This article explains how to completely cover the printed page with an image so there aren't any unwanted white edges.
Correctly designed bleeds
A correctly-designed bleed or full bleed layout means the image will print all the way to the edge of the page without leaving a white edge.
Below is an example of a full-bleed layout with the image touching the page edge/bleed edge.
- This was designed in BookWright so the bleed edge is the outer edge of the pink shaded area.
- The red dotted line is the estimated trim line (which is not the same as the bleed edge).
- Regardless of the program you use to make your book, bleeds must be designed beyond the trim line and reach the outer page edge/bleed edge.
Below is a close-up of the bleed layout. Notice how the image runs past the red dotted trim line and all the way to the page edge. This ensures there won't be any unwanted white edges.
Incorrectly designed bleed
An incorrectly designed bleed might look like this. The image wasn't placed all the way to the bottom edge so there's a white line (part of the uncovered page) visible at the bottom.
The printed book would look something, with a thin (and unwanted) white edge. To avoid this remember that the trim line is only an estimate and bleeds must go past the trim line and all the way to the page edge. You might also want to read about designing bleeds in our different creation tools.
