What does "bleed" mean in printing?

Bleed is the extra strip of artwork that extends past the final trim line so no white edges appear if the cut shifts slightly. It works alongside two related guides: the trim line, where the piece is actually cut, and the safety margin, the inner zone where key content should stay.

• Standard bleed is 0.125 inches on every side.
• It gives the cutting blade a margin of error during production.
• Background colors and images should run all the way into the bleed, not stop at the trim line.
• Expect the final cut to land at the trim line, and follow the specific trim guide provided for your product.

Keep important text and logos inside the safe zone, a little in from the trim, so nothing gets clipped.