FORMAT REVIEW · 5 min read
How to compare paper product formats before choosing a route
A simple way to compare a model, puzzle, gift item, display element or packaging-led concept against its intended use.
For buyers narrowing a product direction before a supplier review.
In brief
Compare the four product families by intended use, confirmed family material and the customization questions you need answered. Charmer has confirmed corrugated cardboard, EPS, coated paper with greyboard for flat puzzles, and greyboard with coated paper for paper gifts and crafts. These are family-level facts. They do not establish the construction of every pictured item or supplier model, and final specifications require project review.
Confirmed family materials
Use these family-level facts to start the comparison. They are not specifications for an individual photograph or 3D model.
| Product family | Material |
|---|---|
| 3D Corrugated Cardboard | Corrugated cardboard |
| 3D EPS Foam Puzzles | EPS |
| Jigsaw Puzzles | Coated paper and greyboard |
| Paper Gifts & Crafts | Greyboard and coated paper |
Customization is available for project review. Board grades, EPS layer construction, dimensions and final feasibility are confirmed separately for the project.
Start with the job the product must do
Choose the format from the experience you need to create. A product used for learning, gifting, collecting, retail display or event presentation may need a different balance of assembly, handling, visibility and pack-out.
- Teach or explain a subject
- Create a keepsake or souvenir
- Support a promotion or campaign
- Add a display or event element
- Create a retail or lifestyle product
Compare the review questions, not only the silhouette
For each candidate format, write down the questions a buyer needs answered: how it is handled, how it is packed, how artwork is applied, what the user sees first and which details remain open. This makes the comparison useful without turning a visual reference into a specification.
Keep the first decision reversible
A first review can compare two or three routes before a project commits to one. Mark the preferred direction as a working choice and keep material, size, quantity, packaging and market requirements as project-confirmed inputs.
Bring the comparison into the project brief
Name the preferred format, the alternative you considered and the reason for the preference. A short explanation helps the next review focus on the decision that matters rather than starting from a generic product name.
What to prepare
A discussion checklist, not a production approval or a list of mandatory specifications.
- Preferred product family and an alternative if useful
- Intended use, audience and how the product will be handled
- Artwork or theme and known customization needs
- Material, size or packaging decisions that remain open
Turn the checklist into a brief.
Describe your reference and intended use, then list the questions still open. No file upload is available in the form; discuss files during follow-up.
Start a project