What is bleed and why do I need it for my items to print correctly?

What is Bleed?

Bleeds allow you to print your artwork to the edge of a page. When we cut your project to size (we print many cards, postcards to a page), if your image doesn’t fill the space completely, the color may not cover all the project, resulting in a white border. Bleeds ensure you get the results you need!

For example, if you have designed a standard 3.5" x 2" business card with a colorful photo background covering the whole area, you will need to enlarge that photo background to 3.75" x 2.25". This will make the background extend 1/8" on every side of the page.

Why is adding a Bleed necessary?

When we go to print your cards, small variations in the cutting process can end up leaving a hairline white edge where there should be no white edge at all if the image is not extended beyond the final trim size! When you extend the images 1/8" beyond the final trim size it guarantees that images truly will go all the way to the edge of the printed paper.

How do I add bleed to my design?

You can add bleed to your design using programs like Photoshop, Illustrator, Inkscape, Gimp, etc.

Let us know if you require assistance.