> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.printery.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Understanding Bleed

> Complete guide to bleed - why you need it and how to set it up correctly

## What is Bleed?

**Bleed** is the extra area of your design that extends beyond the final trim size. It's insurance against white edges when your printed piece is cut.

<Note>
  **Simple Analogy**: Imagine cutting a cake. If the frosting only goes to the edge, any imperfect cut shows bare cake. But if the frosting extends beyond where you'll cut, every piece looks perfect!
</Note>

## Why Do We Need Bleed?

### The Cutting Problem

Industrial cutting machines (guillotines) are incredibly fast and powerful, but they're not 100% precise. They can be off by:

* **1-2mm** on standard projects
* **Up to 5mm** on large format prints

<Warning>
  **Without bleed**: If the cut is even 1mm off, you'll see a white edge where the paper shows through.

  **With bleed**: The cut can be off by a few millimeters and your design still looks perfect!
</Warning>

### Visual Example

Here's what happens with and without bleed:

```
WITHOUT BLEED ❌
┌─────────────────┐
│                 │
│  [Blue Design]  │  ← Design ends at edge
│                 │
└─────────────────┘
      ↓ Cut slightly off
┌────────────────┐
│                │ ← White edge shows!
│ [Blue Design]  │
│               │
└───────────────┘
```

```
WITH BLEED ✅
┌────────────────────┐
│ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ │
│ ░ [Blue Design]  ░ │  ← Blue extends beyond edge
│ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ │
└────────────────────┘
      ↓ Cut slightly off
┌─────────────────┐
│                 │ ← Still looks perfect!
│  [Blue Design]  │
│                 │
└─────────────────┘
```

## Standard Bleed Sizes

Different projects require different bleed amounts:

| Project Type           | Bleed Size        | Reason                   |
| ---------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------------ |
| **Business cards**     | 3mm (0.125")      | Standard small format    |
| **Flyers & brochures** | 3mm (0.125")      | Standard print           |
| **Posters (small)**    | 3mm (0.125")      | Up to A2 size            |
| **Posters (large)**    | 5-10mm (0.2-0.4") | Larger cutting tolerance |
| **Magazines & books**  | 3-5mm             | Plus binding allowance   |
| **Banners**            | 10-25mm (0.4-1")  | Large format tolerance   |

<Info>
  **Most Common**: 3mm (0.125") is the industry standard for 90% of print projects.
</Info>

## How to Calculate Dimensions with Bleed

### The Formula

```
Design Size = Final Size + (Bleed × 2)
```

Why × 2? Because bleed goes on **all sides** (top, bottom, left, right).

### Real Examples

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Business Card">
    **Final Size (Trim)**: 90mm × 54mm
    **Bleed**: 3mm

    **Calculation**:

    * Width: 90mm + (3mm × 2) = **96mm**
    * Height: 54mm + (3mm × 2) = **60mm**

    **Design Size**: **96mm × 60mm**
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="A4 Flyer">
    **Final Size**: 210mm × 297mm (A4)
    **Bleed**: 3mm

    **Calculation**:

    * Width: 210mm + (3mm × 2) = **216mm**
    * Height: 297mm + (3mm × 2) = **303mm**

    **Design Size**: **216mm × 303mm**
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="US Letter">
    **Final Size**: 8.5" × 11"
    **Bleed**: 0.125"

    **Calculation**:

    * Width: 8.5" + (0.125" × 2) = **8.75"**
    * Height: 11" + (0.125" × 2) = **11.25"**

    **Design Size**: **8.75" × 11.25"**
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Large Poster">
    **Final Size**: 24" × 36"
    **Bleed**: 0.25" (larger for big format)

    **Calculation**:

    * Width: 24" + (0.25" × 2) = **24.5"**
    * Height: 36" + (0.25" × 2) = **36.5"**

