Bleed

What is Bleeding?

Bleeding is a printing term used to describe the phenomenon of ink or toner extending past the intended area of coverage on a printed piece. This usually occurs when the printer is not correctly calibrated, which means it is not accurately printing the document to its intended dimensions.

Examples of Bleeding

Below are some examples of bleeding:

  • Printing an image to the edge of a page, such as when a full-bleed business card is printed.
  • Printing text or other elements to the edge of a page.
  • Printing a background color or pattern that extends to the edge of the page.
  • Printing a color that is too intense, causing it to “bleed” into the surrounding paper.

How to Avoid Bleeding

There are several ways to avoid bleeding when printing:

  • Ensure that the printer is correctly calibrated.
  • Set the printer’s margins to the correct size.
  • Use a bleed template to ensure that elements are not printed too close to the edge of the page.
  • Adjust the document’s color settings to avoid over-saturating the colors.

Conclusion

The best way to avoid bleeding when printing is to ensure that the printer is correctly calibrated and that the document is set up correctly. By following these steps, you can ensure that your prints will be accurate and free of any unwanted bleeding.

References