Print bleed tutorial for preparing print files

Print Bleeds

Creating PRINT bleeds, what they are and why you need them.

Bleeds are the extra area that extends beyond the actual size of your file that will be trimmed away when cutting your cards. When printing business cards or postcards they are usually printed on a large sheet of card stock. The sheet is about 40 x 28 inches and fits about 70 standard size business cards or more. This is called a gang run and is widely used in most online printers if not all online printers. So, no one prints business cards directly on to a 2x3.5 card alone.

Your files require a bleed, the area in which will be trimmed away when we cut you cards out of the large sheet. The reason for the bleed is to make sure we have your file images reaching the absolute edge of the card. Without the bleed, an unwanted white line or the other persons card printed next to your card may show up on the edge after trimming your card. The bleed is usually the background color or image of some sort that "bleeds" of the edge of the card. This does not refer to the ink spreading around on the card.

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Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• print bleeds
• printing
• preparing print files
• print
• design
• graphic design

[mindpowerx]

Hello,

Yes all printers would see this. Some use an 1/8th inch and some use a 1/16th. This tutorial is for the 1/8th. The tips of the crop marks sit right on the 1/8th inch areas. Thanks for the inquiry.

[VanThomasWebb]

easier is - create new document to the size you need (for example business cards 85mm x 55mm) set bleeds to 5mm all around (in the new document window), then click on 'rectangle tool' then on the canvas and create box 5mm smaller from each side (in business case its 75mm x 45mm), center the box to the canvas and click ctrl+5 (command+5 on mac) which will create guide... template ready :-)

[divarien]

Thank You !

[brady0715]

would a regular printer realize that you are doing a bleed and print accordingly?