Table of content

Share this article

  • Home
  • /
  • Blog
  • /
  • How to Add Bleeds to a PDF Using 3 Ways [Quick Guide]

How to Add Bleeds to a PDF Using 3 Ways [Quick Guide]

  • By Charlotte
  • |
  • Follow
  • twitter
  • |
  • Updated on April 10, 2025
Introduction:
When you have done designing a poster, brochure, or flyer, you often need to print the file. You can show bleeds on the PDF - mark the extended parts beyond the trim edge for accurate printing. The bleed marks look like two thin lines perpendicular to each other around every page corner on the PDF. They help print without useless white borders. Unmask how to add bleeds to a PDF using three easy and fast ways from this SwifDoo PDF post.
summary

How to Add Bleed to PDF in Acrobat

Adobe Acrobat is renowned for a complete set of powerful PDF handling tools. It makes PDF printing, editing, and signing easier and more precise than ever. The software allows you to add bleed and crop marks on PDFs for high-quality output. If your PDF is cropped before, it can add margins to the PDF. All you have to do is unlock the Print Production premium feature.

Uncover how to add bleeds to a PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro using the steps below.

Step 1: Import your PDF file into Adobe Acrobat Pro DC;

Step 2: Choose Tools > Print Production > Add Printer Marks;

How to Add Bleed to PDF in Acrobat 1

Step 3: Check the Bleed Marks option and specify the mark style and line weight (usually 0.125 inches or 3mm on each side and 0.25 inches on two sides);

Step 4: Uncheck other mark options if you don’t need them, and click OK;

Step 5: Click Yes and OK in the next two pop-up windows to add bleed marks on the PDF;

How to Add Bleed to PDF in Acrobat 2

Step 6: Press Ctrl + P, and review the bleed values to ensure all images, text, and colors are extended to the proper point;

Step 7:  Proceed to print the full bleed PDF when everything is fine.

Add Bleed Marks on PDF with Scribus

Scribus is loved by many users as a free, open-source software application for adding bleeds to PDFs. This desktop publishing software is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, and some other operating systems. It is designed for book, newsletter, and other document creation and thus excels at refined publication and printing works.

Step 1: Open the PDF you want to add print bleeds to using Scribus;

Step 2: Go to File > Document Setup > Margins & Bleeds;

Add Bleed Marks on PDF with Scribus

Step 3: Enter the bleed value for each side, click OK, and choose File > Export > Save as PDF;

Step 4: Click the Pre-Press tab and select the Use Document Bleeds option;

Step 5: You can also check Crop Marks to add crop and bleed marks in the PDF together;

Step 6: Go to the Print option to print the PDF with bleeds.

How to Add a Bleed to a PDF Using Canva

Canva is an online photo maker that offers document printing functions. This tool allows you to create a new design from scratch or open an uploaded PDF. It can add bleeds and add crop marks to a PDF and also show margins and rulers while designing. This bleed is added based on print production standards; you can't change the value.

Now explore the step-by-step guide to add bleeds to a PDF online for free using Canva.

Step 1: Click Upload on the homepage of the website to upload your PDF;

Step 2: Open the file, and click File > Settings > Show print bleed;

How to Add a Bleed to a PDF Using Canva

Step 3: You will see the PDF bleed marks – a border of dashed lines come out on the pages;

Step 4: Resize or stretch the background if necessary and go to Share > Download;

Step 5: Hit the File type button to choose PDF Print, and tick the Crop marks and bleed checkbox;

Step 6: Click the Download button to permanently add bleed marks to the PDF and save the marks for printing as expected.

Bonus: Best PDF Printer for Windows - SwifDoo PDF

The above tutorials explain how to create a PDF with bleed and crop marks. With a bleed PDF, you may require versatile and useful PDF printer software. SwifDoo PDF comes into play with its robust capabilities in PDF viewing, editing, creating, and printing. Look at what you can do with it:

  • print 2 pages on one sheet in landscape or horizontally;
  • print the PDF as a booklet after you add bleed lines to the PDF;
  • Print double-sided and flip on short or long edge;
  • print PDF without margins;
  • batch print multiple PDF books or files;
  • crop, shrink, and scale PDF pages;
  • edit original text, images, and other objects in a PDF.

Best PDF Printer for Windows - SwifDoo PDF

Final Words

Bleed in printing or publishing is to avoid unwanted white borders, even if the printer machine has a slight misalignment. Therefore, the artwork has the perfect final printed page. Do you wish to give your printed piece a professional and clean look? Try out the recommended ultimate ways to add bleed marks to an Adobe PDF. Share this article to aid others in bleed adding!

FAQs

  • Q: How do I add bleed in Photoshop PDF?
    Adobe Photoshop doesn’t have a direct option or feature for users to crop and bleed on a PDF. However, it allows you to achieve that manually.

    Step 1: Open your PDF page in the Photoshop program;

    Step 2: Choose View > Rulers to add guidelines and drag the lines to mark the final design edges;

    Step 3: Increase 0.125 inches or 3mm on each side as the extended area for the bleed;

    Step 4: Make sure all the document elements inside the final printed space, and the background images or colors extend to the bleed part;

    Step 5: If you also need to add crop marks, manually draw trimming lines using Line Tool;

    Step 6: Finally, use the Save as option to save the PDF with bleed included.

  • Q: How do I export PDF with bleed in Indesign?
    Indesign is primarily for design printing and lets you add bleeds to an existing PDF without a curve.

    Step 1: Choose File > Document Setup once you’ve opened your PDF with Indesign;

    Step 2: Click the Print tab and choose the units in inch or mm;

    Step 3: Type the same bleed value for every page side in the Bleed and Slug section;

    Step 4: Enlarge your design to meet the bleed lines so what’s beyond the lines will be cut off;

    Step 5: Open the Print dialog box, go to Marks and Bleeds, and adjust the bleed area dimensions if needed. Then, print it out.

  • Q: How can I add bleed in Illustrator to a PDF?
    Illustrator is a simple way to print full bleed in PDF if you are already a user of it.

    Step 1: Open the Print dialog box by clicking File > Print;

    Step 2: Choose Marks & Bleeds in the left pane;

    Step 3: Customize your bleed values or use the standard values by selecting Use Document Bleed;

    Step 4: Return to Marks & Bleeds, check all the marks you want to add, then print and save the bleed PDF.

Charlotte has been in the software industry for 8+ years. She works for AWZWARE now as a passionate writer. She is good at providing simple guides to use various video, office and entertainment software. Charlotte also recommends many other useful tools to make your work and life easier. A food lover too.

Related Articles