A hangtag can have the right print and still need another approval: the punched hole. For offset card, ask the converter for a finished sample showing the actual hole, both printed faces and the intended cord. Check what has been removed, what remains visible, and whether the attachment interferes with information. A flat PDF cannot answer all three questions.
This guide concerns white uncoated card used for printed tags. It does not set a universal hole diameter, edge clearance or strength requirement. Those belong in the converter's drawing and the agreed specification for the finished component.
Start with the attachment and the drawing
Put the proposed cord, fastener or eyelet alongside the tag drawing before approving stock. Ask the converter to identify the finished outline, hole centre and diameter, front and reverse orientation, and the area that must remain clear. Specify how the tag will hang on the product. A corner hole needs a different artwork review from a centred hole.
Handy Tags' artwork guidelines show hole size and location on the artwork and warn that an off-centre hole appears in the opposite corner when the tag is viewed from the reverse. Use that principle to check both faces. Its listed dimensions and finishing options apply to its own products; they are not YOUNGSUN specifications.
The purchasing decision is therefore more precise than “approve a hole.” Approve one drawing revision with one attachment and one card grade. If the cord changes later, reopen the review rather than assuming the original approval covers it.
Separate artwork approval from the physical sample
| Check | Artwork evidence | Finished-sample question |
|---|---|---|
| Position | Hole marked on both faces | Does it appear where the approved drawing shows it? |
| Information | Text and graphics clear of the marked area | Is any information obscured by the cord or eyelet? |
| Hole edge | Intended shape identified | Is the edge appearance acceptable on both faces? |
| Attachment | Actual fastening identified | Can the intended attachment be fitted and used as agreed? |
For layout preparation, Dutch Label Shop's design guidance tells designers to account for the punch-hole location and use the relevant template. Treat the converter's own template as the reference for your order, rather than transferring another printer's dimensions.
Then review a physical piece. As a buyer's acceptance checklist, look for loose fibres, a partly removed paper plug, visible edge disturbance and unintended marks around the opening. Record what is acceptable with a reference sample or photographs under agreed viewing conditions. These are proposed visual checks, not a standardized test or a claim that a particular grade will pass.
Review the tag in its intended position
Lay the tag flat to compare it with the drawing, then fit the intended fastening and view it as the customer will. Check the front and reverse separately. A cord crossing a logo or small instructions may be a layout issue even when the hole itself follows the drawing.
If a barcode, QR code or other required information is near the opening, ask the responsible printer or brand team to confirm its final placement and any required verification. Do not infer readability from an attractive screen proof. Avoid inventing a fixed clearance: the relevant artwork, code requirements and converting method need their own approval.
Keep card selection and finished-tag performance distinct
YOUNGSUN's Offset Card is a high-grammage uncoated woodfree paper for cards, covers and tags. The product guidance specifically calls for evaluating hole punching and edge quality on heavy hangtags. The printing and culture paper range provides material context; it is not a guarantee for a completed tag or attachment system.
Tell the material supplier which grade and thickness the converter intends to use. Ask for an appropriate sample and the applicable specification. Ask the converter separately about punching, any reinforcement and finished-piece acceptance. Increasing grammage alone does not establish that a particular hole and fastener will meet your use requirement. Where holding strength matters, agree a suitable assessment with the responsible converter instead of inventing a load rating.
What to include in the approval record
Keep the card grade, artwork revision, finished size, hole drawing, fastening description and approved physical reference together. Add agreed appearance criteria and responsibility for checking the finished work. If an opening changes after approval, identify the new revision and review the affected faces again.
For a material discussion, contact YOUNGSUN with the card application, proposed format and sample requirement. Describe the downstream finishing so that the material conversation starts with the actual component. Confirm finished-tag production arrangements separately.
Buyer questions
Is a PDF proof enough to approve a punched tag?
A PDF can confirm the intended layout and hole position. Use a finished sample with the actual fastening to review the opening, both faces and the assembled appearance.
Does a heavier offset card guarantee a stronger hole?
No universal guarantee follows from grammage alone. Agree the card grade, hole geometry, attachment and a suitable finished-piece assessment with the converter.
Can I reuse another printer's hole dimensions?
Use the drawing and template approved for the converter handling your order. Another printer's published dimensions are examples for its products, not a specification for yours.