bleeds

Items that reach the trim edge need to be extended a minimum of 3 mm past the trim or page edge into the pasteboard area of the document. This additional image area is known as 'bleed'.

It's important as it facilitates a clean trim from the guillotine. Whilst most paper guillotines are fairly accurate today, there's a few physical factors in relation to paper that can mean the actual position of the trim can vary slightly. Bleed allows for this variance to occur and to avoid the end trimmed product having white edges showing.

Most modern design applications allow for bleed to be specified in the 'Document Setup' or 'Page Setup' windows. It can also be specified in the 'Print' or 'Export' dialog boxes.

Consumer software like the Microsoft Office series do not have the capability of specifying bleed. In these applications it is best to set a page size that is 6 mm larger in both directions (eg. an A4 page plus bleed would measure 216 x 303 mm). It is important to note the actual trimline is 3 mm in from each edge, so any type or logos which should not be cut through need to be kept well within this area.

Bleed is not required when the print image does not reach the trim edge.

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