Printing Bleeds & Borders

Printing bleeds are not as ghoulish as they may sound. This is a printing term that means a picture extends outside of the finished work. Anytime you see a postcard without a white edge, you are looking at a card that was printed with a “bleed.” In fact anytime a graphic or picture goes to the edge the printer used a bleed.

Desktop printers are designed with an automatic border around all the edges, so printing a full 8-1/2 x 11 inch photograph is only possible when a special photo printing cartridge is installed. Even then, the first 1/2 inch is needed to start the paper feed, so the largest photograph most desktop printers can handle is 8-1/2 x 10-1/2 inches.

A commercial printer is not limited by these software and hardware issues. An offset printer is flexible. Printing bleeds are used to guarantee quality through to the cutting process. Paper can shift slightly as the cutter slices through the paper, so this is why printers plan a cutting allowance into the print job.

Whenever you want a picture to cover the entire face of a card, the printer will print it 1/8^th of an inch bigger on all sides. This allows the printer to trim away that 1/8^th inch for a clean sharp edge. Because the original photograph isn’t available, a 1/16^th inch variation to one side or the other isn’t significant.

If you want a picture to be surrounded by a frame of white, it is important that you leave at least 1/4 of an inch around the edge of the photograph. If you add a colored border around the photograph the edge of the border must fall at least 1/4 inch in from the edge of the card. If you opt for a printed border that bleeds, the inner border edge must be at least 1/4 inch in from the cut edge and then extent 1/8 inch beyond the cutting line. Borders have a tendency to vary slightly because of the shifting paper during the cutting process.

Printing Bleeds & Borders Q&A

How do I format my document so it is the correct size for a bleed?

Word processors offer you the options of custom sizing the page. Custom size your page so it is 1/4 inch larger on both edges. For example an 8-1/2 x 11 bleed would measure 8-3/4 x 11-1/4 inches. A 4 x 6 postcard must be sized at 4-1/4 x 6-1/4 inches. Insert the picture and size it to cover the entire page. Be sure to use the lock ratio feature so your picture isn’t distorted. Save the file. Most printers should be able to accept the file.

Are there any other options for formatting my document?

Many online printers offer tools for uploading your pictures and formatting your document right on their website. These tools allow you to choose borders or bleeds. Because you are working with the printer’s software, you can be assured that what you see on the screen is what you will get.

If I include text on my photograph, how far back do I need to set the type back from the edge?

Set the type at least 1/4 inch away from the edge. 3/8 of an inch is even better. Text that is too close to the edge looks cramped.

What is the advantage of a full bleed vs. a border?

Full bleeds are a design element. They can be used to create a dramatic impact. Other than that, there is no real advantage, except that they are very easy to format, especially when printing postcards.

Conclusion

Printing bleeds and borders are some of the many design options your printer can assist you with. Create distinctive brochures, posters, postcards and other marketing materials using these two techniques.

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