ARTWORK GUIDE
HOW SHOULD I SUBMIT MY ARTWORK FOR PRINT?
When submitting your artwork for print, please email us a PDF with crops and .125" bleed.
Artwork that requires design, edits, or print-set up are subject to a design fee charged at $1.25/minute.
Not sure what crops and bleeds are? Not sure if you need them? Read on!
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WHAT IS BLEED?
In printing, "bleed" describes the artwork that runs off the edge of the page.
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WHY SHOULD I BLEED MY ARTWORK?
When graphics continue to the edge of the paper, bleed is required. This is because commercial printing presses cannot print on the edge of the paper. Artwork is usually printed on large paper (normally 12’’ x 18’’), then trimmed down to the final size. Without bleed, misalignments or small technical errors in trimming can cause your artwork to not extend to the edge of the paper or leave a small hairline white edge.
HOW MUCH BLEED DO I NEED?
Standard bleed is 1/8 inch (.125") on all sides.
For example, the dimensions of a standard Letter sheet with bleed would be 8.75 in. x 11.25 in. Then, it will be cut to its finished size of 8.5 in. x 11 in.
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WHAT IS A DESIGN SAFE ZONE?
The safe zone is the area within 1/8” from the trim line (where the paper will be cut). This is where you should keep any important artwork to ensure that it will not be clipped when the paper is trimmed to final size.
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FOR EXAMPLE:
If you designed a 3.5" x 2" business card with an blue background, make sure to bleed the blue background 1/8" (.125 inches) on all sides. So the size you would send to the printer is 3.75" x 2.25".
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Same goes for graphics. Extend your graphic outside of the desired final size. It will later be trimmed off, so make sure there is no important information or graphics in the outer 1/8" bleed area. To be safe, design your work at least 1/8" inside the trim line.
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TRIM LINE: Determined by crop marks. This is where the artwork will be cut and will be the edge of the page. The area outside of it will not be included in the final product. DO NOT include a trim line to your artwork. Add crop marks instead!
CROP MARKS: Show where the image is to be cut. This can and should be included on your document.
SAFE ZONE: When designing your artwork, keep any important information within 1/8” inside of the trim line just to be safe!
SLUG: Refers to just about everything else: the area outside the printed image and the bleed, which can contain other important information and marks for printing purposes.
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READY FOR PRINT
FINISHED PRODUCT
INCORRECT
Common Mistakes:
• No bleed area or white bleed area
into bleed zone
• The objects touching the edge of the page do
not extend into bleed zone
• Not enough bleed
• Important text and objects are too close to the
edge of the page and risk being clipped off
