A bleed is the effect achieved when a background goes to the edge of a piece of printed material. This could include any photos, patterns, or colors.
A bleed is achieved by extending the background (and any other elements that bleed) beyond the edges of a printed piece. The extra is then trimmed off. Typically, an extra .125” (1/8-inch) is included for trimming, to achieve a bleed.
For example, an 11 x 17 poster that bleeds should be designed with an extra .125” on each side, making the actual printed size 11.25” x 17.25” . The extra .125” on each side is then trimmed after printing, leaving the final 11 x 17 poster with a bleed.
Tip! Some programs, like Illustrator, InDesign, and Scribus, allow you to set a bleed "margin", without needing to change your actual page size. |
If you have any questions, contact Print & Copy Services at print@pugetsound.edu or 253.879.3737.