Whether you are a graphic designer with years of experience or a beginner. Knowing how to add bleed in Photoshop is essential to ensure a flawless print outcome. While it may seem like a daunting task, with a few simple steps, you will be able to save time and ensure a high-quality finished product.
How to Add Bleed in Photoshop
Bleed refers to the area outside a project or document that is trimmed after printing to ensure that edges have color around them.
Step 1: Adding some guides around the edges of project or document.
1. Open the document you want to add bleed.
2. Press the Ctrl + R to enable rulers.
3. Now, click on the View option.
4. Select Snap To.
5. Click on Document Bounds to ensure the new guide will snap to the document edges.
6. Now, click on the top ruler and drag a guide down to the top edge of the document.
7. Then, click on the left ruler and drag a second guide to the left edge of your document.
Follow the same steps to add an additional two guides to the other two edges of the document.
This guide helps separate the printed area from the area that will be trimmed.
Step 2: Add a bleed in Photoshop
1. Click on Image.
2. Select Canvas Size.
3. Now, set the units to Millimeters (mm).
4. In the Canvas size dialog box, enter the amount of bleed you want to add to your project.
For example, if you want to add 3 mm for each edge of the document, increase the existing width and height values by 6 mm.
5. Once done, click on the OK button.
How to Add Crop Marks in Photoshop
Crop marks are essential for indicating where a printed project should be trimmed. You can easily add crop marks in Photoshop by following these simple steps:
1. In your Photoshop, click on the File option.
2. Click on Print.
3. Now, select Microsoft Print to PDF from the drop-down menu.
4. Navigate to the Printing Marks section.
5. Then, check the Corner Crop Marks box.
6. From the Functions section, click on the Bleed option.
7. Now, set the Width units to 3 millimeters (mm).
8. Click on OK to apply the settings.
9. Lastly, click on Print to save your project as a PDF file.
How to Add 3mm Bleed in Photoshop
To add 3mm bleed in Photoshop simply follow these straightforward steps.
1. First, the Step 1-3 from the previous heading on How to Add bleed in Photoshop Step 2: Add a bleed in Photoshop
2. Now, increase the width and height of your canvas by 6mm (3mm for each edge)
3. After adjusting the size, click on OK to expand your document with a 3mm bleed.
How to Add Bleed in Adobe Illustrator
Adding bleed to your Adobe Illustrator is important while preparing files for printing to ensure that no white border or gaps are present at the edges of your design.
To add Bleed to the New Document, follow these steps:
1. Open a new document in Adobe illustrator.
2. In the New Document dialogue box, adjust the values to your desired bleed size.
3. Click Create.
To add bleed in existing document Abode Illustrator, follow these steps:
1. Open your document in Abode Illustrator.
2. Navigate to the File.
3. Select Document Setup.
4. In the Bleed section, adjust the bleed values (e.g.0.125 inches) for the top, bottom, right, and left.
5. Click on OK.
The red line will show the added bleed.
6. To save your document as a PDF file select Save As option.
7. Click Save.
8. From the Mark and Bleed section, check the Use Document Bleed Settings box.
Also See: How to Add Text in Photoshop
How to Add Bleed in Adobe InDesign
To add bleed in Adobe InDesign, follow these steps if you want to add bleed in a new document.
1. In your Adobe InDesign, click on the New File.
2. Then select Document Setup.
3. Enter the desired values for the bleed.
4. To apply the same bleed to all sides of your document make sure the chain box is checked.
You can uncheck the chain box if you want specific Bleed to certain side of documents.
5. Lastly, click on Create.
To add bleed to your existing document, follow these steps:
1. Open your InDesign existing document.
2. Click on File.
3. Then, select Document Setup.
4. Click on the drop-down icon given next to the Bleed and Slug.
5. Change the values with your desired value for your bleed.
6. Click on OK to apply the bleed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Where is the Bleed Option in Photoshop?
In Photoshop there is not a built-in feature for adding bleed to a design. However, users can manually adjust the size of their canvas to include bleed by going to the canvas size dialog box.
Are Bleed Areas and Margins Different?
Yes, bleed and margins are different. Bleed enables you to print images and graphics that extend the edge of the paper without any white gaps. On the other hand, margins ensure that your important elements and text are not cut off or too close to the edge.
What Does a Bleed Area Look Like?
A bleed area refers to the extra bit of artwork or images or backgrounds that extends beyond the trim edge of a printed page. It is typically printed on a larger sheet of paper that is then trimmed down to the final size.
Also See: How to Add Texture in Photoshop
We hope this article helped you learn how to add bleed in Photoshop. If you have any queries or suggestions, leave them in the comments box. Keep visiting our page for more interesting and helpful articles.
