A useful print quote begins with a description that another person can produce and review. “Labels for my jars” leaves too many choices open: size, material, variant split and finishing can all change the result. A concise vendor brief makes those decisions visible without burying the supplier in unrelated brand history.
01
Start with the component and the package
Name the individual label you are ordering: front, back, lid or another component. State its finished dimensions and provide the exact container reference or a sample where needed. Keep the packaging purpose clear so the printer knows whether it is quoting a label for a dry box, a curved bottle or another application.
Attach a visual reference showing the label on the package, but do not rely on a mockup to communicate measurements. If the shape is custom, ask which outline or dieline the supplier needs. Identify any dimension that is still provisional so a quotation does not become an accidental approval.
02
Show variants and quantities in a small table
List each design separately, including front and back components if they are different. Use a product code or clear variant name and show the requested quantity. Avoid giving only a total that hides a large split across many designs.
For an illustrative three-blend tea range, the brief could request 300 front labels for each blend and 900 copies of one shared back label. That is 1,800 labels across four artwork files, not simply a 900-item order. The example clarifies counting; it does not describe a supplier minimum or recommended stock level.
| Artwork component | Illustrative quantity |
|---|---|
| Morning blend front | 300 |
| Evening blend front | 300 |
| Garden blend front | 300 |
| Shared back label | 900 |
03
Separate requirements from options
State the exposures and handling the label must suit, then ask for a construction recommendation if you have not selected one. If you prefer a paper appearance or a reflective accent, distinguish that preference from an essential performance requirement. Request separate option lines where alternatives would be useful.
For specialty finishes, mark the intended areas and ask who will prepare the production separations. LabelValue’s artwork guidance illustrates the type of file, layer and asset requirements a printer may specify. Obtain the selected supplier’s current instructions instead of assuming a standard PDF answers every production question.
04
Define what approval covers
Ask whether the quote includes file checking, artwork preparation, proofs, tooling, finishing and delivery. Clarify which dimensions and colors the proof is intended to establish and whether a physical sample is needed for texture or reflection. Record who will approve revised wording or artwork before the full run.
Finish the brief with a required delivery date stated as a request for confirmation, not an assumed promise. Keep the accepted quote, approved file version and physical reference together. Your editable Canva template can supply the design starting point, while the vendor brief establishes the separate physical production order.
BEFORE YOUR NEXT STEP
Your practical checklist
- Specify each label component and finished size.
- List quantities per artwork file.
- Separate required performance from finish options.
- Confirm preparation, proof and approval responsibilities.
Questions & answers
Should I send only the Canva editing link?+
Ask the printer which files it accepts. An editing link can support discussion but does not replace its required production file or a clear component specification.
Can two quotes be compared by price alone?+
Only after checking that quantities, construction, preparation, finishing and delivery are equivalent. Otherwise, the lower total may describe a different job.
Sources & further reading
Official references for the technical points in this guide. Check current specifications before production.
