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Guidelines for Print Ready PDF Files

Bleed Recommendations

Last updated on 23 Jan, 2026

Bleed elements

Type, objects, art intended to bleed must extend beyond trim by a minimum of 1/8". We recommend bleeds extend 3/16” past trim, while items in the live page area not intended to trim off should be a minimum of ¼ inch away from the page edge. Marks and type slugs outside the trim area should also be ¼ inch outside the trim.

Special Bleed Considerations

Smyth, saddlestitch and adhesive binding do not require gutter bleed. PUR binding & Mechanical binding (spiral, wire-o, plastic comb and hole punched binding) require 1/8” gutter bleed. Typically, desktop publishing software requires such pages to be set up in single page mode, not spreads, in order to enable gutter bleeds.

Printers Marks

Printer’s marks (registration marks, trim marks, page id’s, etc.) must be positioned ¼ inch or farther outside trim. Some software programs do not provide control over how far such marks are placed outside trim. In those cases, leave printers marks off.

 

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