If you’ve had packaging ink fade or rub off before you even ship your products, you’re not alone. Fading ink is a common quality issue with custom packaging from China, and it’s almost always avoidable with the right specifications.
Why this happens
Ink fading on packaging usually has two main causes:
- Using cheaper ink instead of the right type: Water-based ink is cheaper than UV-cured ink, but it doesn’t hold up to rubbing or moisture unless it’s cured correctly.
- Ink is too thin or only one layer: Suppliers thin ink to cover more area, which makes the color fade faster.
China-side explanation
Most Chinese packaging factories quote based on the lowest possible price to win your order. When you just say “print your logo on the box”, they’ll automatically use the cheapest ink type that gives acceptable color on the sample. They don’t assume you need the ink to hold up for months in storage or shipping unless you tell them explicitly. Factories also run long print runs, and ink coverage can drop towards the end of the run when the ink runs low.
Step-by-step solution
- Specify ink type clearly: If your packaging will be handled or stored for a long time, specify “UV-cured ink” or “two-pass water-based ink with proper curing”.
- Require a rub test on samples: Rub the printed area with a damp cloth 20 times. If the ink comes off on the cloth, ask the supplier to change the ink before production.
- Add ink specification to your contract: State that ink must not fade or rub off after a standard wet rub test. If more than 5% of boxes fail, the supplier must reprint at their cost.
- Check a few boxes from the middle and end of the production run: Ink coverage is often worse at the end when ink levels are low.
What to ask your supplier (copy-paste text)
“Please confirm you will use [UV-cured / two-layer water-based] ink for this print run, and that all ink must pass a 20-stroke wet rub test without significant fading. Could you please provide a rub-tested sample for approval before full production?”
Trade-off notes
UV-cured ink costs about 8-12% more than standard water-based ink. But if your ink fades before your customer uses the product, you’ll have to reprint the entire batch or deal with angry customers. For retail packaging that needs to look good on shelves, the extra cost for durable ink is worth it.
Packaging Ink Durability Check List
□ Specify correct ink type (UV-cured for high durability needed)
□ Do wet rub test on sample before approval
□ Check ink coverage on boxes from different parts of the run
□ Confirm ink is fully cured before the boxes are stacked
□ Check edges and corners where ink coverage is often thinner
Related questions
- How to specify printing requirements for custom boxes from China
- What’s the difference between water-based, solvent-based, and UV ink for packaging
- How to handle printing defects in your packaging order
Sources and source status
Sources support general packaging ink and printing context. The exact ink system, coating, curing process, and rub-test acceptance level must be confirmed with the packaging supplier.