Bleed is the extra artwork that extends beyond the final cut line of your sticker or label. It ensures that your background colors, patterns, or images print all the way to the edge of the finished product without leaving unwanted white borders.
During printing and cutting, small variations can occur as materials move through production equipment. Adding bleed provides a margin of error so your design still reaches the edge after trimming.
StickerGiant requires 1/8 inch (0.125") of bleed on all sides of any artwork; this helps ensure a clean, professional, edge-to-edge finish.
Why Is Bleed Important?
Without bleed, even a slight shift during the cutting process can leave a thin white line around the edge of your sticker or label. While the shift may only be a fraction of a millimeter, it can be noticeable on designs with full-color backgrounds.
If your design has a solid colored background, our Art Team may be able to add bleed during the proofing process. However, any design with color, photography, textures, or patterns extending to the edge should include bleed. We cannot extend the bleed on patterned backgrounds.
How to Set Up Bleed
When preparing your artwork:
- Extend all background colors, images, and patterns 1/8 inch (0.125") beyond the cut line on every side.
- Keep important elements like logos, text, QR codes, and barcodes inside the safe area, at least 1/8 inch from the cut line, so they won't be trimmed during production. Learn more about the safe area here!
- Make sure the proportions of your artwork match the size and shape you're ordering.
Example
If you're ordering a 3" × 3" sticker with a full-color background:
- Finished size: 3" × 3"
- Artwork size with bleed: 3.25" × 3.25"
The additional 1/8 inch on each side will be trimmed away during production, leaving your background extending cleanly to every edge.
Don't Worry—We'll Review Your Artwork
Every order includes a free artwork review by our Art Team. Before production begins, we'll check your file for bleed, safe areas, cut lines, and overall print readiness. If adjustments are needed, we'll include them in your digital proof whenever possible or contact you if additional changes are required.
Have your artwork ready to place an order? Get started now!
Additional Resources:
Related to