Bleed is when an image or element on a page is printed to the sheet, leaving no margin, it is said to bleed. Printers cannot print right to the edge of a page, so a slightly larger impression must be printed and then trimmed back with a cutter. It may bleed or extend off one or more sides. Particular steps need to be taken in order for your final artwork to be “bleed ready.”

The way to do this is to make your document .125” (1/8”) larger in both dimensions. For instance, if the final size is 8.5” x 11” then make your document 8.75” x 11.25”. Place guides on the layout that are .125”(1/8”) from the edge all the way around. Now create your design keeping in mind that the layout will be cut off where those guides are. Because that is exactly what will to happen. Make sure that any photographs or backgrounds that you want to bleed go clear out to the perimeter of the document, past the guidelines. Then after we have printed your piece we will trim off that extra .125” (1/8”) all the way around. Now you have color all the way to the edges of your piece.