Bleed, Trim and Safe Margins: What Is the Difference?

Synthetic preparation worksheet v1 — 25 October 2026. Not a physical sample, app screenshot, certification or fulfilled order.

A worked size example, not a production specification

Suppose a supplier requests a 100 × 150 mm finished piece, 3 mm bleed on every side and 5 mm internal safety. The artwork extent is 106 × 156 mm: add twice the bleed to each dimension. The safe rectangle is 90 × 140 mm: subtract twice the safety allowance. These numbers are illustrative, not BizBee defaults.

Read the nested areas from outside in: BLEED edge → 3 mm of expendable background → TRIM line → 5 mm safety gap → essential text. A logo inside the bleed is still outside the finished product.

Check the exported edge, not just the export setting

Open the PDF and inspect all four edges. A photograph must continue beyond trim; an empty white band with crop marks is not useful bleed. Adobe distinguishes TrimBox, the final trimmed size, from BleedBox, the extension beyond it. Do not add printer marks unless requested.

For a normal document with white margins, do not invent a trim job. Ask for the final dimensions, stock and finishing specification before sending edge-to-edge artwork.

Record your decision

• ☐ Finished size written separately from exported page size — Notes: ____________________
• ☐ Background extends beyond every required cut edge — Notes: ____________________
• ☐ Text and page numbers clear of the agreed safe boundary — Notes: ____________________

Approved filename/revision: ____________________

Reviewer/date: ____________________