Trim mark and Bleed

What is Trim mark?

This mark is used to specify the finished position.
As shown in the figure below, the finished position will be the position cut by the inner dragonfly.

 What is Bleed?

Printing is done in batches on a large sheet of paper and then cut to size.
If a design includes colors and photos right up to the edge of the paper, even the slightest misalignment during cutting may cause the paper color (white background) to show through if the data is created right up to the edge of the paper. (*1) Figure below)
In order to avoid this, it is necessary to slightly extend the width of the color or photo to the outside of the finished size (about 3mm).
This is called "Bleed".

Notes on exporting PDFs from Illustrator and InDesign

When exporting PDF files from Illustrator or InDesign, you need to set the trim mark and bleed settings in Document Setting.
If you do not set up the trim mark and bleed settings, the PDF will be exported at the finished size (art board size) and the bleed will not be reflected.

Objects that should not be cut (e.g. letters) should be placed 0.125 inch (3 mm) inside the finished product!

As with the bleed, it is not only on the outside that misalignment can occur during cutting.
It is possible that a few millimeters of misalignment may occur inward.
If there is an object designed at the very edge of the finished position that should not be cut off, such as text, it may be cut off during the cutting process.
To prevent this, be sure to place the design within 0.125 inch (3 mm) inside.