    **Design Size**: **24.5" × 36.5"**
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Setting Up Bleed in Figma

### Method 1: Design at Full Bleed Size (Recommended)

<Steps>
  <Step title="Calculate Full Size">
    Add bleed to your trim dimensions:

    ```
    Final: 90mm × 54mm
    + Bleed (3mm each side)
    = Design Frame: 96mm × 60mm
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create Frame">
    Press `F` and create a frame with the **full size** (96mm × 60mm)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add Guides">
    Mark where the trim will be:

    1. Enable rulers: `Shift + R`
    2. Drag guides **3mm from each edge**
    3. These mark your **trim lines**
  </Step>

  <Step title="Design to Edges">
    * Extend backgrounds and colors to the **frame edges** (full bleed)
    * Keep important content **inside the guides** (safe area)
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Method 2: Let Printery Handle It

<Steps>
  <Step title="Design at Trim Size">
    Create your frame at the **final size** (90mm × 54mm)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Design to Edges">
    Make sure backgrounds extend to all edges
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enable Bleed in Plugin">
    1. Open Printery
    2. In Document tab: **"Add Bleed"** → Enable
    3. Set bleed amount: **3mm**
    4. Choose mode: **"Expand"** (extends design outward)
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  **"Expand" vs "Contain" Mode**:

  * **Expand**: Keeps trim size, adds bleed outside (recommended)
  * **Contain**: Keeps artboard size, trim area shrinks inside
</Warning>

## Designing with Bleed: Best Practices

### ✅ DO:

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Extend backgrounds to all edges" icon="check">
    Any element that touches the trim edge should extend into the bleed area.

    **Example**: Colored background should reach all edges of your design frame, not stop at the trim line.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Extend images that touch edges" icon="check">
    If an image bleeds off the page, make sure it extends fully into the bleed area.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Use guides to mark trim" icon="check">
    Always mark your trim line with guides so you know where the final cut will be.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Preview the trim area" icon="check">
    Occasionally hide elements outside the trim line to see your final design.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

### ❌ DON'T:

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Don't put important content in bleed" icon="x">
    The bleed area might get cut off! Keep all important elements (text, logos) at least 3mm **inside** the trim line.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Don't leave white edges" icon="x">
    If your design has color to the edge, it must extend into the bleed. Never stop exactly at the trim line.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Don't forget about bleed" icon="x">
    Always confirm your printer's bleed requirements before starting a project.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Don't use different bleeds per side" icon="x">
    Keep bleed uniform on all sides unless you have a specific reason (very rare).
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Common Bleed Mistakes

### Mistake #1: No Bleed

**Problem**: Design stops exactly at trim size
**Result**: White edges after cutting

**Fix**: Extend all edge-to-edge elements by 3mm beyond trim

***

### Mistake #2: Content in Bleed Area

**Problem**: Important text or logos placed in bleed zone
**Result**: Text or logos get cut off

**Fix**: Keep all important content in the **safe area** (3mm inside trim)

***

### Mistake #3: Inconsistent Bleed

**Problem**: Bleed on some sides but not others
**Result**: White edges on some sides

**Fix**: Ensure bleed extends uniformly on **all four sides**

***

### Mistake #4: Not Enough Bleed

**Problem**: Using 1mm bleed when 3mm is required
**Result**: Printer rejects file or white edges appear

**Fix**: Always check printer's requirements (usually 3mm)

## Bleed and Borders

### Designing with a Border

If your design has an intentional border (like a picture frame):

<Steps>
  <Step title="Position Border Inside Trim">
    Place your border at least **5mm inside** the trim line:

    * 3mm for safety zone
    * 2mm extra as visual buffer
  </Step>

  <Step title="Extend Background">
    The background color (inside the border) should still extend to the bleed.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Make Border Thick Enough">
    Minimum border thickness: **2mm** (1-2pt can look unintentional)
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  **Thin borders near trim edges are risky!** If cutting is slightly off, the border will look uneven. Either make it thick and well-inset, or skip it.
</Warning>

