Bleed in graphic design is a printing term that refers to the area on a document that has images or elements extending beyond the trim edge. The bleed is the part of the document that will be trimmed off when cutting to the final size and is typically 1/8 of an inch.
Bleed allows any color, graphics, or design elements to extend beyond the intended trim area and eliminates any unprinted white space.
Having a bleed ensures that during production, there will be no unwanted white lines due to slight inaccuracies in trimming. Bleed should be used for documents that have color or images going all the way to the edge of a page. This prevents any unwanted white space from appearing after cutting.
In most cases, documents requiring bleed should have an overall size of 0.125” larger than the final trim size. For example, if you have a 5”x7” postcard, you should make it 5.125”x7.125” with 0.125” bleed on all sides.
It’s important to note that not all printers accept documents with bleeds and may require them to be adjusted before they can be printed properly. This includes changing colors and fonts close to the trim edge as well as adjusting borders, text boxes, etc., so they don’t fall into the bleed area.
When creating documents with bleeds it’s important to consider how elements are placed on your page in relation to where they will fall when cut. Making sure all elements stay within your safe zone is essential for ensuring your design looks professional and polished once printed.
In conclusion, bleed in graphic design is an essential element for printing projects because it ensures images or elements won’t be cut off during production and prevents any unprinted white spaces from appearing after cutting. It’s important to remember when creating documents with bleeds that all elements must stay within your safe zone in order for your design to look professional after printing.