Learn how to use bleeds and margins in desktop publishing software to create professional business cards and letterheads for print.

In the world of Desktop Publishing (DTP), proper preparation is crucial to avoid problems later on. "Bleed" provides an extra margin of safety for your design by allowing vibrant colors to extend to the very edge without undesired white lines. Margins serve as a protective frame for your content, giving it space and preventing text from being cut off during the trimming process. Most DTP software includes guides for setting up bleeds and margins, which are essential for positioning elements accurately. Remember to do a test print as a final check before printing to catch any layout issues that may have been overlooked.

How do you test and proofread your business cards and letterheads before sending them to print?

Bleeds and margins are essential elements of any print design project, especially for business cards and letterheads. They ensure that your design looks professional and consistent, and that no important information is cut off or misplaced. In this article, you will learn what bleeds and margins are, how to set them up in your desktop publishing software, and how to test and proofread your business cards and letterheads before sending them to print.

1 What are bleeds and margins?

Bleeds and margins are the extra space around the edges of your design that allow for printing and trimming variations. Bleeds extend beyond the final size of your document, and they are usually trimmed off after printing. Margins are the space between the edge of your document and the edge of your design, and they provide a safe area for your text and graphics. Bleeds and margins are measured in inches, millimeters, or points, depending on your software and printer settings.

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2 How to set up bleeds and margins?

To set up bleeds and margins in your desktop publishing software, you need to know the final size of your document, the required bleed amount, and the recommended margin size. For example, if you are designing a standard 3.5 x 2 inch business card with a 0.125 inch bleed and a 0.25 inch margin, you need to create a document that is 3.75 x 2.25 inches, and leave a 0.25 inch space between the edge of your design and the edge of your document. You can use guides, rulers, or grids to help you align your elements and create a balanced layout.

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Susmita Dutta

Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling Author | TEDx Speaker | LinkedIn Top Voice | Founder | Award-winning Bestselling Author | Expert Speakers Bureau | Book Writing and Publishing Specialist | C Level strategist
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In the world of Desktop Publishing (DTP), proper preparation is crucial to avoid problems later on. "Bleed" provides an extra margin of safety for your design by allowing vibrant colors to extend to the very edge without undesired white lines. Margins serve as a protective frame for your content, giving it space and preventing text from being cut off during the trimming process. Most DTP software includes guides for setting up bleeds and margins, which are essential for positioning elements accurately. Remember to do a test print as a final check before printing to catch any layout issues that may have been overlooked.

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3 How to test and proofread your business cards and letterheads?

Before sending your business cards and letterheads to print, it’s important to test and proofread them to avoid any errors or inconsistencies. To do so, check the spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting of your text; make sure the resolution, color mode, and file format of your images are high quality; check the alignment, spacing, and balance of your design; measure and trim your document to the final size; and ensure the bleed and margin settings are within the safe area. Utilizing a spell checker, proofreading tool, or second pair of eyes can help catch any mistakes. Use the zoom and preview functions of your software to see how your design looks at different scales and angles. Finally, use a ruler, paper cutter or mockup template to measure and trim your document to the final size.

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Debe Tighe

Communications Editor & UI/UX Lead
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I always read everything from the last word to the first word. That way, you are reading/seeing without the sentence construct. I often catch mistakes no other reviewers found.

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Tim Lippard
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The process starts in-house and ends with client approval via PDF proof and email approval. We go over everything from spelling to spacing to punctuation and grammar. We test for proper bleeds and test print to ensure the file prints as it should. Once we are satisfied in-house, it goes to the client for the final approval. Once received, production begins.

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How do you test and proofread your business cards and letterheads before sending them to print?

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1 What are bleeds and margins?

2 How to set up bleeds and margins?

3 How to test and proofread your business cards and letterheads?

Desktop Publishing

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