Question
What is the difference between bleed and margin?
Answer
Bleed and margin are two safety zones that keep a printed piece looking clean after it is trimmed. Bleed lives outside the cut line, while margin lives inside it, and both exist because no cutting blade lands in exactly the same spot every time.
| Bleed | Margin (safe zone) | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Outside the trim line | Inside the trim line |
| Purpose | Extends background so no white edges appear | Keeps text and logos clear of the cut |
| Typical size | Around 0.125 in per edge | Around 0.125 in inset |
- Extend any background color or image past the trim into the bleed area.
- Pull important text and logos inside the safe margin so nothing gets clipped.
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