Fireside 2.1 (https://fireside.fm) Rookie Designer Podcast Blog https://www.rookiedesigner.com/articles Mon, 19 Feb 2018 15:00:00 -0500 Rookie Designer Podcast Blog en-us What is Bleed? https://www.rookiedesigner.com/articles/what-is-bleed Mon, 19 Feb 2018 15:00:00 -0500 info@rookiedesigner.com b709ca89-a0f2-411a-81f3-465f2b5db351 One of the most common mistakes made by rookie designers when it comes to print design, is not providing bleed in their print ready files. A good printer will reject the file and ask you to resubmit it with a bleed. However, a lot of online printers won’t even notice the issue due to their automated systems and will print your file with some disastrous results. This can cost you money and time loss. One of the most common mistakes made by rookie designers when it comes to print design, is not providing bleed in their print ready files. A good printer will reject the file and ask you to resubmit it with a bleed. However, a lot of online printers won’t even notice the issue due to their automated systems and will print your file with some disastrous results. This can cost you money and time.

What does Bleed mean?

Bleed allows you to run graphics to the edge of the page. This is done by allowing the graphic to go beyond the finished sheet edge and then the final product is trimmed to finished size. The typical amount the document should be extended is 1/8 inch but some printers like it to be more, closer to 1/4 inch. It is best to reach out to the printer you are working with and ask them what they want.

Say you are designing a standard business card at the size of 3 1/2 inches by 2 inches and you have a color background or graphic you wish to have go all the way to the edge of the cards on every side, you would need to extend the document to include the extra 1/8 inch. This makes your document size 3 3/4 inches by 2 1/4 inches. This ensures that the color or graphic will go to the edge and you won’t end up with any white lines at the edges.

Here is an example of what I am talking about.

This same process is done with other print marketing products such as brochures, rack cards, post cards, posters, and lawn signs. Those are only a few examples of other products. The process translates to anything you are designing and have graphics or color all the way to the edge.

Design software today typically has a final document size and also a setting where you can add bleeds. InDesign, the design software I use, has it right in the "New Document" dialogue box. You put in the measurements you want for each side and it creates a frame just outside the final paper size to show bleed.

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Why is Bleed necessary?

While printing presses are pretty good at keeping a very tight registration to create nice crisp images, there are some variations that can not be prevented. A slight paper shift or even machine vibration can cause things to move a bit. If a bleed isn’t there then it would most certainly show a white line at the edge. This can make the print piece not look professional. By having the bleed, it makes it so that when the job is trimmed to remove the bleed there is no issue like this and guarantees the graphics or color background goes all the way to the edge.

While most printers use the term bleed, it can also be known as print bleed, bleeds (plural), and full bleed printing. Be sure to talk to your printer and they’ll be happy to help you out. After all, not having to reject a file makes their job easier and keeps things flowing through their production process.

A Little Tip: I suggest you add bleed to all sides of your document, not just the edge where you might have a graphic or color going to the edge. This will help prevent any issues when exporting and your print image will place correctly for the printer. Sometimes if you only add it to a single side it can throw off the placement.

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Rotating and Ranking Photos - Adobe Bridge https://www.rookiedesigner.com/articles/adobe-bridge-rotating-and-ranking-photos Sun, 28 Aug 2011 19:30:00 -0400 info@rookiedesigner.com b7c2a554-39f6-41bd-b6be-e728c7630c94 Working with Adobe Bridge to rotate photos and also rank your photos using 1 to 5 stars. Sharing the keyboard shortcuts for both. Working with Adobe Bridge to rotate photos and also rank your photos using 1 to 5 stars. Sharing the keyboard shortcuts for both.

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Vertically Distribute Text Frames - InDesign https://www.rookiedesigner.com/articles/vertically-distribute-text-frames-indesign Sun, 07 Aug 2011 19:00:00 -0400 info@rookiedesigner.com 08acfc7e-2d98-4889-a21a-919ab01e2024 Vertically Distribute Text Frames: InDesign Vertically Distribute Text Frames: InDesign

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Measurement Units and Rulers - InDesign https://www.rookiedesigner.com/articles/measurement-units-and-rulers-indesign Sun, 31 Jul 2011 19:00:00 -0400 info@rookiedesigner.com b51d5863-f781-4a6f-87af-e2e48e17a816 Tips on how the Measurement Units can be changed and how to hide and show your rulers in InDesign. Tips on how the Measurement Units can be changed and how to hide and show your rulers in InDesign.

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Snippets - InDesign https://www.rookiedesigner.com/articles/snippets-in-indesign Sun, 17 Jul 2011 19:00:00 -0400 info@rookiedesigner.com 84978a1b-8230-45c6-a6da-2546cc367ecf Snippets in InDesign Snippets in InDesign

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Displace Filter - Photoshop https://www.rookiedesigner.com/articles/displace-filter-in-photoshop Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:45:00 -0400 info@rookiedesigner.com 6a974fee-344b-4ea6-a2be-bbab6c696235 Displace Filter in Photoshop A short video showing how you can use the displace filter to create a proof for your customer using a vector logo on top of a photo of a golf ball.

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Typography Tip To Help With Kerning https://www.rookiedesigner.com/articles/typography-tip-to-help-with-kerning Wed, 29 Jun 2011 19:00:00 -0400 info@rookiedesigner.com 748adffe-9103-4b6f-a1f2-c5a421488781 Typography Tip To Help With Kerning A short video tip on a way to help you with your kerning, using InDesign but also can be done in Illustrator and Photoshop.

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Shape Tools - Illustrator https://www.rookiedesigner.com/articles/shape-tools-illustrator Sun, 19 Jun 2011 19:00:00 -0400 info@rookiedesigner.com 975e0a1f-4cc4-454d-bdfa-0c9aee2dfbaa Shape Tools - Illustrator A video on some of the features of the shape tools in Illustrator. I cover the rectangle, rounded rectangle, ellipse, polygon and star tools.

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Add A New Layer - Photoshop https://www.rookiedesigner.com/articles/add-a-new-layer-to-a-photoshop-document Sun, 12 Jun 2011 19:00:00 -0400 info@rookiedesigner.com fdaedc7e-ed37-4e65-87fb-efc158f6a0cc Add A New Layer to A Photoshop Document A short tip on how to add a new layer in Photoshop using the layers pallet, the menu item and also the keyboard shortcut.

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Box With Rounded Corners - InDesign https://www.rookiedesigner.com/articles/box-with-rounded-corners-indesign Tue, 07 Jun 2011 19:00:00 -0400 info@rookiedesigner.com 9aa3b942-3c9a-4c45-b4c6-0398137d98a3 Box With Rounded Corners - InDesign A short video on how to create a box with rounded corners using InDesign.

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