Document Bleed

Document bleed, what is it and why do we need it?

When you send a file to a professional printer you will often be asked to include bleed on your files.B

But what is bleed and why do we need to include it? 

Bleed is an extra 3-5mm that should be added to your files. Any image or colour that you want to go to the edge of your document should then bleed off into this extra 3-5mm area. 

Bleed allows for any slight movement of your document during the printing and trimming processes. 

During the printing of multiple copies of the same document, there will inevitably be a slight movement, which may be less than 1mm but without this bleed, it would result in a thin white line on the final printed product.  

A good printer would not agree to print a product without bleed! 

Make sure the next time you are creating your files for print you add 3-5mm of bleed to ensure your final products look exactly as you expected them to. 

Not sure how to add bleed? Contact us and we will gladly advise you on how to set up your files before sending them to us to print.