Jordan Kim
Jordan Kim Sustainability & Industry Editor at 4OVER4.COM
Question

How do I set up a bleed on my printed materials?

Answer

Setting up a bleed means letting your design run past the cut line so no white edge is left behind. For most products, add 1/8" (0.125") of extra artwork on every side of the file. Your proof shows exactly where the cut happens.

  • The red line on your proof marks the cut line.
  • For full bleed, push your backgrounds and edge graphics past that red line, all the way into the bleed area.
  • Export with the bleed included, ideally with crop marks turned on in your PDF settings.
  • After trimming, the design reaches the edge with no white margin.

Keep important text and logos a safe distance inside the cut line so nothing is clipped during trimming.

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