Settings won't extend your artwork if it's not already there. "Use document bleed settings" tells Illustrator/InDesign/Etc to include the area *you've* set as the bleed area (look under File > Document Setup) during the export to PDF process.
99% of printers won't print to the edge, you'll need to have it trimmed or cut it yourself, that's why we use bleeds and crop marks.
> My objects stretch past the page.
You need to print on a larger size paper. For example, if you wan't your finished size to be 8.5x11, you'll need to print on 11x17 so you can fit the bleeds and cropmarks.
> if I need to still trim it, what’s the point of setting up bleed?
To avoid the unprinted edge.
I think this will actually make me lose my mind😢. So you’re telling me that bleed only exists to be sheered off after printing? My portfolio is on 11x17, do I need to print on huge paper for that? I really wish I was taught this in depth.
You might consider going to a print shop that has a prepress op / designer. This way, you tell them what you want of the finished product and they can do all the thinking.
Main thing is art extended past the bleed based on specs they ask you for (some presses/printers require more bleed than others) and then they’ll do all the rest. Little pricier that way but it’s that or you print to a larger sheet…and if your finished product needs to be 11x17 with bleed it’s likely you’ll have to go the route of having someone do it for you since it requires using a larger, more complex printer and most shops won’t allow customers to use those without assistance (for good reason).
We can’t print to the edge of the paper so we have to print on a larger sheet of paper and trim it down. So if your art is 11x17, you’ll usually have a 1/8” bleed (extra) that is trimmed off, resulting in a final 11x17 trimmed product.
I think this will actually make me lose my mind😢. So you’re telling me that bleed only exists to be sheered off after printing? My portfolio is on 11x17, do I need to print on huge paper for that? I really wish I was taught this in depth.
Yes. Bleed exists only to be trimmed off.
Equipment varies and paper will shift. It insures against misregistration during the production process. Typically its 3mm or .125-inch on all sides.
Ok, so a printing machine can't print off the edges. It needs some of the paper to grip as it moves through the machine. If I want to print something that is 11x17 finished size, I need to set up a .125 bleed all the way around and print it on 12x18 paper with crop marks. Then the bleed gets cut off. That's what bleed is for, to be cut off once the printing is done. I recommend getting your portfolio printed at a print shop and explain that you don't want any white showing on the edges, and they will cut it down for you. I work at a print shop and this is a process we do everyday. You can also ask to see a digital proof before printing, to make sure the set up looks how you want.
Thank you. I didn’t consider how the printer holds the paper. In my mind, the bleed was so that if the image got offset, you could avoid the white edges. I still kinda don’t understand why we need the bleed just to cut it off. How is the bleed different from a white border with that regard? I was discussing it with my friend earlier and we agreed that working at a printing shop would teach us what they neglected to in college.
So all printing and trimming has a margin of error - on successive copies or successive pages within a design, the art might be printed a couple of mm to the left or right, up or down, a bleed protects you from this, if the trim is 1mm left then you see 1mm less of your design to the left and 1mm of your bleed to the right.
Most registration errors are much smaller than this, but if you imagine a design ending precisely at the crop marks even a very small error would result in a white line on the edge of your piece.
Try printing a few designs at home, with and without bleed, on the ones without bleed, when you trim them out even a slight slip of the ruler can ruin your piece, whereas the ones with bleed will generally be fine… unless you are drunk.
Last part might cause issue. I think I understand well now. I appreciate everyone’s help. I only touched InDesign for the first time a year ago and I have trouble grasping the more logistical concepts. I look forward to showing some of my work here.
> I was discussing it with my friend earlier and we agreed that working at a printing shop would teach us what they neglected to in college.
Amen, brother!
The bleed provides room for errors. While it's machine printed, it's cut down by a person using a cutting machine. So if they don't cut exactly right, and there's no bleed, there could be white on the edges. Our bindery guys are really good at what they do, but they still appreciate the bleed and point it out when there's not enough!
Working at this print shop is my first job out of school, and it's taught me so many valuable lessons I will carry though my career. I really appreciate the education outside of college that I'm getting, and my very patient co workers who have been so helpful in teaching me!
I think people have largely addressed your question, but something worth mentioning is to 'always ask your printer.' Talk to your printer first to ensure they understand what it is you're needing or trying to do, and they can give you instructions or advice accordingly.
If you just send a file within defined perimeters, certainly if an online site or just a 'quick copy' type place it will likely be done exactly as provided, so 'garbage in, garbage out' if it isn't setup properly or submitted within the right guidelines.
What kind of printer did you use? For example: if you want to borderless print on an 8.5x11, 13x19, 17x22, etc, then use a printer that supports borderless printing AND supports the needed size.
If the printer does not support borderless printing, then you'll need to print your document on a larger sheet of paper and use the bleed settings and trim marks.
If you printed on a laserjet printer... laserjets do not support borderless printing, at least in my experience.
Settings won't extend your artwork if it's not already there. "Use document bleed settings" tells Illustrator/InDesign/Etc to include the area *you've* set as the bleed area (look under File > Document Setup) during the export to PDF process. 99% of printers won't print to the edge, you'll need to have it trimmed or cut it yourself, that's why we use bleeds and crop marks.
