What Does "Full Bleed" Mean?

Understanding the concept of a "full bleed" is important if you want the color on your labels to go right up to the very edge. This is best explained by an example. Look closely at the label above - this is a 3" x 5" label from our custom label sample pack. To create a 3" x 5" full color label like this, we actually use artwork that is slightly bigger than our finished label. For most instances the size of the finished art that we use to print the label is 1/16" larger on all sides. So, the box that we created in this instance is actually 3.125" x 5.125".

Why do we need this extra space? It has to do with the way a label is created. When labels are created they are first printed on the label material and then they are cut into the shape you want. This cutting is a mechanical process and the material can drift ever so slightly (up to 1/32") during the die cutting. If you just had color without a full bleed then when the material shifted slightly you would notice a white area at the edge of your label. By adding 1/16" of color to all sides of your label you will ensure you will get a finished product that looks good and has color all the way to the very edge of your label.