What is bleed and why do I need it?
Bleed is the extra artwork that extends beyond the edge of where your tag will actually be cut. Without it, finished tags can end up with unwanted white edges after trimming.
What is bleed?
Bleed gives the trimming process a small amount of tolerance, so any tiny movement during cutting doesn't leave a white edge showing.
Why is bleed needed?
Cutting print material is a physical, mechanical process, and even a fraction of a millimetre of movement is normal. If your background colour or image stops exactly at the trim line, any slight shift can expose the unprinted edge underneath.
Bleed removes this risk by making sure there's always printed colour right up to — and past — the cut edge.
How much bleed do I need?
- 3mm bleed on all sides is the standard we recommend
- Any background colours, images, or patterns should extend fully into the bleed area
- Important content (text, logos) should stay well clear of the bleed — more on that in our Safe Zone guide
What happens if I don't include bleed?
- White edges can appear around the trimmed tag
- We may need to contact you before printing, which can delay your order
- In some cases we can extend your background slightly for you, but this isn't guaranteed to match your original design
Quick tips for setting up bleed
- Set up your artboard at the finished size plus 3mm bleed on each side
- Extend background colours and images fully to the edge of the bleed
- Don't add borders or frames right at the trim line — a small gap looks more intentional and forgives minor trim movement
If you're ever unsure whether your bleed is set up correctly, don't worry — we'll always check your artwork before printing and let you know if anything needs adjusting.
Quick summary
- Bleed is the extra artwork beyond the trim edge, usually 3mm
- It prevents white edges caused by normal trimming tolerance
- Backgrounds and images should extend into the bleed area
- We'll check your file before printing either way