Question
How is bleed different from the safe zone?
Answer
Bleed and the safe zone are two setup guides that sit on opposite sides of the trim line, and they solve opposite problems. Bleed reaches outward past the trim so no thin white slivers show up after cutting, while the safe zone pulls your important content inward so nothing critical gets clipped.
| Guide | Where it sits | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Bleed | 0.125" outside the trim line | Extends backgrounds and photos so edge-to-edge color survives the cut |
| Trim line | The final finished edge | Where the blade cuts your piece to size |
| Safe zone | 0.125" inside the trim line | Keeps text, logos, and key graphics away from the blade |
- Push any background color or photo that touches an edge all the way into the bleed area.
- Hold all text, logos, and important details at least 0.125" inside the trim on every side.
- Cutting has a small mechanical tolerance, so these two margins absorb normal blade drift and keep the final piece clean.
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