What is bleed in printing?

Bleed is the additional area of design that extends past the final trim size to guarantee edge-to-edge coverage. You should extend your background images and colors into this zone so that minor shifts during the cutting process do not leave unprinted white slivers at the edges. For standard business cards, the most common bleed specification is 1.5 mm, though some facilities require 2 mm. Always check your specific printer’s guidelines, as this dimension can vary. Keep critical text and logos at least 3 mm inside the trim line to ensure they remain fully visible after the sheet is cut to its final dimensions.

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