How to print my logo design on a glossy cardboard box¹?

You have a perfect logo and an amazing product. But when you think about putting that logo on a glossy box, the process seems complicated. A bad print job could look blurry or cheap, completely ruining your premium brand image².

To get a crisp logo³ on a glossy cardboard box¹, you either print it on a smooth paper sheet that is then laminated⁴ onto the box, or you apply it directly using specialized methods like hot foil stamping⁵ or screen printing⁶.

In my years founding Wansa Packaging, I have learned that the finish of a box speaks volumes. A crisp logo³ on a glossy surface isn't just decoration; it's a promise of the quality inside. Printing that logo is a critical step, and doing it right is what separates an average box from a great one. The right method makes your brand look intentional and professional. I always tell my clients that printing a logo on the box surface is the fastest way to promote the brand . It turns your packaging into your most hardworking salesperson.

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How do I add a logo to a cardboard box?

You want your brand's logo on your box, but you're stuck. Using a simple sticker feels cheap and unprofessional, but you're worried that custom printing will be too complicated or expensive for you.

The best ways to add a professional logo are either by offset printing⁷ it onto a paper wrap that is then applied to the box, or by directly stamping or screen printing⁶ the logo onto the box for a premium effect.

For high-end gift boxes, which are made from a thick material called greyboard⁸, there are a couple of fantastic options. At our factory, we can hot stamp a logo or screen print it directly onto the board's surface. We create a metal stamping plate⁹ or a screen plate and then transfer the logo .

Professional Logo Application Methods

Method	Best For	Finish	Common Use
Hot Foil Stamping	Simple logos & text	Metallic, shiny, indented	Luxury goods, cosmetics
Screen Printing	Bold 1-2 color logos	Opaque, thick, slightly raised	Bold branding, specialty inks
Offset Printing	Full-color logos	Flat, photo-quality	Retail, electronics

Hot Foil Stamping uses a heated metal die to press a thin layer of metallic or colored foil onto the box. It creates a beautiful, slightly debossed effect that catches the light and screams luxury.

Screen Printing pushes a thick layer of ink through a mesh screen onto the box. It's perfect for bold, solid color logos and can create a slightly raised texture that you can feel. It offers great color vibrancy.

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How to print text onto cardboard?

You need to add more than just a logo. Your box needs instructions, ingredients, or a company story, but you're worried the text will come out blurry and be hard to read on the cardboard.

To print clear, readable text, offset printing⁷ on a smooth paper wrap is the best method for small details. For larger, stylistic text, screen printing⁶ or hot foiling provide a bold, premium look.

Printing text follows the same logic as printing a logo, but here, legibility is the most important goal. A professional designer like Jacky knows that the font size and printing method must work together to create a clean result. For small, detailed text—like an ingredient list on a cosmetic box—offset printing⁷ is the only way to go. We print the text on a smooth piece of paper first and then wrap it around the box. This ensures every word is perfectly sharp. For larger text, like a brand slogan, you can treat it like a design element and use hot foiling or screen printing⁶ to make it stand out. This turns simple text into a key part of the unboxing experience¹⁰, reinforcing your brand's attention to detail and quality.

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Can you print onto cardboard?

You have what you think is a simple idea: print your design directly onto a cardboard box. But you’re not sure if it’s possible, and you fear it will result in a messy, low-quality print.

Yes, but it depends on the type of cardboard. You can print directly on flatter, corrugated cardboard using flexography. For thick, rigid greyboard⁸, you must print on a thin paper liner which is then laminated⁴ to the board.

This is a critical point that causes a lot of confusion. "Cardboard" can mean two very different things: the brown, ridged material for shipping boxes (corrugated), and the dense, thick board for gift boxes (greyboard⁸). From a manufacturing standpoint, you cannot print high-quality graphics directly on the greyboard⁸ used for rigid boxes .

The reason is simple: a quality print requires a smooth, non-absorbent surface. Greyboard is too thick and raw. The ink would bleed and look blurry. So, for those premium glossy boxes, we must print on a top sheet first. We use materials like art paper, C1S paper, or even special holographic paper for this . We print your design beautifully on this thin paper, and then we wrap it perfectly around the structural greyboard⁸. This gives you the best of both worlds: a strong, protective box and a flawless, high-resolution print.

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Can you print photos on cardboard?

You want to feature a beautiful, high-quality photo of your product right on the box. But you are scared it will look grainy and pixelated, which would devalue the actual product inside.

Yes, you can print stunning photos on a box. The best method is high-resolution offset printing¹¹g](https://wansapackaging.com/offset-printing-vs-silkscreen-whats-the-difference-for-your-packaging/)%%%FOOTNOTE_REF_7%%% onto a sheet of coated paper¹², which is then laminated⁴ with a gloss or matte finish and wrapped onto the rigid cardboard.

13 of the watch on the lid." title="Photorealistic Image Printed on a Box" />

Printing a photo on a glossy, rigid box is absolutely possible and creates an amazing visual impact. However, just like with detailed text, we are not printing the photo directly on the thick board. Doing so would lead to a terrible, low-quality result. Instead, we use a precise process to achieve that perfect, photorealistic look.

First, your designer, Jacky, prepares the photo file in a CMYK color format. Then, we use a large, professional offset printing⁷ press to print the image onto a sheet of high-quality coated art paper. This smooth paper is the key to getting sharp details and vibrant colors. After printing, we apply a thin plastic film over the paper—this is the lamination. It can be glossy for a shiny look or matte for an elegant feel, and it protects the print from scuffs. Finally, this printed and laminated⁴ sheet is carefully glued and wrapped around the structural greyboard⁸. This multi-step process is the secret behind every beautiful, photo-quality rigid box you see on the shelf.

Conclusion

To print a logo on a glossy box, you must choose the right method for the job. Either print on a paper wrap for photo-quality detail or use stamping for a direct, premium effect.

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