Glossary of Print Design Terms

Bleed is the extra margin of color or image that extends beyond the edge of the final printed size. It ensures that when the paper is trimmed after printing, there won’t be any unexpected white edges — even if the cut is slightly off. Most printers require a bleed of 2–3 mm on each side. So if you are designing a DIN A4 page (210 × 297 mm), you should make your design 216 × 303 mm with bleed included. Always extend background colors, photos, or full-width elements into the bleed area.

If your printer doesn’t provide specifications, export your file as a PDF/X-3:2002. If your software supports it, PDF/X-4 is also acceptable and allows for transparency. Use CMYK color mode, outline or embed all fonts, add a 3 mm bleed. Do not include crop marks unless specifically requested. Use a reliable ICC profile like ISO Coated v2 (ECI) for coated paper, or PSO Uncoated v3 (ECI) for uncoated paper. All raster images should be at least 300 dpi in their final size. This ensures print compatibility across most platforms.

In printing, a spread refers to two facing pages that appear side by side when a brochure, magazine, or book is opened flat. For example, when you open a brochure, the left and right pages together form one spread. Designers often treat these two pages as a single unit to create layouts that flow smoothly across the fold — like a background image or headline that spans both pages. Spreads are important when working on folded brochures or multi-page booklets, because the way pages pair together affects how your content is seen and read.