FAQ

Welcome to the FAQs. Here we try to answer those frequently asked questions to get you and your designs print ready. We will add more FAQs on a regular basis.

1. What is bleed and is it important?
2. So, what is trim and what are crop marks?
3. What is the “safe area”?
4. How can I send you my artwork for printing?
5. Do you have online graphic design tools so I can create my own design online?

1. What is bleed and is it important?

Bleed is the term used for the area that extends beyond the finished print size of the document. The bleed is to prevent small strips of white, unprinted paper showing at the edges of your print if the prints are slightly misaligned when cutting to size. It is essential to include bleed. Otherwise, you won’t be able to achieve professional results. Read more about bleed here.

2. So, what is trim and what are crop marks?

Trim is the finished size of your printed work once the bleed area has been trimmed off. The crop marks are used to show where to cut the paper during trimming. Find out more about trim and crop marks here.

3.  What is the “safe area”?

The “safe area” is the area inside the ‘trim’ –  smaller than the final finished size, the safe area is kept well away from blades and cutting machines, so this is where you should place the most important information or sections of your design. Anything outside of this area is at risk of being cut off during trimming and cutting. A general rule is that if you have 3mm bleed extending beyond the finished size, you should also have 3mm within the document at the absolute minimum for a safe area – but often 5-10mm is popular. Find out more about the “safe area” here.

4.  How can I send you my artwork for printing?

There are many ways to transfer a file these days, we quite like WeTransfer and Hightail. Emails are great, but they often filter out attachments, and we end up not receiving them. Then when we don’t respond to the email we haven’t received, we look bad. We don’t like to take the risk. It is SUPER-EASY to use these services, and your file has a much better chance of getting to where it needs to go.

5.  Do you have online graphic design tools so I can create my design online?

At the moment, I’m afraid we don’t. We are currently looking into the need for an online design tool, but there are many great options already available for free. Products like Scribus – a free alternative to software like Indesign or Quark, and it works on Mac, Windows & Linux. Plus it’s free as in open source, which is nice.