How to Set Up 50mm Bleeding in Adobe Illustrator
Bleed is the extra area outside the actual size of your document that is trimmed off after printing. This ensures that the image or design extends all the way to the edge of the paper without any white borders. In Adobe Illustrator, setting up a 50mm bleed requires a few simple steps to ensure your design is ready for professional printing.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set up a 50mm bleed in Adobe Illustrator:
Step 1: Open your Document
Open Adobe Illustrator and go to File > New to create a new document. Set the dimensions of your document to the size you want, and add an additional 50mm to both the width and height to account for the bleed. For example, if your final size is 210mm x 297mm (A4 size), your document size with bleed will be 260mm x 347mm.
Step 2: Set Up Bleed
In the New Document window, find the “Bleed” section. Input “50mm” into the fields for both the top, bottom, left, and right sides. This will create a 50mm bleed around the edges of your document.
Step 3: Design Your Artwork
Now that your document is set up with a 50mm bleed, you can create your artwork within the document boundaries. Make sure that any important elements, such as text or logos, are placed well within the safety margin, which is typically around 5-10mm from the edge of the document to ensure they won’t be cut off during trimming.
Step 4: Export for Printing
Once your design is finished, you will need to save it with the bleed included for printing. Go to File > Save As and select a print-ready format, such as PDF. In the Save Adobe PDF window, under the “Marks and Bleeds” section, check the “Use Document Bleed Settings” box to ensure the bleed is included in the final file.
Step 5: Verify Bleed with Printer
Before sending your artwork to the printer, it is a good practice to verify with your printer whether the 50mm bleed setup is appropriate for their specific printing equipment. Some printers may have their own bleed requirements, so it’s essential to confirm the bleed specifications before finalizing your file.
Setting up a 50mm bleed in Adobe Illustrator is a crucial step in preparing your artwork for professional printing. By following these steps, you can ensure that your design extends to the edge of the paper seamlessly, resulting in a polished and professional final product.
