CyanSunSamples
Paper Cup Samples
A sample is not a formality. It is the only way to test fill, heat, leak, lid fit and print before you commit to a production run.
The Short Answer
Test with the real drink
Do not approve a cup from an empty sample or a PDF. Fill it, fit the lid, hold it, tilt it and check the print under normal light.
Sample Types
| Type | What it proves | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Stock sample | Size, feel, lid fit | Early spec check |
| Digital printed sample | Artwork and layout | Design approval |
| Production-matched sample | Board, coating and print route | Final approval before mass production |
| Pre-production sample | The exact setup | Sign-off for a large run |
What to Test
- Fill volume and headspace.
- Heat transfer to the hand.
- Leak at the seam, bottom and rim.
- Lid fit on a filled cup, including a tilt.
- Print colour, small text and barcode.
- Condensation on a cold cup.
- Stacking and carton protection.
Sample vs Production
A digital sample may not match a flexo production run exactly. If the final route is flexo, ask for a production-matched sample or a printed proof on the final stock. Approve the material, the print route and the lid, not just the artwork.
How to Approve
Approve in writing and keep a physical reference sample. Note the date, the cup size, the board, the coating, the print colours and the lid. On a reorder, compare the new sample to the retained one before production.
Sample Cost and Lead Time
Stock samples are usually quick; printed samples need artwork, a setup and courier time. Sample and courier costs are quoted separately and can be discussed against the order. A sample is not free production: it is a separate setup.
Shipping Samples
Samples usually go by courier. Duties and taxes are the recipient's responsibility unless agreed otherwise. Send a full delivery address and a phone number; a sample stuck in customs costs more time than the courier fee.
What to Send With a Sample Request
- Size in oz or ml, and hot or cold use.
- Cup type and wall: single, double, ripple or kraft.
- Coating: PE, water-based or PLA.
- Lid and sleeve requirement.
- Artwork status and the print route you are considering.
- Delivery address, phone number and target date.
Common Mistakes
- Approving a PDF without a physical sample.
- Testing an empty cup.
- Not testing the lid on a filled cup.
- Changing artwork after the sample is approved.
- Using a digital sample to judge a flexo production colour.
- Not keeping a reference sample for the reorder.
Sample Sign-Off: What to Record
An approved sample is only useful if the approval is written down. Colour memory fades, the person who approved it may leave, and the next run is often made months later from a different board lot. A one-page sign-off record, stored with the sample, prevents most of the arguments that follow a reorder.
| Attribute | What to record | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Cup size | Nominal ounce plus the measured rim diameter | A different rim changes the lid part number |
| Board and wall | GSM, single or double wall, ripple height if any | Board weight drives stiffness, print and cost |
| Coating | PE, water-based or PLA, plus the declaration version | The coating decides the claim you can print |
| Colour count, Pantone references, artwork file name and version | Stops a silent artwork revision between runs | |
| Components | Lid material and code, sleeve GSM and fit | Lids and sleeves are usually quoted separately |
| Reference | Photo, internal marking and the date of approval | The marked cup is the standard for every reorder |
Keep the signed sample in a cupboard rather than on a desk, photograph it next to a rule, and store the photo with the sign-off page. When a reorder is placed, send that page with the purchase order.
What a Sample Cannot Tell You
- Print quality on a digital sample is not the same as flexo at production speed; fine reverse type can fill in over a long run.
- A hand sample may use a different board lot from the production order, so stiffness and shade can shift slightly.
- Lid fit on a few cups does not prove that every carton in a 100,000-cup run will seal; that is what pre-shipment inspection is for.
- Spare capacity in the sampling room does not mean the factory has capacity for your quantity in your delivery window.
Use samples to confirm the specification, the colour and the feel in the hand. Use the production and pre-shipment checks to confirm that the run repeats what you approved.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Are samples free?
Stock samples may be free or low cost; printed samples carry a setup and courier cost. We quote it separately.
How long does a sample take?
A stock sample can ship quickly; a printed sample needs artwork, setup and courier time. Confirm the schedule with the quote.
Can I get a sample before paying for the full order?
Yes. The sample is quoted separately and can be discussed against the production order.
Should I test the lid separately?
Test the lid on the actual cup, filled, because the fit changes under load and heat.
Can the sample match production exactly?
A production-matched sample uses the same board, coating and print route. A digital sample may differ from flexo.
Do you keep my sample on file?
We keep the approved reference for repeat orders; ask for a retained sample if you need one.
Can you ship samples to my customer?
Yes, with the address and phone number; duties and taxes are usually the recipient's responsibility.