Frequently Asked Questions

Bags measurements are expressed as the entire width x height (9x12, 15x18, etc) of the flattened bag. If bag has side gussets, the measurement is written as Width x Gusset x Height (12x7x22 is a standard T-shirt bag). If bag has a bottom gusset, the measurement is written as Width x Height + Gusset Width (15x18+4"BG for instance).

It's important to understand that bags with side gussets always have a bottom seal, and bags with bottom gussets will have a side seal. 

Bottom Seal bags are sealed between 1/4" and 1/2" from the very bottom of the bag, while side sealed bags are sealed at the very side edges. 

The height of the bag is measured from the very bottom of bag to the very top, except for Soft Loop Handle bags where the handle is attached and not included in the height measurement. 

ALL DIMENSIONS ARE APPROXIMATE.

If your bag needs to hold a specific sized item, please let us know so that we can make sure the bag is sized correctly

Overruns and underruns are one of the most misunderstood part of the manufacturing process. It's tempting to look at it similarly to printing copies on your desktop printer. If you need 200 copies, you print 200 copies. Manufacturing isn't quite as simple, and adds some unknowns into the equation. 

In a manufacturing environment, overruns and underruns are quite common. There are three main steps in making bags - blowing the film, printing the film, and converting it into individual bags. All three of those steps require setup which creates waste. For instance, to produce 20,000 bags, we need to have enough printed film to cut those bags, plus some extra to set up the job, and in case of misprints that are discarded at this step. So we need to print quite a few more than 20,000 impressions. To print enough film for any given job, we need extra blank film in order to set up the printing press. So we need to blow enough extra film to account for printing setup, converting setup, and possible misprints. The raw material for the film is in pellets of plastic resin that are weighed out in an amount that is approximately enough to make enough bags, plus a little bit. Extruding the film can also result in small variances in bag width and thickness, which also affects overruns. 

So making an exact number of bags is nearly impossible, and the over/under run percentage is not predictable. 

Information about our overrun policy is on our terms and conditions page. https://www.apmbags.com/terms-and-conditions

If unsure of the size of bag you need, feel free to contact us for help.

To calculate the size of bag needed, start by measuring the items going into the bag.

Here's some basic math: 

• Bags can have gussets either in the side or bottom, but not both.
• For a bag without side gussets, the circumference twice the width. A 12" wide bag has a 24" circumference. (12+12)
• Bags WITH side gussets have a circumference twice the width, plus twice the gusset. A 12" wide bag with 7" gussets has a 38" circumference. (12+12+7+7)

The circumference of the bag should be larger than the circumference of the items going in the bag.  This is generally only a concern when there is a specific size object needing to be bagged. 

A box that is 9" long and 6" wide has a circumference of 30". (9+9+6+6=30). Half of 30 is 15, so a 15" wide bag would fit perfectly, but best to get a slightly larger bag, around 16", to make sure the item fits. This same box would fit in a side gusseted bag, like a 10x6x22 (10+10+6+6 = 32" circumference) 

Bottom gussets in bags will help the bag sit flat when expanded, but do not increase the circumference of the bag. for that same 9x6 box, a 16" wide bag with a bottom gusset of 6" will hold the boxes nicely. 

Yes, we are happy to provide individual samples of our products.

However, because everything we make is a custom job, and that we offer a large variety of sizes, film colors, bag styles, and thicknesses, we only provide samples for specific orders.

Distributors often ask for "sample packs" containing general samples of all styles in different sizes, colors, and mils, but those are simply not practical for us to assemble, since what would be included would be a limited selection of what we can make. Our line card and website shows all the different handle sizes and film colors offered. Film swatch books that contain all of our film color options are also available to distributors. 

It may seem counterintuitive, but of all options for retail checkout bags, traditional HDPE and LDPE plastic bags come out on top. 

Plastic bags are 100% recyclable and most people reuse checkout bags for a wide number of things. From garbage bags for small trash cans, to picking up pet waste, using as travel laundry bags, or even reusing when shopping.  Studies show that "green" alternatives such as paper bags and popular reusable bag options, can actually be worse for the environment because they require more resources to produce and transport. These replacements simply have a larger carbon footprint when the entire product lifecycle is considered. Studies also show that bag bans and taxes haven’t meaningfully reduced overall litter or waste anywhere they’ve been tried. 

Every bag ordinance allows for, or even encourages, paper bag usage. But compared to plastic bags, paper can't compete environmentally. Making plastic bags requires 70% less energy and 96% less water than paper, and creates far less air pollution. Most store-bought "reusable" bags are made in other countries and shipped across the world to the US, while the vast majority of plastic checkout bags are made domestically. And those imported reusable bags may not be recyclable. Cotton bags would need to be used for over 7 years before they become a better choice than plastic. Cotton bag manufacture is also a very intense process, that involves vast amounts of water to grow and process the cotton, and potentially dangerous fertilizers and pesticides.  

The most talked about impact of plastic bags is litter, especially in marine environments. Obviously, this is a large problem, but it isn't likely to be solved by bans and restrictions on plastic bags. Studies have shown that bag restrictions have not resulted in any waste or litter reduction.  As a matter of fact, due to the heavier materials used in paper and reusable bags, landfill waste has increased. Without the availability of lightweight carryout bags, people instead purchase new, packaged bags for garbage, pet waste, and other uses. And reusable bags simply can't hold up to the usage required to be a better choice. 

Simply put, bans and restrictions on plastic carryout bags result in higher levels carbon entering the atmosphere, more waste going to landfills, and have no impact on litter. 

