How do I Edit Bleed in Illustrator?

To edit bleed in Adobe Illustrator, follow these steps:

Steps to Edit Bleed

Open Your Document: Begin by opening the specific Adobe Illustrator document you wish to edit.
Access Document Setup: Navigate to File in the menu bar and then select Document Setup. This will open a dialog box where you can modify various document settings.
Set Bleed Parameters: Locate the "Bleed" section within the Document Setup dialog box. Here, you can define the bleed parameters for your document. According to the provided reference, a standard setting is 0.125" (1/8 inch) for all bleed parameters (top, bottom, left, and right). This is represented by a red box around the edges of your artboard.
Adjust Artwork: It's essential to extend your images and any other design elements to fully reach the edge of the bleed box. This ensures that when the document is trimmed, there are no white edges.
Save Document: Once you've made the necessary edits, save the changes you made. Go to File - Save As to save it to a new file, making sure to save it as an Illustrator file format.
Export for Print with Bleed: If you need to export your document for printing, go to File - Save As again. In the side menu choose Marks and Bleeds.
Add Trim Marks: Within the "Marks" section, select Trim Marks. This will add marks to show where the final trim will be, which is outside the bleed area.

Purpose of Bleed: Bleed is the area of your artwork that extends beyond the intended trim edge of your printed document. It's a crucial element for professional print jobs.
Why Use Bleed? It is used to prevent unwanted white borders from appearing on the edges of your printed materials after the trimming process.
Standard Bleed Size: As mentioned, 0.125" (1/8 inch) is a standard bleed size commonly used in the printing industry.

Always extend your background colors, images and design elements into the bleed area.
Double-check your bleed settings before sending your document to print.
When exporting a document for print, ensure you have selected bleed settings so that it's printed accurately with the required bleed.

Step	Description
1. Open Document	Open your Illustrator file.
2. Document Setup	Go to File > Document Setup to access settings.
3. Set Bleed	Adjust bleed values (e.g. 0.125 inches) in the "Bleed" section.
4. Extend Art	Ensure all background elements meet the edge of the red box.
5. Save	Go to File > Save As to save the changes.
6. Marks and Bleeds	Go to File > Save As. In the side menu, select Marks and Bleeds.
7. Trim Marks	Select Trim Marks within the Marks section.

By following these steps, you can effectively manage bleed in your Illustrator documents, ensuring a professional printed outcome.