What is full bleed printing
We hear this question associated with our post card printing often.
The best way to describe print bleed is that the color bleeds off the edges of your post card or self mailer creative by .125"
How this bleed benifits you print is best explained by understanding that your mail pieces are typically printed on 40" press sheets and then cut down to their actual size. An acceptable trim size variation for your mail pieces + - 1/16". If your creative file didn't have bleeds and they were to error trimming your mail piece on the larger size your finished cards would have a thin white piece running along the edge where the color should be. If your post card is a 6" x 9" with full bleed, your creative is 6.125" x9.125" Now if the printer errors on the trim size no one will notice as the color still bleeds to the edge. Below are the different mail pieces sizes with the full bleed added.
Print Size Chart 
POST CARDS / OVER SIZED POST CARDS
4” x 6” w/ bleed 4.125” x 6.125”
4” x 9” w/ bleed 4.125” x 9.125”
5” x 7” w/ bleed 5.125” x 7.125”
5.5” x 8.5” w/ bleed 5.625” x 8.625”
6” x 9” w/ bleed 6.125” x 9.125”
6.5” x 9” w/ bleed 6.61” x 9.125” (EDDM)
6” x 11” w/ bleed 6.125” x 11.125”
ENVELOPES One or Two Color - No Bleeds
#9 Reg.or Window 3.875” x 8.875”
#10 Reg.or Window 4.125” x 9.5”
6x9 Booklet or OE 6” x 9”
9x12 Booklet or OE 9” x 12”
10x13 Booklet or OE 10” x 13”
FLYERS/ SELFMAILERS
8.5” x 11” w/ bleed 8.625” x 11.125”
11” x 8.5” w/ bleed 11.125” x 8.625”
11” x 17” w/ bleed 11.125” x 17.125”
18” x 24” w/ bleed 18.125” x 24.12
BUSINESS CARDS
2” x 3.5” w/ bleed 2.125” x 3.625”
4” x 3.5” w/ bleed 4.125” x 3.625”
DOOR HANGERS
4.25” x 11” w/ bleed 4.375” x 11.125”
BOOKMARKS
1.5” x 6” w/ bleed 1.625” x 6.125”
2” x 6” w/ bleed 2.125” x 6.125”
Give us a call with any questions (800) 995-0570