Custom Tissue Paper Artwork Guide: Repeat Pattern, Ink Coverage, Colours and Show-Through
Quick answer
Design custom tissue paper as a spaced, seamless repeat pattern rather than a single centred logo, because the sheet is folded and crumpled and only parts of it are seen. Keep ink coverage light, use one or two flat spot colours, avoid gradients, photos, hairlines and tiny text, and expect dark inks to show through to the other side of thin tissue. Ask the printer for the repeat tile size and coverage limit before you start, and approve a printed sample.
Quick facts: Custom Printed Tissue Paper
- Indicative unit price: about US$0.05–0.10 per piece. This is a guide, not a quotation: the final price depends on size, material, print colours, finish and order quantity.
- MOQ: typically from 500 pcs per size and artwork; the confirmed minimum depends on material, print method and features and is stated on the quotation.
- Lead time: Physical samples 5–7 working days after artwork is confirmed; bulk production 20–30 days after sample approval.
- Who makes it: BestPackFactory’s own factory in Longhua District, Shenzhen, China. Free dieline and artwork proof within 24 hours. See real samples and videos.
- Specifications and quote: Custom Printed Tissue Paper · Request a quote
Artwork rules at a glance
| Element | Recommended approach | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Layout | Repeating pattern across the whole sheet | Folded tissue shows random areas; a repeat keeps the logo visible |
| Tile size | Use the repeat size the printer gives you; keep motifs small enough that several show on a folded wrap | The repeat is tied to the printing plate and the sheet cut |
| Ink coverage | Light; open patterns with plenty of paper showing. Many suppliers price or restrict coverage above about half the sheet | Heavy ink can wrinkle, cockle or weaken thin paper and increases show-through |
| Colours | One or two flat spot colours, specified as Pantone references | Tissue is absorbent and low-cost processes favour solid colours |
| Detail | Bold shapes; no gradients, photos, hairlines or very small text | Ink spreads on soft fibres, so fine detail fills in |
| Show-through | Expect dark inks to be visible from the back | Tissue is translucent by nature |
For sheet sizes, paper weights and ordering basics, see our existing custom printed tissue paper guide. This article covers only the artwork.
1. Start from the repeat, not the sheet
Custom tissue is commonly printed on a reel and then cut into sheets, so the design is built as a tile that repeats in both directions. The length of that tile is usually linked to the printing plate or cylinder, which is why the printer should give you the exact repeat size before you design. Build your tile inside that size and check that elements crossing the edge continue correctly on the opposite side.
- Straight repeat: the tile repeats in a simple grid. Clean and easy to read, but can look rigid.
- Half-drop repeat: each column is shifted by half a tile. It hides the grid and usually looks more natural on folded tissue.
- Random-looking scatter: several logos and icons at different angles within one tile. Good for crumpled filler because some marks always land right way up.
Ask whether the cut sheet will start at a fixed point in the pattern. In most cases it will not, so expect part-logos along the edges and design so that does not matter.
2. Space the logo for folding
Tissue is folded around a product or scrunched as filler, so the customer sees only a section. Space your logo so that at least two complete marks appear on any visible area of a folded wrap. On small sheets, shrink the tile; on large garment sheets, a slightly bigger logo can work. Leave clear space between marks so the pattern reads as intentional rather than crowded. Rotating some marks by 90 or 180 degrees helps a logo read correctly however the sheet is folded.
3. Keep ink coverage light
Tissue is a thin, soft paper. Large solid areas add a lot of wet ink to it, which can cause wrinkling, curling, slow drying and a stiffer feel, and may make sheets stick or mark each other. That is why tissue suppliers commonly limit or surcharge full-coverage designs, and some decline solid backgrounds altogether. Open, airy patterns with plenty of bare paper are cheaper, print more reliably and keep the tissue light. If you want a strongly coloured sheet, a dyed coloured tissue with a light print on top is often better than flooding white tissue with ink.
4. Limit colours and use spot references
- Most custom tissue uses one or two colours. Each extra colour usually adds plate cost and registration risk.
- Specify each colour as a Pantone spot reference. Expect the printed result on tissue to look softer and less saturated than on coated paper, because ink sinks into the fibres.
- Avoid designs where two colours must align exactly; keep a small gap or overlap between colours to allow for registration movement.
- On coloured tissue, inks are mostly transparent, so the paper colour changes the ink colour. Light inks on dark tissue may need an opaque or metallic ink; ask which are available and approve a sample.
5. Plan for show-through
Because tissue is translucent, the print is visible from the back, particularly with dark inks such as black, navy or deep red. This is a property of the paper, not a defect. Text will read in mirror image from the reverse side, and where sheets overlap, patterns stack and darken. If both sides will be seen, choose a lighter ink, reduce coverage, use a pattern that still looks good reversed, or wrap with two layers. Test a printed sample against your product, especially white or pale items, which can make dark print behind them more visible.
6. Prepare files correctly
- Supply vector artwork (AI, EPS or PDF) with fonts converted to outlines.
- Build the tile at 100% scale to the printer's repeat size, plus a mock-up of a full sheet showing how the tiles join.
- Name each colour with its Pantone reference and delete unused swatches.
- Keep lines and text bold; confirm the printer's minimum line weight and text size.
- Ask for a digital proof of the repeat, then a printed sample if colour or show-through matters.
Common mistakes
- Placing one large logo in the centre of the sheet, which disappears when folded.
- Sending a tile that does not join seamlessly, leaving visible lines in the repeat.
- Using gradients, photos or fine type that fill in on soft paper.
- Choosing a dark, heavy design without checking show-through on the real tissue.
- Matching colour on screen instead of on a printed tissue sample.
When the artwork is ready, see custom printed tissue paper and custom tissue paper options, then send the tile and full-sheet mock-up with your quote request.
Frequently asked questions
What is a repeat pattern on custom tissue paper?
It is a design tile that repeats seamlessly across the whole sheet, so the logo stays visible however the tissue is folded or crumpled. The printer usually sets the tile length because it is linked to the printing plate.
How much ink coverage can tissue paper take?
Keep coverage light with open patterns. Many suppliers limit or charge more for designs covering more than about half the sheet, because heavy ink can wrinkle and weaken thin tissue. Confirm the limit with your printer.
Why does my tissue paper design show through on the back?
Tissue is translucent, so dark inks are visible from the reverse side and text reads in mirror image. Use lighter inks, lower coverage or two layers if both sides will be seen.
How many colours can I print on custom tissue paper?
Most custom tissue uses one or two flat spot colours. Avoid gradients and photos, specify Pantone references and approve a printed sample, because colours look softer on tissue.
Related pages
Prepare a quote-ready packaging brief
Send your repeat tile, full-sheet mock-up, Pantone colours, tissue colour, sheet size and quantity. BestPackFactory quotes custom packaging as B2B projects with a site-wide MOQ of 500 PCS. Reach Lisa Wu at lisa@colorprintingpackage.com or WhatsApp +86 158 8653 0985; anything not listed here is confirmed in the quotation.
Request a project quote