Simply Bags.. Frequently Asked Questions ...About Bags!

You will find the most commonly asked questions about bags answered here.

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What is a Poly Bag?

A poly bag is a bag that is made for polyethylene, which is a flexible, water resistant plastic that is ideal for making merchandise bags. There are several types of polyethylene, the most popular being Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and High Density Polyethylene (HDPE).

What is Low Density Polyethylene or (LDPE)?

Low Density Polyethylene is the material used in most poly bags it has great tensile strength, clarity, flexibility and water resistant properties.

What is High Density Polyethylene or (HDPE)?

High Density Polyethlene or (HDPE) bags are made from a thinner gauge material to lower freight costs and storage requirements. High Density bags have great strength, are water resistant, but less flexible than LDPE bags.

What is Mil Thickness and how do I choose the right mil?

Mil refers to the thickness of the bag. The important thing here is to know what thickness is right for your application:
1 to 1.25 mil bags are ideal for lightweight products.
1.5 mil and 2 mil bags are the most commonly used thickness for everyday merchandise.
3 and 4 mil bags are capable of protecting and carrying heavy abrasive items.
The cost is affected by the mil thickness - the lower the mil, the lower the cost. Again, 1.5 mil to 2 mil are standard for most applications

How are Poly bags made?

The first step in the manufacturing of a poly bag is the extrusion process. This process involves taking plastic resin, adding the color required, then extruding this resin into polyethylene film.
This film is then converted into a roll.
The roll is then taken to a printing press. The press is set up with printing plates that have your store name or logo engraved on the plates. The film is then printed with your name and rewound into a roll. This printed roll is then taken to a bag machine where the bag is produced to the specifications required, ie. size, handle type, gussets, etc. .

What are overruns?

As the film is extruded, then printed, then put on a bag machine, it is very difficult to estimate exactly how many bags are going to be made from that original extrusion. Industry standards allow for overruns of + or - 20%, meaning, if you order 5000 bags, you could get 6000. This is part of the process and overruns do happen. In that case the customer is charged for 6000 bags.

What is camera ready artwork?

In order to make printing plates to print your store name or logo on a bag we need camera ready artwork. Camera ready means that the artwork has to be exactly how you want it to appear on the bag. In addition, the artwork must be clear, the lines must be solid as the artwork will be photographed then copied to a plate
Business cards, letterheads, etc, are not finished art work because they have to be manipulated by an artist to create a clear black & white representation of what your want with everything in the correct position.
If you supply us with camera ready artwork, there are no artwork charges. If our artists have to re-arrange and clean up the copy given to us, there is an art charge of $65.00. This art charge is for simple artwork only. Design work & logo work is charged at $65.00 per hour. We can accept artwork on a 3.5" disk or a Zip Disk in the following formats:
PC image types (TIFF, JPG, BMP,GIF) or Mac (Adobe Illustrator, Quarkxpress, Photoshop, BMP, TIFF and EPS).

Where should I locate my store name or logo on the bag?

The most effective location is on the bottom third of the bag. We will automatically place it here unless we receive instructions otherwise.

Why do printing plates cost so much?

Normally printing plates cost UP TO $150.00 per bag size. At Simply Bags we do not charge for plates.

How do you measure poly bags?

There are three types of poly bags - flat bags, bags with bottom gussets, and fully gusseted bags (ie. side and bottom gusset).

A
Flat Bags

There are two dimensions for flat bags:
The first measurement is always the width, the second is the length.

Eg: 9 x 12 is 9" wide and 12" high.

B
Gusseted Bags

Gusseted bags have depth as well as width and length.
A bottom gusseted bag has only a gusset at the bottom in order to give depth to the bottom of the bag. Bottom gusseted bags have three dimensions:
Width, Length, Depth of Bottom Gusset

Eg: 12" x 16" x 3"

12" wide by 16" high with 3" bottom gusset.

C
Fully Gusseted Bags

Fully gusseted bags have side gussets as well as bottom gussets. They have four measurements. Width x side gusset x length x bottom gusset.

Eg: 8" x 4" x 10" x 4"

8" wide by 4" side gusset by 10" length by 4" bottom gusset.

Which handle should I use?

There are many types of handles for poly bags. The most popular are as follows:

	Die Cut - Die cut handles are simple handles that have been punched out at the top of the bag. These are the most economical type of handle but are only practical for small bags that carry light weight articles. (Note High Density Bags can use die cut handles effectively, as High Density Poly is very strong)
	Fold Over Die Cut - this refers to a bag that has been reinforced at the top by folding over the poly to form a double thickness, then an oval hole is punched out of the fold over. The fold over die cut is an economical strong handle that is the most widely used style.
	Patch Handles - this method strengthens the simple die cut handle by adhering a plastic patch around the die cut handle to give it strength. Slightly more expensive than a fold over die cut handle, it is an effective strong handle.
	Loop Handles - Loop handles are usually used on gusseted shopping bags. They are strips of plastic film that are adhered to the bag to operate as a handle.
	Rope Handles - These handles are again used exclusively on gusseted bags. The rope handle is usually cotton or polypropylene cord to give the bag an upscale look. More expensive than loop handles but very attractive.

Tell my why Simply Bags are such a good deal?

Simply Bags has simplified the poly bag process. We offer a program that is easy to understand, and simple to order at prices that are the lowest in the country!
Plus - we never charge for plates!!!
With Simply Bags, you can afford to brand your store by printing your name/or logo on a quality bag.