Mylar bags are one of the well-known packaging choices for many brands and businesses because of the unique features they exhibit. Most commonly, these packaging bags are made from PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate), which has excellent tensile strength and can resist light, oxygen, heat, air, and moisture. Today, custom wholesale bags have become the modern & trending packaging solutions across different favorable industries. If you’re curious about the material itself, check our detailed post on what is a Mylar bag.

Most commonly, these wholesale custom bags are famous in the food industry or sector because of their moisture or high-heat-resistant nature, versatility, & durability. So, printed bags are an ideal choice to stand out in the competitive market or improve sales. To stand out, you need to print your bags. But the question arises, how to print on bags? You don’t need to worry. You have come to the right place.

This blog is a comprehensive guide on how to print on custom mylar bags. 

Let’s dive in below to know the answer!

Why Print On Mylar Bags?

Selecting the right printing for your custom mylar bags helps you boost your brand. This is because if you print your business logo on these bags using high-quality inks, your customers will be greatly impressed with your packaging. In addition, printing on custom mylar packaging bags is also crucial if you truly want to provide some important information on the bags. For example, with the help of printing, you can add brand logo, name, nutritional information, manufacturing date, and expiry dates of the food products on the bags.

Printed mylar packaging bags have a large range of applications in multiple industries. If you’re new to this packaging, check out our complete guide about Mylar bags before choosing the right printing method. Some key industries where these bags are considered reliable packaging are listed below;

• Food Industry

Many kinds of processed foods can be packed in food mylar packaging bags!

The main reasons are that these custom bags have water-resistant and smell-proof properties that help keep food content fresh and clean for a long time. Mylar doesn’t react with food products and makes it safe for the health of users.

• Cannabis Items

Cannabis needs significant care when it comes to storing CBD items. The shelf life of CBD items can be extended if you pack them in moisture and water-resistant bags. 

• Pharmaceuticals

Various types of medicines can be packed in custom mylar bags. Powdered medicines are most commonly packed in Mylar sachets without any hassle. Mylar materials block the air and oxygen from getting in and improve the shelf life of such products. 

Best Printing Methods for Mylar Bags

There are multiple methods to print on bags. It becomes quite tough to choose the best printing technique. Let’s find out the most popular types of printing methods.

• Digital printing
• Offset printing
• Flexography
• Silkscreen
• Heat transfer printing

You can choose from these printing options according to your brand’s needs and specifications. Each type has impressive characteristics. Let’s discuss each one by one. 

• Digital Printing

This is an ideal printing method for brands and businesses looking for a unique and fast printing solution for their custom packaging bags. In this method, you can directly transfer quality images to your custom bags. This process does not need plates, screens, or dies. Besides this, it gets ready with the fastest turnaround. Moreover, this method results in the creation of vibrant color prints. It is also an affordable option for small prints.

So, startups and small brands can go for this printing option!

• Offset Printing

This is popularly known as the name of “lithography”. This printing option acts opposite to digital printing. In this printing method, ink rollers are needed to shift ink on the specific plates. After this, it presses the image on different objects. It also produces the best quality and photo-realistic results. It is a perfect choice for mylar heat seal bags. 

Large brands and businesses can opt for this printing solution!

• Flexography 

This flexo printing option resembles offset printing. It demands sensitive polymer plates for transferring the image to the specific object instead of flat plates. The plus point of this printing method is that it is great to prepare long-run prints in no time. Furthermore, it offers top-notch and high-quality results as well. 

• Silkscreen

Screen printing is an outstanding printing solution to print unique images or graphics on custom packaging bags. In this method, mesh screens & dyes transfer onto the wholesale custom bag’s surface. It adds thick layers of custom bags, creating long-lasting prints. 

Additionally, this printing technique has gained immense popularity among brands because of its ability to create bold color-printed patterns. 

• Heat-Transfer Printing

In this method, heat & pressure are applied to transfer picture images to the packaging bag’s surface. It mainly creates high-quality, bold, and sharp prints. Moreover, brands can use it if they need only small quantities of prints. 

• Rotogravure Printing 

This gravure printing solution is an excellent choice to craft luxury designs for holographic mylar packaging bags. The method involves the designs that are engraved onto cylinders, transferring them to the main object. It is a highly trustworthy and economical printing solution. Most commonly, brands prefer this printing solution when it comes to printing complex yet unique designs. 

• UV printing

UV printing is similar to a digital printing solution. This method uses ultraviolet light to dry ink on the custom bag’s surface. This commonly produces high-end and catchy prints. In addition, UV printing is a fast and reliable printing option.

Step-by-Step: How to Print on Mylar Bags

Print on mylar bags is a hassle-free and efficient process. Let’s discuss a step-by-step guide to printing on mylar packaging bags. 

• Print Your Design 

First, you need to print your design onto a special type of paper. The printer uses bold colors to create your picture image perfectly on the paper sheet, ensuring it will look great on the custom mylar bag. This prepares your paper design for the transfer process and makes sure your chosen color models will be bright and clear on the final product. 

