Two label concepts can look different simply because one preview is larger than the other. A controlled contact sheet gives the reviewer a fair comparison. It is especially useful when deciding between a restrained botanical layout and a busier alternative, because a large close-up can flatter detail that disappears on the actual package.
01
Define a single comparison question
Write the question at the top of the review sheet. Examples include border treatment, front-name hierarchy or position of a small logo. Keep dimensions and approved wording unchanged unless they are the subject of the decision. A sheet comparing entirely different content and sizes cannot isolate what the reviewer likes.
For a hypothetical candle front, compare a border-led option with an open layout while holding the jar, scent and label dimensions constant. Assign simple references such as Front A and Front B. Avoid calling one premium or improved, because those labels can bias a choice before the reader examines the work.
02
Keep the presentation conditions comparable
Use a repeated frame or equal-sized placeholder for each preview and align the reference captions. Canva’s grid documentation describes placing media into grid spaces. That can organize the comparison visually, but inspect whether any crop hides the label edge or makes the alternatives appear to have different proportions.
Include the same amount of package context under each option. If one shows an elegant filled jar and the other is a flat screenshot with editor controls, the presentation itself becomes a variable. State whether the images are illustrative mockups, and reserve final fit approval for a physical package proof.
| Review item | What to record |
|---|---|
| Comparison variable | Exactly what changes |
| Preview scale | Shared across alternatives |
| Decision | Reference plus reason |
03
Collect a reason rather than only a letter
Ask the reviewer to name the preferred reference and explain the relevant feature. A response such as B because the product name is easier to locate gives the designer a usable direction. A bare B can conceal a preference caused by an unrelated photograph or accidental color difference.
Record requests to combine features as a new proposal rather than assuming the mixture is already accepted. Moving the border from A and the heading from B can create a third composition whose balance has never been reviewed. Issue a separate labeled proof when the combined result changes the layout materially.
04
Return to the selected master
Once an option is chosen, identify the editable page that corresponds to it. Remove or archive rejected alternatives according to the project workflow so they cannot be exported by mistake. Keep the contact sheet as the decision record, while the actual artwork remains in its approved production dimensions.
Make a full-size printed sample of the selected label and compare it on the real container. The contact sheet supports a design decision; it does not verify print color, material performance or cut tolerance. A template can speed up creating alternatives, but approval still belongs to a specific final file.
BEFORE YOUR NEXT STEP
Your practical checklist
- Write the comparison question.
- Keep previews at common scale.
- Collect a reason for the choice.
- Proof the selected master separately.
Questions & answers
Should the contact sheet be actual size?+
It may use a stated review scale, but every alternative should use the same scale. Final physical approval still needs actual-size artwork.
Does selecting A approve every product variant?+
Only if the approval explicitly covers those variants. Check the other names and formats before assuming the choice applies to all.
Sources & further reading
Official references for the technical points in this guide. Check current specifications before production.
