What Is Bleed and Why Do I Need It?

Learn what bleed is, how much bleed to add to your Bookvault files and whether you need to include crop marks, bleed marks or colour bars.

Bleed is the area of artwork that extends beyond the final trimmed edge of a printed page.

It helps prevent unwanted white edges appearing around your artwork if there is a small amount of movement during the trimming process.

How much bleed should I add?

For standard full-bleed artwork, add 3mm bleed on every edge that will be trimmed.

This means a document requiring bleed will normally be 6mm larger overall in both height and width than the finished page size.

For example, if your finished page is 148mm × 210mm and requires bleed on every edge, your PDF page would be:

154mm × 216mm

Do I need bleed on every page?

No. Bleed is only required where artwork, images or colour are intended to continue all the way to the trimmed edge of the page.

If nothing needs to print to the edge, you don't need to extend the artwork into the bleed area.

How should I prepare full-bleed artwork?

Extend any background colours, photographs, illustrations or other elements that are intended to reach the edge of the finished page 3mm beyond the trim line.

Don't simply add an empty 3mm border around the finished artwork. The actual artwork needs to extend into that additional area.

Bookvault's system can identify the bleed from the dimensions of the file you supply.

What about Case Bound covers?

For Case Bound covers, the cover artwork requires additional material to wrap around the cover boards.

Allow 20mm around the cover for the wrap when preparing the artwork.

Use your Bookvault sizing template for the exact dimensions required for your chosen book specifications.

How to Download and Use Bookvault Templates

 Do I need to add crop marks, bleed marks or colour bars?

No. You don't need to add crop marks, bleed marks or colour bars to your Bookvault files.

Bookvault can work with files that contain them, but our software automatically adds the required crop marks and margins when your files are sent to print, so there's no need to add them yourself.

The important thing is to make sure your document is correctly sized and that any full-bleed artwork extends into the required bleed area.

How can I check the correct dimensions?

Bookvault generates sizing templates based on your chosen book specifications.

These show the dimensions you need when preparing your interior and cover files.

How Should I Size My Book PDF?