Packaging
Net.

VCD 2024

2D drawing
to fold into
a form.

In this section, you will learn about Packaging nets. This is a means of creating a form that can be folded from a shape that is cut from paper. These are used in package design. Packaging nets are used by graphic designers.

INTRODUCTION TO Packaging Nets

This page will teach students about making packaging nets for making mock-up boxes and package designs.

Introduction to packaging nets for commercial production. Visit Packly here.

Model answer

Here is a completed packaging net on a presentation sheet with a render of the form it makes when folded. The techniques and conventions for this drawing will be unpacked fully on this page.

The purpose of Packaging nets

Packaging nets are used in the Communication design industry by graphic designers to create boxes, shopping bags and other interesting forms to promote and protect products.

They are used in Visual Communication Design as a way to help students learn how to process and translate drawings from two-dimensions into three dimensions.

Click this image to visit a wonderful 3d interactive animation on the 'Packly' website from Italy. Visit Packly here.

WHO USES THEM, AND WHAT ARE THEY FOR?

Graphic designers and art directors visualise and create packaging nets as part of the Design Process. A packaging net is needed when designers and students want to make a mock-up for display and evaluation. A set of rules known as conventions has been created to ensure that packaging nets and drawn and cut correctly. These relate to line types and tabs. The conventions are explored below.

Making a packaging net

There is a process for making a packaging net. This section will tackle each part, step by step. It begins with a simple set up and takes students through to a finished presentation drawing.

Line conventions

Packaging nets use conventions for lines. These are shown in the chart at right.

Setting up a packaging net

Circles in Planometric drawings are sometimes elliptical and sometimes actual circles. Those found on the left and right sides of a form are elliptical and those found on the top of forms are shown as actual circles. Spheres are also shown as actual circles.

Visualise the form you want to make. Use freehand isometric or free sketching for this.

If possible, do a 3rd Angle Orthogonal drawing to fix the dimensions you need.

Figure out how many and what shape parts will be required to fold up into the form.

To figure out what you will need tabs, draw arrows that connect the parts. You will need one tab for each connection.

Draw a (freehand if you want) sketch plan of the whole shape including tabs. Add up all the dimensions to find out how big the whole net will be before you start.

Use rulers and set-squares to help you construct a presentation drawing of your final packaging net.

Let me help you

Here are two videos that demonstrate the process of making a packaging net in two different ways. In the video on the left, I make a net of a cube using the manual method of drawing with pencil and paper. The second video shows how I construct the same net shown in the images above using a digital-based method and Adobe Illustrator.

A packaging net with a manual method.

A packaging net with digital-based method.

task

1.1 Understand packaging net

Find a small packaging box like that used for a toothpaste tube at home. Carefully take it apart and examine how the shape, including tabs, has been drawn.

1.2 make a geometric solid

Using some of the steps above, draft a packaging net for one of the forms shown here.

1.3 design packaging

Design, draft and construct a package design for one of these products;

Perfume
Salt and pepper
Matchbox car
A diamond ring
Mobile phone
Key chain

Packaging
Net.