If you need bags in areas that have restrictions, our reusable bag options can be made to specifications that meet the requirements of most ordinances

For more detailed information about the impact of bag regulations, and links to studies, please visit the Bag the Ban website 

No, we do not sell directly to the public. American Plastic, Mfg sells exclusively through a network of distributors. This allows us to keep our prices low by focusing on our production process. Our distributors are knowledgeable about our capabilities and product line, and can suggest products that would be well suited for your business. Please let us know if you would like more information or have questions, or if you are a bag distributor and are interested in setting up an account. 

We provide a digital proof and mockup of the art in PDF format for all new orders. The PDF will show both a proof of the art at 100% size, as well as a mockup of the art on a template of the bag. Mockups and proofs are not provided for reorders except by request. 

Pre-production samples are not available. See this link for more information.

Vector images are shapes and lines drawn in an illustration program (like Adobe Illustrator or CorelDraw) that have mathematical dimensions. This allows unlimited scalability without compromising the image quality. Images have smooth edges at all sizes, and file sizes much smaller than bitmap (raster) images. Common vector formats are PDF, Adobe Illustrator - AI, EPS, and Corel Draw (CDR).  

While vector files are always saved in these formats, they can contain bitmap images as well. Saving a JPG image as AI or EPS or PDF does not change the image to vector. 

Bitmap images are made up of a series of individually defined pixels and have a fixed resolution. A 1” x 1” bitmap, at 300dpi, is 300 pixels wide and 300 high. Bitmap images CAN'T be made larger without losing quality. For printing, the higher the resolution of bitmap files, the better the image quality. Common bitmap formats are TIFF, JPG, GIF, PNG, BMP.

Why Vector? 

• Vector art provides much smoother lines and edges to the art. Most bitmap images have smoothing (anti-aliasing) on the edges of the art (a slight gradient around curves to make them look smoother.)  
• All gradients are printed at 35 lpi, which when applied to shapes with smoothing, will result in blurred/jagged edges.  

Yes, but not always easily.

Depending on the complexity of the image, converting bitmaps to vector art can be simple or very time consuming. Many times, art can be electronically "traced" in a vector art program. Tracing doesn't work very well with small text and small details can get lost. Converting more complex, or multiple color bitmaps to vector art sometimes requires rebuilding the art from scratch – matching fonts, and redrawing lines.

Placing a bitmap into an illustration program and saving as an EPS or PDF does NOT convert the file to vector. 

We can usually convert your art for you, but art charges may apply. 

We do not offer ink drawdowns. We match all ink colors to standard Pantone PMS colors. Because of the large number of possible ink colors, accurately mixing small amounts of a ink is very time consuming, and difficult to make with precision.

Drawdowns are also applied to film differently than the printing process, so it isn't always possible to get an accurate representation of the color. 

We match all colors to standard Pantone PMS color numbers. The best method of choosing colors is to refer to a PMS color guide. We stock coated inks only, so refer to PMS "C" colors.

For more information about choosing colors, please visit our FAQ page on specifying ink colors.

If you are choosing a film color other than white, see our information about printing on colored film. 

Yes, if you prefer to provide your own printing plates, we can usually use them with no problem. However, we highly recommend having your plates made through us. This streamlines the production process and creates far fewer headaches for you and your customers. Using third party plate makers can result in delays, and cost savings are usually minimal. Especially if plates are made to incorrect specifications, contain errors, or become unusable due to cracking.   

Advantages to having us make your plates :

• TIME SAVINGS – Our local plate maker delivers daily, and turnaround is usually overnight. Customer provided plates can spend several days in shipping, and if plates arrive damaged, or incorrect, more delays can occur. 
• PLATE PREPARATION – Plates are attached to printing cylinders with double sided sticky-back tape. The cost for tape and labor is included in our plate cost. If plates arrive without sticky-back tape,  there will be an additional charge for adding it to the plates. 
• GUARANTEE – Plates made through us are guaranteed to match the art. Customer provided plates are used as-is, and while we will compare to your art, we are not responsible for plate quality or replacement if there are problems.
• DAMAGE REPLACEMENT – Over time, plates wear out and crack, requiring replacement for future orders. If made through us, there is no charge for replacement. For customer provided plates, the customer bears costs for plate replacement.
• QUALITY – Our art department makes sure that all art files sent to the plate maker are correctly formatted. Incorrect art files can result in text shifts, fonts changing, incorrect line screens, and trapping issues.

TO PROVIDE YOUR OWN PLATES

Plates must match the specifications listed below. If plates are made differently, we may still be able to use them, but cannot guarantee they will work on our presses.

• 3M Cyrel .107 plate media
• Backed with  3M 411DL sticky-back tape
• Between .050 and .060 relief
• 1" dead space around perimeter of image area
• Any raised crop marks (tick marks) must be removed
• Etched center scribe lines
• Beveled edges
• Halftones printed at 35 LPI
• Provide an art proof (PDF) showing proper art positioning on bag

PLATES WILL BE USED AS RECEIVED

Customer bears responsibility for making sure plates are made correctly. American Plastic assumes no responsibility for print quality due to plate abnormalities, damage, or errors. Additional charges will apply if plates require backing or other adjustments.

Digital proof showing art position on bag MUST be submitted.

COMMON PROBLEMS WITH PLATES 

Improperly made plates can result in poor print quality or incur extra charges. Here's some common issues to be aware of.

• Plates made from bitmapped images – may result in jagged edges on art.
• Plates made to incorrect specifications – may result in poor print quality, or may be unusable
• Plates made with inadequate trapping – may result in poor image quality 
• Crop marks not trimmed off of plates –  marks will print on bag. Additional charges will apply to remove crop marks.
• Double sided backing not attached – Backing has to be added. Additional charges will apply
• Registration marks not included – Multiple color jobs must have centerlines on plates to avoide additional setup charges.