The Importance of
Bleeds & Margins
Written By: Katt Woodworth
The invitations depicted in this image required a bleed of the green background & flowers. Notice how the text is set – making use of the margins.
Something I’ve noticed all too often in the course of my time as a Digital Print Specialist is that new and amateur designers will leave off the bleeds in their design files. They also forget about the margin entirely.
When print shops receive files that are missing these elements, it causes unnecessary problems and headaches.
So, to all you design novices out there, here is what you need to know about the all-important margins & bleeds.
Bleeds vs Margins & Why They Matter
You may have heard these terms before, but what are they exactly?
Well, bleeds are that the extra area that extends past the edge of your document. They are intended to be cut off, leaving behind a clean edge. Margins, on the other hand, are the safe inner zones that keep important content—like text—from being cut.
Because there is always some variation when cutting down to the finished size, bleeds and margins prevent unwanted mishaps from occurring and ensuring a quality perfect print.
When to Implement
At this point, you are probably wondering, when do you add a bleed or margin? Well, the answer is very simple.
You always want to include a margin. Maintaining a margin not only keeps your crucial elements from being cut off, but it also gives your design a professional look overall.
As for bleeds, it is good practice to incorporate them into every design, as a bleed can easily be removed but is difficult to add in later. Although, it is only necessary when you have an element that is meant to run to the edge of the page.
How to Implement
Setting up bleeds and margins is simple—and once you do, you’ll never skip them again.
Most programs like Illustrator and InDesign let you add bleeds during document setup; the standard is 0.125” on all sides. Programs without bleed settings, like Photoshop, require you to build the bleed into the document size and mark the trim edge with guides.
Margins work the same everywhere: add guides inside the edge to create a safety zone—typically 0.25”, though 0.5” offers extra breathing room for things like hole punching.
Keep in mind that ChatGPT and Canva make controlling these elements significantly harder than they need to be.
This is a template for a standard size business card.
The Takeaway
Bleeds & margins serve to protect your design from production malfunction, preventing ugly and thin raw paper lines and sliced elements. Including them in your file is not only imperative but also gives your design an overall clean and professional look. Not only that, but whoever handles your work at the print shop will be sure to notice and mentally applaud you – I, for one, always do.
Remember: If you find yourself in need of a template, don’t hesitate to ask. We will be more than happy to send you one!