How-To: Creating Bleeds

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Creating Bleeds

One of the most common and easily fixable mistakes in design is not including a proper bleed when sending artwork for printing.

Bleeds are necessary anytime your image area goes to the edge of your document. Adding extra image area beyond the edge of the document allows space to compensate for any variations there might be in the printing or cutting process.

Creating a bleed is as simple as extending your image beyond the edge of the document. In most programs, it's not even necessary to change your document size, simply making your image bigger is all that's required. A standard bleed is 1/8" for each side.

EXAMPLE: A background photo for your 8 1/2" x 11" brochure needs to extend to the edge of the page on each side. The photo needs to be enlarged to 8 3/4" x 11 1/4" to create a proper bleed.

It is important to remember the image in the bleed will NOT for the most part appear on your final printed piece, so make sure there is no vital information in the bleed area.