Printers are unable to print to the edge of the page; this creates an unwanted white margin around your document. To avoid this issue, you need to add a bleed to each print document you design.
Bleeds extend colors and elements past the edge of your document, so that it can be printed and trimmed down to size with no unwanted white margin around the edges.
HOW TO ADD A BLEED TO A NEW ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR DOCUMENT
- To create a document with bleeds, open Illustrator and click
File > New - Type in the documents size
- To add a bleed, go to the “Bleed” section and click on the arrow under the section titled “Top” until you see “0.125 in”
i. Adjusting the bleed under one section will auto-populate the rest.
- Click “Create”
The art board has been created. You’ll be able to tell the bleed has been added to your document by seeing the red line around the document.
Make sure any colors or pictures meant to go to the page’s edge, extend past the edge to the red bleed line. Doing so will ensure there is no unwanted white space when printing.
HOW TO ADD A BLEED TO AN EXISTING ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR DOCUMENT
- Open the document.
- Click File > Document setup
- In the first box next to “Bleed” hit the arrow under “Top” just once until it reads “0.125 in”. The other boxes will auto-populate.
- Click “OK”
The red line around your document shows the bleed has been added. Adjust your document’s elements to go up to the red line if needed.
HOW TO EXPORT AN ILLUSTRATOR FILE WITH BLEEDS
To export an Illustrator file with bleeds, you need to save the document as a PDF.
- To do so, go to: File > Save As
- Type the file’s name and select where it should be saved to.
- Make sure the “Format” is set to Adobe PDF.
- Click “Save”
- Click on “Marks and Bleeds” in the side menu
- Under the “Marks” section, click “Trim Marks”
- Under the “Bleeds” section click the box next to “Use Document Bleed Settings”
- Click “Save as PDF”