What is bleed and how much do I need?
Bleed is extra background that extends past the edge of your finished page. Our standard is 3mm of bleed on all sides, so your file is 6mm wider and 6mm taller than the size you ordered. Some products differ, so check the product page before you start.
Why print needs bleed
Print is produced on larger sheets and then cut down to size. The cut is accurate, but it can move by a fraction of a millimetre from sheet to sheet. If your background stops exactly at the edge of the page, that small movement can leave a thin white line down one side. Bleed gives the blade something to cut through, so colour and images run cleanly off the edge.
How big your file should be
| Product | Finished size | Size with 3mm bleed |
|---|---|---|
| Business card | 85 x 55mm | 91 x 61mm |
| A6 flyer | 105 x 148mm | 111 x 154mm |
| A5 flyer | 148 x 210mm | 154 x 216mm |
| A4 flyer | 210 x 297mm | 216 x 303mm |
What goes in the bleed
- Extend any background colour, photo or pattern that touches the edge right out to the edge of the bleed.
- Do not put text, logos or anything you need to keep in the bleed. It will be cut off.
- If your design has a plain white background and nothing touches the edge, you still supply the file at the bleed size. The bleed area is just white.
If your file has no bleed
Set the bleed before you start designing if you can. Adding it afterwards usually means stretching or rebuilding the background. If you are stuck, we can add it for you - see what an artwork fix costs.
Keep important content away from the edge as well. See what the safe zone is.