When designing printed materials, keep in mind two important concepts: the safety zone and bleed. These terms refer to areas of a design that can impact how it will appear on paper when printed. In this article, we’ll look at the concepts of safety zone and bleed in print design.

Safety Zone (in grey)

The safety zone is an area around the edge of a design that should be kept clear of any important design elements such as text or logos. This ensures that none important parts will get cut off during printing. The size of the safety zone will vary depending on the printing specifications and printer used. The general rule of thumb is to keep important elements at least 3mm but we recommended 5mm from the edge of the paper. This ensures that no important information will be lost even if the trimming is an inch off. When text or logos are placed too close to the edge of a piece, they may be cut off in printing.

Bleed (in red)

Bleed refers to the part of a design that extends beyond the trim size. This is done so there are no white borders or unprinted areas around the edges of the final product. You should be especially mindful of bleed when designing materials, such as business cards, flyers and posters that will have images printed to the edge.

The standard bleed size is usually 3mm, although it may vary depending on the printer’s specifications. It’s important to make sure that any important design elements, such as text or logos, do not extend into the bleed area. Any images, text or other elements that extend past the trim line will be cut off during printing and leave a white border.

Why are safety zone and bleeds Important?

Safety zones, bleeds and margins are important parts of any print design because they make sure that the final product looks professional and complete. By keeping important design elements inside the safety zone and adding a bleed area, designers can help avoid printing problems that may arise during the trimming process. Trimming excess paper from the edge of a piece can leave important elements, such as text or artwork, cut off. If there is no bleed area in the final product, white borders or unprinted areas around edges may result, making it look less professional.

By following the guidelines for bleed and safety zones, designers can ensure that their printed products look polished and professional. Small details such as these are often overlooked by inexperienced users but have a big impact on the final result.

In summary, an understanding of safety zone and bleed is important in print design. The safety zone and bleed ensure that important design elements are not cut off during the printing process; furthermore, no white borders or unprinted areas will appear around the edges of your print job.

Following these guidelines will ensure that the final printed product looks professional and complete.