• Stick The Paper Together

Next, you’ll put your custom printed paper and another paper with glue on it into a hot press. The heat from the press easily melts the glue onto the back of your printed paper design. When you peel the printed paper apart, the glue stays with your picture and is ready to be applied to the custom packaging bag. 

• Cut Out The Picture

After the custom papers have cooled a little bit, you will then cut your design out with sharp scissors. This way, you can make sure only your picture, and not the extra packaging paper, gets put on the printed bag. This method helps create a unique, professional, and clean look of the finished product. 

• Press Onto The Bag

Place your wholesale custom bags and your classy design on the heat press & press it correctly with low heat. It is important to follow the wholesale bag manufacturer’s guidelines for the appropriate heat settings and pressing time. The heat press will seal your unique design onto the printed custom bag without melting the material. 

• Peel & Finish

Lastly, let the packaging get completely cool before you peel off the top custom paper. After that, you can do a second short press to get a matte finish look, if you prefer or need. This final step helps to set the paper design and offers you the exact professional look you want.

Cost of Printing On Mylar Bags

The cost of printing on mylar bags totally depends heavily on the overall order quantity, the chosen unique printing method, and the specific provider, with larger orders being more cost-effective, budget-friendly due to large volume discounts. 

Prices can range from a few cents per custom bag for large quantities to higher rates for rush jobs and smaller printing runs.

In addition, the primary factors that influence mylar bag cost are;

• Material Type

There are different packaging materials used to produce custom bags, such as polyester film & aluminium foil. Each has varying properties & applications that influence their cost. 

• Customization

You can print your business logo, name, slogans, & brand messages on the exotic mylar bags. You can also select from special add-on features like tamper-evident seals, resealable zippers, or other add-on choices. Adding each option will greatly affect the pricing. 

• Order quantity

Purchasing custom bags in bulk with wholesale rates leads to a lower cost, while smaller orders are more costly for each custom bag.

Mylar Packaging- Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid common errors and mistakes when printing on custom shape mylar packaging bags to ensure a clean & professional result. Some typical errors to watch are crucial to bringing an innovative packaging solution. Some common mistakes people make are;

• Bad Designs And Colors

Using a blurry image or uneven colors that look wrong can make your custom bag look cheap & unprofessional. This typically happens when you use a bad quality image file that becomes unclear when you print it larger. Use a high-resolution image to fully ensure your final product looks sharp. 

• Not Text Run

Never skip the process of printing onto one bag first to test. By testing, you can find errors with the colors, sizes, and placement of your design before you print a lot of custom packaging bags. Moreover, this easy yet simple step can save your effort, time, and money from reporting. 

• Too Much Heat Or Pressure

Bags can get easily wrinkled or damaged if the heat press is hot or the pressure is too strong. It’s essential to know the exact temperature and pressure for your transfer material. Following the right settings will keep your custom bags looking smooth & professional.

• Not Letting It Cool Down

When you use a heat transfer, if you pull the packaging paper off too early while still hot, then some specific parts of your design can come off with it. The adhesive needs some time to bond appropriately with the bag. You should always wait for the bag to cool completely before peeling off the paper. 

• Air Bubbles

When applying multiple stickers or UV DTF transfers, trapped air bubbles will keep your bag design looking tidy and unprofessional. To avoid this error, place your transfer image slowly and use a tool like a squeegee to smooth out air pockets as you go. 

Tips for Choosing the Right Printer/Manufacturer

When choosing the right and reliable printer or manufacturer or supplier for custom bags, you should focus on the great quality and durability of the bags.

The key factors involved;

• Printing Quality & Color

Seek reliable providers who deliver clean, sharp details and vibrant colors on mylar’s non-porous surface.

• Production Volume

Determine if you want short-run flexibility or large, high-volume speed ( flexography and gravure).

• Material Compatibility

The manufacturer or printer must handle Mylar’s non-porous surface and your required thickness or dimensions. 

Consider a printer with quick speeds to meet your deadlines for production and scale with demand. 

• Questions To Ask Your Manufacturer/ Printer

1. Do you offer FDA-compliant and food-grade inks & materials?
2. What printing methods do you use for mylar packaging bags?
3. What is your experience printing on mylar materials?
4. What are your primary production volumes and lead times?
5. Can you offer samples of custom mylar bag printing? 

In Conclusion

Undoubtedly,  mylar bags designed with impressive print look eye-catching and can entice the customer’s attention immediately. However, choosing the best and affordable methods is quite a challenging task & needs the assistance of experts. After reading this blog, brands or businesses can make wise decisions regarding printing methods that perfectly suit their needs. If you are seeking a reliable and professional manufacturer for first-grade printing services, don’t look beyond Plus Printers.

You can contact us at any time for further queries. Our customer care and live chat facility is 24/7 available in the United States.