blog

2-Color Print: Simple & Bold – Enhance Your Packaging with Cost-Effective, Eye-Catching Branding

Feb 08 2025 Packaging & Design

In a crowded marketplace, your packaging does more than just protect your product—it tells your brand’s story. But you don’t need an expensive full-color CMYK print to make an impact. At R&L Packaging, we specialize in cost-effective, high-quality 2-color printing, offering businesses a striking way to stand out while keeping packaging costs low.

Why 2-Color Printing? A Smart Alternative to CMYK

Many businesses think they need full CMYK printing for eye-catching packaging, but that’s not always the case. 2-color print, when designed correctly, can create bold, high-contrast branding that grabs attention.

How does 2-color printing work?

We print using two spot colors instead of a full CMYK spectrum.
Simple yet bold designs maximize impact while keeping costs competitive.
2-color printing is ideal for branding on master boxes, box inserts, and shipping cartons.

At R&L Packaging, we don’t offer full CMYK print, but we excel in 2-color solutions that balance affordability and aesthetics. Our expertise ensures your brand gets the visibility it needs—without overspending.

Beyond Two Colors: Multi-Pass Printing & Inside Print

Unlike many competitors, R&L Packaging offers labor-intensive print solutions, allowing us to push beyond the standard two-color limit. We achieve this through:

Multi-Pass Printing: Running your box through our press twice to add a third or fourth color.
Inside Printing: Branding the inside of flaps, die-cut mailers, and inserts, a rising trend in e-commerce to enhance the unboxing experience.

For example, printing inside die-cut mailers is a strategic way to prevent porch piracy, as plain exteriors deter theft while hidden interior branding elevates the customer experience. Currently, R&L Packaging is the only company offering competitive inside-printing solutions in the PNW, BC, and Alberta—the next closest option is in Southern California.

Real-World Applications: Who Benefits from 2-Color Printing?

Our 2-color print solutions are used across various industries, including:

E-Commerce & Retail: Custom-branded mailers, box inserts, and shipping boxes with striking logos.
Food & Beverage: High-quality branded produce boxes for Kelowna, Okanagan, and Fraser Valley farms.
Industrial & Manufacturing: Durable, branded master boxes for Vancouver, Burnaby, Delta, Seattle, and Calgary factories.
Subscription Box Companies: Interior branding for a unique unboxing experience.
Wholesale & Distribution: Bold, recognizable branding on bulk packaging.

R&L Packaging: Your Competitive Advantage in Printed Boxes

At R&L Packaging, we make the printing process seamless from start to finish. Here’s why businesses choose us: ✔ Custom Engineering: Our in-house box engineers ensure your packaging is both functional and visually stunning. ✔ Freelance Design Support: No in-house designer? No problem! Our design team can help bring your vision to life. ✔ End-to-End Service: We handle everything from die-line creation to print plate preparation, ensuring a hassle-free experience. ✔ Fast Lead Times & No MOQ: Whether you need 100 or 10,000 printed boxes, we offer quick turnarounds (note: smaller orders have higher per-unit costs).

Boost Your Brand with 2-Color Printing

Simple, bold, and cost-effective—2-color printing is the perfect way to enhance your packaging while keeping costs under control. Whether you need branded mailers, master cartons, or custom shipping boxes, R&L Packaging has the expertise to bring your vision to life.

Talk to a Packaging Expert Today! Our box engineers and packaging account executives are here to help you optimize your packaging.

📩 Contact us at Sales@RLPackaging.ca or visit our services page: https://rlpackaging.ca/services/.