Crop marks and bleeds are essential elements to ensure that your final document retains a professional look when printed. Crops tell the printer where to trim the paper and bleed is the term used for the extended area of your artwork that goes beyond it's actual size. Having bleed helps to avoid any inconsistencies when cutting the document to size, as well as white space along the edge of the piece.
Printers often require a print-ready pdf with crops and bleed . Here is how to create one from your artwork:
Step 1. If your document has color that goes to the edge of the trim, be sure you have extended it past the trim .125” on those sides.
Step 2. Export your pdf using the “Press Quality” preset.
Step 3. Be sure to select “Crop Marks”.
Step 4. Set your “Bleed” to .125 in. on the top, bottom, left and right sides.
Step 5. Click “Export” to save your pdf.
