How do you set up bleeds and margins for business cards in Illustrator?

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 inner space between the edge of your document and the content, and they provide a safety zone for your design elements. Bleeds and margins are measured in inches or millimeters, depending on your printing preferences.

2 Why do you need bleeds and margins?

Bleeds and margins are necessary to avoid unwanted white borders or cropped content in your printed documents. Printers and cutting machines are not always precise, and they may shift or vary slightly during the production process. By adding bleeds and margins, you ensure that your design covers the entire surface of your document, and that no important information or graphics are cut off or too close to the edge.

3 How to set up bleeds and margins in Illustrator?

To set up bleeds and margins in Illustrator, you need to create a new document with the correct size and resolution for your project. For example, if you want to design a standard business card, you can use a 3.5 x 2 inch document with 300 dpi resolution. Then, you need to add the bleed and margin values to your document settings. You can do this by going to File > Document Setup, and clicking on the Edit Artboards button. A new window will open, where you can enter the bleed and margin values in the corresponding fields. For business cards, a common bleed value is 0.125 inches, and a common margin value is 0.25 inches. You can also use the guides and rulers to adjust the bleed and margin areas visually.

4 How to design with bleeds and margins in Illustrator?

Once you have set up your bleeds and margins in Illustrator, you can start designing your document. You should keep in mind that anything that you want to print should extend to the bleed area, and anything that you want to keep safe should stay within the margin area. You can use the layers panel to organize your design elements, and the align panel to align them to the center or the edges of your document. You can also use the swatches panel to choose the colors for your design, and the text tool to add your information and logo. You can preview your design with or without the bleed and margin guides by pressing Ctrl+H or Cmd+H on your keyboard.

5 How to export your document with bleeds and margins in Illustrator?

When you are happy with your design, you can export your document with bleeds and margins in Illustrator. You can do this by going to File > Save As, and choosing a suitable format for your printer. For example, you can use PDF or EPS formats for high-quality printing, or JPG or PNG formats for web or digital use. Then, you need to make sure that you include the bleed and crop marks in your export settings. You can do this by clicking on the Marks and Bleeds tab, and checking the boxes for Trim Marks and Use Document Bleed Settings. You can also adjust the offset and weight of the marks if needed. Finally, you can click on Save and send your document to your printer or share it online.