Print File Setup – Margin & Bleeds

Design

Every print file needs some type of setup before sending to the printer. This requires a team effort between the graphic designers and the production team. Sometimes simple changes need to be made that the production team can handle, and other times drastic changes need to be made and require the graphic designers who have more experience with the design programs to step in.

Below are some common examples:

1. Full Coverage Flat Sign Prints (Alupanel, Aluminum, Lusterboard, Lexan)

  • All full coverage flat sign prints need margin around the outside to make sure it covers all edges. Generally .25-.5″ is plenty, though some longer sheets (10 feet or longer) may require up to an inch extra on the longer ends.

SEE BELOW: If size is 36×60″, then a half inch margin all the way around would be ideal. But just increase the background size only, NOT the info (lettering/logos) otherwise they may not fit on the cut piece the vinyl is being installed on.

Margin1

2. Printed Cut Decals

  • Decals that are printed and then cut out on the vinyl cutter must have a bleed outside the cut contour border.
  • Make sure the graphic is ungrouped and choose the outside border only.
  • Make sure the border of the graphic is the color “CutContour” so the cutter will see that as cut data.
  • Put a small contour (.15-.25″) around the CutContour border that is the same color as the background.
  • Right click the contour once finished and select “Break Contour Apart”.
  • Use the eye dropper tool to match color and fill new contour to be the same fill color as the background.

SEE BELOW: The final print file now has some margin for error when the cutter cuts out the decal.

Bleed Instructions (1)

This has to be done for decals with multiple colors as well. Every Color has to have a bleed as we don’t want to have white showing because the cutter doesn’t cut precisely on the edge.

Margin2