Have you ever received a printed piece with white edges or text that got cut off? Don't blame the printer just yet, it might be because your design didn't have a bleed. Yes, bleed is essential for print designs and can save you from embarrassing design mistakes.
Let's break it down. Bleed is the extra bit of your design that extends beyond the edges of your final print size. This is crucial because during the print process, the sheet can move ever so slightly. Without a bleed, you may end up with unsightly white borders or missing text.
So, how do you add bleed? It's easy! First, you need to set up your art board to include bleed. Most design software, such as Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop, have a bleed setup option in their document setup menu. You can add 0.125 inches or 3mm bleed to all sides of your design. This will give your printer some wiggle room to cut your design to the correct size without messing up the important parts.
But wait, there's more! Adding bleed can also give you some creative freedom to design outside the lines, literally. You can extend background colours or patterns, let images bleed off the edges, and give your design a more professional and polished look.
Now, I know what you're thinking. "This all sounds great, but I don't have the time or skills to set up bleed for my designs." Fear not, my friend! You can always hire a professional designer who will do the job for you. Or, you can use online design tools like Canva, which has bleed settings built-in for easy design creation.
In conclusion, adding bleed to your print designs is not just important, it's essential. It can save you from design disasters and make your designs stand out. So, go ahead, add some bleed to your designs and let your creativity flow beyond the edges. Your printer and your audience will thank you for it.
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