Image bleed, in the context of printing, refers to a background color, graphic, or image that extends to the edge of the finished paper size and beyond. This technique ensures that the image or color runs right to the very edge of the printed piece after it's been trimmed.
Why is Bleed Necessary?
It's difficult for printing equipment to apply ink precisely up to the cut edge of a sheet of paper. Without bleed, you risk having a thin, white, unprinted edge appearing on your final printed product after it's trimmed. Bleed gives the printer a margin of error.
Key Aspects of Image Bleed
- Extension Beyond Trim: The graphic elements must extend slightly beyond the intended trim line of the document.
- Margin for Error: Bleed allows for minor inaccuracies during the cutting process.
- Professional Finish: Ensures a clean and professional-looking final product with no unwanted white edges.
Example of Bleed
Imagine you're designing a business card with a solid blue background. To ensure the blue color reaches the very edge after trimming, you would extend the blue background slightly beyond the actual size of the business card. This extra area is the bleed.
Understanding Bleed in Design Software
Most professional design software (like Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop) allows you to set up bleed margins in your document settings. A typical bleed amount is 0.125 inches (1/8 inch) or 3mm on all sides.
Checklist for Implementing Bleed
- Check your document settings: Ensure your design software has bleed settings enabled.
- Extend background elements: Make sure all background colors, images, and graphics extend past the trim line and into the bleed area.
- Export with bleed: When exporting your design for printing, select the option to include bleed in the exported file (usually a PDF).
