What are bleeds, and do I need them?
Bleed is the term for printing that goes right to the edge of the paper. The way to do this is to make your document .25″ too big in both dimensions. For instance, if the final size is 8.5″ x 11″ then make your document 8.75″ x11.25″. Draw guides on the layout that are .125″ from the edge all the way around. Now create your design with the idea that the layout will be cut off where those guides are….because that is precisely what is going 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″ all the way around and voila! You have color all the way to the edges of your piece. It looks professional….
