Guide to Creating Files that Bleed
This is a guide I created for people who are creating files that bleed in Indesign. There are step by step guides for setting up the file, exporting the file to a pdf and packaging the file. Bleed refers to ink that goes to the edge of the paper.
Screen Percentages & Transparencies
Many graphic designers use both screened colors and transparencies to achieve the look of the design that they are going for. Sometimes this will cause problems during printing. Most of the problems are from a designer taking a 100% graphic and placing it into a page layout program such as Indesign. In Indesign they then add a transparency effect to the graphic. The entire layout is then exported as a pdf file and sent to the printer as a “print ready” file.
During the conversion to the pdf file transparencies flatten and that will make it print (digital color printing) completely different from the screen image. Just because an image looks great onscreen does not mean it will look that way when it is printed.
To avoid this use either Photoshop or Illustrator to edit the graphic and manually screen the colors to the percentage that you want it printed at. Screen the rest of your colors in Indesign with the Swatch Tint percentage. Now when you create your pdf file it will actually be “print ready”.
It’s always good practice to send the original files that your print ready file was made from. Things to send your printer: Original layout file (Indesign, Pagemaker, Quark, Publisher, etc.) along with fonts (even if your fonts are outlined) and links (graphics used). Print ready pdf file created from your layout file (don’t forget to include crop marks and .125″ bleed all around if needed).
Industry Standard Software
For best results and less aggravation for your printer (and less cost for you by saving your job time in the prepress department) I would recommend that you, your graphics department, or your designer to use print industry standard software.
Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is great for editing pictures and creating backgrounds. You do not want to use this to layout your page or create text in. When saving your file to give to your printer use .psd format, save with layers, and also send your printer any other graphics or fonts used within the file.
Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator is a vector art program that is ideal for making logos, detailed backgrounds or any other graphic that might need to be resized for all types of marketing. It should not be used for page layout, do not embed bitmap images into your Illustrator file. Always include linked images and fonts to your printer.
InDesign
Adobe Indesign is a page layout program. This is where all the elements of your project should come together. Any graphics you made in Photoshop or Illustrator can be placed into a Indesign document in order for the best flexibility and functionality to your project.
Acrobat Pro
Adobe Acrobat files or pdf files are the preferred file format for most print shops. You can convert any Adobe file into a pdf file. Make sure you include crop marks and bleeds in your project.
Other acceptable formats may vary from printer to printer. Quark is a page layout program that seems to be less popular since the release of Indesign. Pagemaker is an early Adobe page layout program that has been replaced with Indesign. Microsoft Software is not really meant to be used for professional page layout. Microsoft Publisher, Word, Excel, Powerpoint are all great programs but they have their own place and thats not in the printing industry. They are very difficult to work with, color separate, and discover missing fonts. Only use these programs if it is a last resort but remember that you will be paying extra for any time the printer needs to fix the file.
