Artwork
Safe area
A safe area is a region set inward from cuts, folds or other risks where important artwork should remain.
What it means in packaging
It protects essential text and marks from trimming variation, panel bends and closures. It is a design allowance, not a guarantee. Different elements may need different clearance; a barcode’s quiet zone has its own requirements.
A practical example
Keep a product name away from the cut edge and a fold so it remains fully visible after the carton is assembled.
What to check
Review the folded pack as well as the flat artwork; a nominally safe label can still sit under an overlapping flap.