How to put bleeds on Adobe InDesign files

• Placing bleeds on a new InDesign File.
• Placing bleeds onto an existing InDesign file.

Placing bleeds on a NEW Adobe InDesign File

We will assume we want to create a business card with bleeds.

It is very easy to set up Adobe InDesign files for business cards (or any other type of product for that matter).

First go "File" > "New".
You will be presented with a picture similar to the below screen shot (but without the arrows and numbers). There is then a simple three-step process to set up your business card file.

1. Put in the size that you want the finished size business card to be. With TheOnlinePrinter, the standard finished size for a standard business card is 90mm x 55mm.
2. Put is the "Safety Margin" size. If you have any text or images on your business card, then you should make sure that those images and that text is kept INSIDE that safety margin box. For business cards, the "Safety Margin" should be at least 5mm. For other larger jobs, you should make the "Safety Margin" at least 7mm.
3. Put in a 3mm bleed. Make sure ALL the bleed boxes are filled with the numeral "3"

You then click "OK", and the file will be created similar to the below image.

When you work on the Adobe InDesigtn business card file you MUST consider the following:

1. The "Black" box is where your business card will be trimmed (see numeral "1" in the above image).
2. The "Pink/Purple" box is the safety margin area (see numeral "2" in the above image). Keep ALL vital images and text within this box.
3. The "Black" box is the bleed box (see numeral "3" in ther above image). All back ground colours and images that you want to print to the very edge of your finished business card must extend to AT LEAST that box. They can go further out if you wish, but they MUST GO TO AT LEAST THE EDGE OF THE BLEED BOX.

If you want to know more about "Bleeds" and what they do, try a visit to TheOnlinePrinter's "Bleeds and Explaining Cropmarks"  information page.

Adding bleeds to an EXISTING Adobe InDesign file

This is really easy.

First: Open your existing file.

Second: Choose "File" > "Document Setup".  See the below image.

Third, you should be presented with a box like the one below. Choose: "More Options".

You will then be presented with a box that states the document's details. and all you need do is add 3mm to each of the bleeds boxes (see below), and then click "OK".

Your file will then appear with the bleed lines.