Bleed is the portion of an image, line, or color that extends beyond the final page size.
It is necessary when you want images, lines or colors to go to the edge of the finished page. For example, a 6 x 9" page is created larger (6.25 x 9.25") and is centered .125"(1/8") around the finished page size. See the image below.
When creating a document with bleed keep in mind that important art and text should be .25"(1/4") from the edge of the finished page size. This will allow for trim variance as well as bleed. The variance is shown below from the blue dotted line to the orange dotted line.
You will need to:
- Create and upload one PDF for your book.
- Page size must be .25 in. (.635 cm) larger in both width and height than the book size.
- Although we make every effort to provide high quality, consistently produced books, there can be slight variations from press to press in the trim size of your work. Allow for a trim variance of .125 inches. (.3175 cm).
- In order to prevent the loss of an image's primary subject matter during page trimming, you should position images on the page so that the important aspects within the image are at least .25 inches (.635 cm) from the edge of the finished page size.
- If your book is intended for distribution, any text within an image must be positioned at least .5 inches (.635 cm) from the edge of the finished page size.
Example: 6 x 9" (US Trade) book will need one PDF with a page size of 6.25 x 9.25" (see image attached below).
Common issues:
- Multiple PDFs result in one resized PDF without bleed
- Improper bleed results in a white strip or important content cut off at the edge of the page
- If the page size is larger than the sizes on the right hand side of the table below, the PDF will be resized without bleed
- Crop marks or registration marks should not be included
- Multiple-page spreads should be separated into single pages
- Pages should all be in the same orientation - Landscape or Portrait
- When creating a PDF from Word, set pages to portrait not landscape - Word to PDF
- The cover should not be included
Bleed instructions for InDesign are available here.
Dimensions for full bleed are in the table below:
| Final Trimmed Book Size without Bleed Inches/Centimeters |
PDF Page Size with Bleed |
| Pocket Book 4.25 x 6.87 in. / 10.79 x 17.46 cm |
4.5x 7.12 in / 11.43 x 18.09 cm |
| Digest 5.5 x. 8.5 in. / 13.97 x 21.59 cm |
5.75 x 8.75 in. / 14.61 x 22.225 cm |
| A5 5.83 x 8.26 in. / 14.81 x 20.99 cm |
6.08 x 8.51 in. / 15.44 x 21.62 cm |
| US Trade 6 x 9 in. / 15.24 x 22.86 cm |
6.25 x 9.25 in. / 15.87 x 23.49 cm |
| Royal 6.13 x 9.21 in. / 15.59 x 23.38 cm |
6.38 x 9.45 in. / 16.22 x 24.02 cm |
| Comic Book 6.625 x 10.25 in. / 16.82 x 26 cm |
6.87 x 10.50 in. / 17.46 x 26.67 cm |
| Crown Quarto 7.44 x 9.68 in. / 18.90 x 24.58 cm |
7.69 x 9.93 in. / 19.54 x 25.22 cm |
| A4 8.26 x 11.69 in. / 20.99 x 29.70 cm |
8.51 x 11.94 in. / 21.62 x 30.33 cm |
| US Letter 8.5 x 11 in. / 21.59 x 27.94 cm |
8.75 x 11.25 in. / 22.22 x 28.57 cm |
| US Letter Casewrap 8.25 x 10.75 in. / 20.95 x 27.31 cm |
8.50 x 11 in. / 21.59 x 27.94 cm |
| Landscape 9 x 7 in. / 22.86 x 17.78 cm |
9.25x 7.25 in. / 23.49 x 18.41 cm |
| Large Landscape 12.75 x 10.75 in. / 32.385 x 27.31 cm |
13 x 11 in. / 33.02 x 27.94 cm |
| Small Square 7.5 x 7.5 in. / 19 x 19 cm |
7.75 x 7.75 in. / 19.68 x. 19.68 cm |
| Square 8.5 x 8.5 in. / 21.59 x 21.59 cm |
8.75 x 8.75 in. / 22.22 x 22.22 cm |
| Large Square 12 x 12 in. / 30.48 x 30.48 cm |
12.25 x 12.25 in. / 19.355 x 19.355 cm |