## Checking Your Bleed

Before exporting, verify your bleed is correct:

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Visual Check" icon="eye">
    1. Look at your design frame
    2. All backgrounds extend to edges? ✓
    3. All images extend to edges? ✓
    4. Nothing important in outer 3mm? ✓
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Measure Check" icon="ruler">
    1. Check frame dimensions
    2. Should be: Final Size + 6mm (3mm bleed each side)
    3. Example: 90mm card → 96mm frame ✓
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="PDF Check" icon="file">
    After exporting:

    1. Open PDF in Adobe Reader
    2. Page size should show full bleed dimensions
    3. Design should extend to PDF edges
    4. Crop marks should be outside design
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Special Cases

### Full-Bleed vs. Non-Bleed Designs

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Full-Bleed">
    **Definition**: Design extends to edges (no white border)

    **Bleed Required**: Yes! 3mm all around

    **Examples**: Most brochures, posters, business cards

    **Setup**: Design + 3mm all sides
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Non-Bleed">
    **Definition**: Design has white margin all around

    **Bleed Required**: No (but still recommended as safety)

    **Examples**: Some letterheads, forms, certificates

    **Setup**: Design with internal margins, can use trim size
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### Folds and Perforations

For pieces with folds or perforations:

* **Folds**: No extra bleed needed at fold line
* **Perforations**: May need small bleed (check with printer)
* **Multiple panels**: Each panel needs bleed on its outer edges

## Bleed in Different Software

How other design tools handle bleed:

| Software        | Bleed Setup                      |
| --------------- | -------------------------------- |
| **InDesign**    | Document Setup → Bleed settings  |
| **Illustrator** | Artboard size + manual extension |
| **Photoshop**   | Canvas size + manual guides      |
| **Figma**       | Frame size or plugin (Printery)  |

<Tip>
  **Printery Advantage**: Automatically handles bleed for you. Just design and enable bleed in the plugin!
</Tip>

## Quick Bleed Calculator

Need to quickly calculate your design size?

| Final Size       | + Bleed (3mm) | = Design Size   |
| ---------------- | ------------- | --------------- |
| 90 × 54mm        | + 6mm each    | = 96 × 60mm     |
| 85 × 55mm        | + 6mm each    | = 91 × 61mm     |
| 210 × 297mm (A4) | + 6mm each    | = 216 × 303mm   |
| 148 × 210mm (A5) | + 6mm each    | = 154 × 216mm   |
| 3.5 × 2"         | + 0.25" each  | = 3.75 × 2.25"  |
| 8.5 × 11"        | + 0.25" each  | = 8.75 × 11.25" |

## Summary: Bleed Checklist

Before sending your file to print:

* [ ] **Bleed added**: +3mm (or specified amount) on all sides
* [ ] **Backgrounds extend**: All edge-to-edge colors reach frame edges
* [ ] **Images extend**: All bleeding images extend fully
* [ ] **Content safe**: Important elements are 3mm+ inside trim
* [ ] **Dimensions correct**: Frame size = Trim size + (Bleed × 2)
* [ ] **Verified in PDF**: Exported file shows correct bleed

<Check>
  If all boxes are checked, your bleed is set up correctly!
</Check>

## Next Steps

Now that you understand bleed, learn about:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Crop Marks" icon="scissors" href="/basics/crop-marks">
    How printers know where to cut
  </Card>

  <Card title="Safety Zone" icon="shield" href="/basics/safety-zone">
    Keeping your content safe from the blade
  </Card>

  <Card title="Complete Setup Guide" icon="book" href="/getting-started/first-project">
    Put it all together in a real project
  </Card>

  <Card title="Video Tutorial" icon="video" href="/video-tutorials/basics-series">
    Watch bleed setup in action
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

***

<Info>
  **Still confused about bleed?** Ask in our [Discord community](https://discord.gg/kUJZQEfdUF) - we're here to help!
</Info>