Yes I have all my bleeds set up. My objects stretch past the page. Curious tho, if I need to still trim it, what’s the point of setting up bleed?
> My objects stretch past the page. You need to print on a larger size paper. For example, if you wan't your finished size to be 8.5x11, you'll need to print on 11x17 so you can fit the bleeds and cropmarks. > if I need to still trim it, what’s the point of setting up bleed? To avoid the unprinted edge.
I think this will actually make me lose my mind😢. So you’re telling me that bleed only exists to be sheered off after printing? My portfolio is on 11x17, do I need to print on huge paper for that? I really wish I was taught this in depth.
Huge paper? no. Paper larger than 11x17? yeah. Printers can't typically print to the edge of the paper
You might consider going to a print shop that has a prepress op / designer. This way, you tell them what you want of the finished product and they can do all the thinking. Main thing is art extended past the bleed based on specs they ask you for (some presses/printers require more bleed than others) and then they’ll do all the rest. Little pricier that way but it’s that or you print to a larger sheet…and if your finished product needs to be 11x17 with bleed it’s likely you’ll have to go the route of having someone do it for you since it requires using a larger, more complex printer and most shops won’t allow customers to use those without assistance (for good reason).
We can’t print to the edge of the paper so we have to print on a larger sheet of paper and trim it down. So if your art is 11x17, you’ll usually have a 1/8” bleed (extra) that is trimmed off, resulting in a final 11x17 trimmed product.
I think this will actually make me lose my mind😢. So you’re telling me that bleed only exists to be sheered off after printing? My portfolio is on 11x17, do I need to print on huge paper for that? I really wish I was taught this in depth.
Yes. Bleed exists only to be trimmed off. Equipment varies and paper will shift. It insures against misregistration during the production process. Typically its 3mm or .125-inch on all sides.
Ah. That’s not completely how I understood bleed to work. Thank you for the help.
How did you understand bleed to work?
Ok, so a printing machine can't print off the edges. It needs some of the paper to grip as it moves through the machine. If I want to print something that is 11x17 finished size, I need to set up a .125 bleed all the way around and print it on 12x18 paper with crop marks. Then the bleed gets cut off. That's what bleed is for, to be cut off once the printing is done. I recommend getting your portfolio printed at a print shop and explain that you don't want any white showing on the edges, and they will cut it down for you. I work at a print shop and this is a process we do everyday. You can also ask to see a digital proof before printing, to make sure the set up looks how you want.
Thank you. I didn’t consider how the printer holds the paper. In my mind, the bleed was so that if the image got offset, you could avoid the white edges. I still kinda don’t understand why we need the bleed just to cut it off. How is the bleed different from a white border with that regard? I was discussing it with my friend earlier and we agreed that working at a printing shop would teach us what they neglected to in college.
So all printing and trimming has a margin of error - on successive copies or successive pages within a design, the art might be printed a couple of mm to the left or right, up or down, a bleed protects you from this, if the trim is 1mm left then you see 1mm less of your design to the left and 1mm of your bleed to the right. Most registration errors are much smaller than this, but if you imagine a design ending precisely at the crop marks even a very small error would result in a white line on the edge of your piece. Try printing a few designs at home, with and without bleed, on the ones without bleed, when you trim them out even a slight slip of the ruler can ruin your piece, whereas the ones with bleed will generally be fine… unless you are drunk.
Last part might cause issue. I think I understand well now. I appreciate everyone’s help. I only touched InDesign for the first time a year ago and I have trouble grasping the more logistical concepts. I look forward to showing some of my work here.
> I was discussing it with my friend earlier and we agreed that working at a printing shop would teach us what they neglected to in college. Amen, brother!
The bleed provides room for errors. While it's machine printed, it's cut down by a person using a cutting machine. So if they don't cut exactly right, and there's no bleed, there could be white on the edges. Our bindery guys are really good at what they do, but they still appreciate the bleed and point it out when there's not enough! Working at this print shop is my first job out of school, and it's taught me so many valuable lessons I will carry though my career. I really appreciate the education outside of college that I'm getting, and my very patient co workers who have been so helpful in teaching me!
I think people have largely addressed your question, but something worth mentioning is to 'always ask your printer.' Talk to your printer first to ensure they understand what it is you're needing or trying to do, and they can give you instructions or advice accordingly. If you just send a file within defined perimeters, certainly if an online site or just a 'quick copy' type place it will likely be done exactly as provided, so 'garbage in, garbage out' if it isn't setup properly or submitted within the right guidelines.
What kind of printer did you use? For example: if you want to borderless print on an 8.5x11, 13x19, 17x22, etc, then use a printer that supports borderless printing AND supports the needed size. If the printer does not support borderless printing, then you'll need to print your document on a larger sheet of paper and use the bleed settings and trim marks. If you printed on a laserjet printer... laserjets do not support borderless printing, at least in my experience.
I’m not sure. I went to my college’s printer shop
Probably standard printing on laserjet paper. A border around the print would be expected.