The ultimate artwork approval checklist: step-by-step process

Artwork approval is a critical step in packaging, marketing, and product label production. A missed detail can lead to costly reprints, delays, or even product recalls.

This artwork approval checklist provides a clear, step-by-step process to help teams review, approve, and sign off artwork with confidence. Whether you're managing packaging designs, marketing assets, or regulated labels, this checklist helps ensure nothing is missed before final approval.

Why You Need an Artwork Approval Checklist

Think of your checklist as your project’s safety net. Whether you're a brand manager, packaging coordinator, or working in quality assurance, an artwork approval checklist helps ensure:

• All necessary elements are included

• Everyone involved knows what to review

• Nothing gets missed before final sign-off

And when you pair it with a smart platform like Cway software, you can automate, track, and streamline the whole approval process.

Artwork Approval Process: Step-by-Step Checklist

Below is a proven artwork approval process used by packaging, marketing, and regulatory teams.

1. Check Brand Consistency

• Logo is correctly placed and not distorted

• Brand colors match official color codes (Pantone, CMYK, etc.)

• Fonts and typography align with brand guidelines

• Images are high resolution and approved for use

  Tip: Use a style guide as a reference during this step.

2. Verify Regulatory & Legal Info

• Product name and description are accurate

• All required symbols (e.g. CE, recycling, barcode) are included

• Claims (e.g. organic, eco-friendly) are backed by certifications

• Legal disclaimers are visible and correctly worded

3. Review Technical Specifications

• Bleed, trim, and safe zones are correctly set

• Dimensions match packaging dielines

• Print-ready formats (PDF/X, AI) are used

• File naming conventions are followed

4. Check Language & Localization

• All content is spell-checked and grammatically correct

• Translations (if needed) are reviewed by native speakers

• No duplicated or missing text in any language version

5. Approve Internal Sign-Offs

• Design team signs off

• Marketing and product teams approve content

• Legal team verifies regulatory content

• Quality assurance confirms compliance

  With Cway, this whole process is digital, traceable, and automated.

6. Final Pre-Production Review

• Print sample or digital proof is reviewed

• Any last-minute edits are completed and tracked

• Final sign-off is documented and stored

Artwork Approval Checklist Summary

- Brand and visual consistency verified  
- Regulatory and legal content approved  
- Technical print specifications checked  
- Language and localization reviewed  
- Internal stakeholders signed off  
- Final pre-production proof approved

Who Should Use This Checklist?

This artwork approval checklist is designed for teams involved in artwork review and approval processes, including:

• Marketing & brand managers

• Packaging coordinators

• Regulatory teams

• Quality assurance professionals

• Agencies working with FMCG or pharmaceutical brands
  
  

Why Use Cway Software for Artwork Approvals?

Manual artwork approval checklists work well for small teams, but they become difficult to manage as projects grow in volume, complexity, or regulatory requirements.

Tools like Cway software help teams digitize the artwork approval process by automating checklist steps, tracking versions, and documenting approvals in one centralized system.

Cway simplifies artwork approvals by:

• Automating your checklist steps

• Keeping version history in one place

• Assigning tasks to the right people

• Notifying teams when it's their turn to act

• Ensuring full compliance with audit trails

It’s artwork approval made smart, fast, and secure.

Final Thoughts

A structured artwork approval checklist helps teams reduce errors, avoid rework, and maintain control over complex approval processes. Whether you use this checklist manually or support it with dedicated software, following a clear approval process is key to consistent, compliant artwork.

For teams handling high volumes of packaging or regulated content, digital tools like Cway can help turn this checklist into a scalable, traceable workflow.

Ready to take control of your artwork workflow?