What is the safe area in print?

What it means for your file

Folded and bound pieces need a wider safe area, often 0.25 in (6 mm), and text should also be kept away from folds.

How to fix it

If your printer sent the file back saying “The text is too close to the edge,” the fix page has the step-by-step way to do it yourself, and a fixed price if you’d rather have it done.

How to fix “The text is too close to the edge” →

Where else it comes up

• “There’s no bleed”
• “The file is the wrong size”
• “The artwork doesn’t fit our dieline”
• “The QR code is too small to scan”

Related terms

Bleed

Bleed is artwork that extends past the trimmed edge of a printed piece, usually 0.125 in (3 mm) on each side, so no white edge shows after cutting.

Trim size

The trim size is the finished size of a printed piece after it has been cut, for example 3.5 × 2 in for a US business card.

Crop marks

Crop marks are thin lines printed outside the artwork that show exactly where the sheet should be trimmed.

Vector

A vector graphic is made of mathematically defined lines and curves, so it can be printed at any size without losing sharpness.

Dieline

A dieline is the template that shows where a label or box will be cut, folded and glued, supplied by the printer for the exact size and style.