhouette with custom brand graphics — gloss finish shown.
Brief Shopper
Brief shopper shape — wide panels ideal for bold brand statements and photographic art.
Trade Show / Events
Bold graphic design printed edge-to-edge — gloss lamination makes colors pop under any lighting.
Retail / Specialty
Full panel artwork with photographic detail — only achievable with laminated woven PP and CMYK.
Grocery / Large Format
MEGA Shopper extra-large tote — full-color print on an oversized laminated PP bag built for heavy loads.
How Your Bag Gets Made
Six decisions, in the order you’ll make them.
1
Step One — Foundation
Choose Your Shape & Dimensions
Start by deciding what your bag needs to do. We offer 12 stock shapes — grocery totes, brief shoppers, gift bags, farmers market styles, and more — or you can design a fully custom silhouette from scratch through our Build Your Own program. Width, height, and gusset depth are all specifiable.
›12 stock profiles to choose from across all use cases
›Tall narrow designs work well for wine and bottle carriers
›Wide flat shapes suit retail, fashion, and trade show applications
›Handle length and attachment style selected at this stage
Stock Shapes Available
12 Profiles, Infinite Sizing
Brief Shopper
Farmers Market
MEGA Grocery
Gift Bag (Sm / Lg)
Custom — Build Your Own
Material Options
Base Fabric Choices
Woven Polypropylene
Non-Woven PP
rPET Recycled Plastic
2
Step Two — Substrate
Select Your Base Material
The structural foundation of your bag is a woven or non-woven polypropylene fabric. This base determines weight, rigidity, and how well the bag holds its shape when loaded. Recycled material options — including rPET made from reclaimed plastic — are available for sustainability-focused programs.
›Woven PP: stiffer, more structured, ideal for grocery and retail
›Non-woven PP: lighter, softer drape, lower minimums on select styles
›rPET recycled: diverts ocean and landfill plastic, same durability
›2,500 unit minimum on most styles; 200 units on select non-woven
3
Step Three — Artwork
Prepare Your Design Files
Unlike screen-printed bags that limit you to 1–4 spot colors, laminated bags accept full-color CMYK printing with 100% coverage. Your artwork wraps edge to edge across every panel — front, back, sides, and gusset — with no imprint area restriction.
›Supply vector files (AI, EPS) or high-res raster at 300 DPI minimum
›Photographic images, gradients, and complex patterns all reproduce faithfully
›A free digital proof is included before any production begins
›Bleed and safe-zone templates provided for every bag shape
Print Capability
Full CMYK, Edge-to-Edge
100% color coverage
Photographic imagery
Complex gradients
All-panel wrap printing
4
Step Four — Lamination
Apply the Laminate Layer
After printing, a clear laminate film is heat-bonded to the surface. This layer is what gives the bag its distinctive look and feel — protecting the ink, adding structural rigidity, and delivering either a gloss or matte surface finish depending on your selection.
›Laminate bonds permanently — colors won’t fade, crack, or peel
›Adds water resistance and wipe-clean durability
›Available in gloss (high-sheen) or matte (soft, velvety) finish
›Same process works on both woven PP and rPET substrates
5
Step Five — Surface Finish
Choose Gloss or Matte
This is the decision most clients agonize over — and both options are excellent. Gloss maximizes color vibrancy and shelf impact. Matte communicates premium quality and has a tactile feel customers notice immediately. Your brand positioning and artwork style should guide the choice.
›Gloss: vivid, high-sheen — best for grocery, food & beverage, trade shows
›Matte: soft, velvety — best for luxury, wellness, fashion, organic brands
›No price difference between finishes — purely an aesthetic choice
Finish Options
Two Looks, One Process
Gloss — Vivid, high-shine retail look
Matte — Soft, premium, tactile feel
Order Details
What to Expect
2,500 unit min (most styles)
200 unit min on select non-woven
Free digital proof included
Fortune 500 client experience
6
Step Six — Production & Delivery
Approve Your Proof & Place Your Order
Once artwork is approved, production begins. Lead times vary by style and quantity — our team will give you a firm ship date at the time of order. We’ve managed large-scale programs for Fortune 500 clients and understand what it means to hit a deadline.
›Free digital proof provided before production begins
›Rush production available on select styles — ask your rep
›Direct-to-event shipping available for trade show programs
›Satisfaction guaranteed — we stand behind every order
Gloss vs. Matte
A closer look at your two finish options
Gloss Lamination
High-Sheen Surface
Gloss delivers maximum color saturation and a reflective sheen that commands attention on retail shelves and at trade shows. Colors appear vivid and bold, and the surface has a smooth, hard feel. Ideal for brands with colorful artwork that benefits from visual punch.
Best for: grocery retail, food & beverage, vibrant brand palettes, trade show giveaways
Matte Lamination
Soft, Velvety Surface
Matte creates a tactile, non-reflective surface that communicates premium quality and sophistication. Colors appear slightly softer, with less glare under retail lighting. The texture is one customers notice the moment they pick up the bag.
Best for: luxury retail, wellness & beauty, fashion, organic and natural products
Ready to Start Your Project?
Request a free quote on any laminated style, or call to discuss a custom shape. A free digital proof is included with every order.
