A folding carton is a paperboard pack delivered flat or pre-glued and erected for filling. Its panels, flaps, locks and glue areas are created from a printed board sheet by cutting and creasing. Cartons are widely used for food, healthcare, beauty, household and consumer products.
From board to blank
The converter prints the sheet, adds coatings or decoration and then uses a cutting forme to define the outline and crease channels. Creases locally reshape the board so panels fold predictably rather than crack. Grain direction, board thickness, coating and rule settings all affect that hinge.
Some designs are glued along one seam; others use crash-lock or hand-erected bases. Windows, tear strips and tamper evidence add converting steps and affect recovery choices.
Design around the product
Structural design must support filling equipment, distribution, shelf presentation and opening. The graphic file needs correct cut, crease, glue and no-print zones. Before launch, use production-equivalent board for line trials and transport testing. A lighter board may reduce material, but only if the complete pack still protects the product and runs reliably at packing speed.
