How to create pdf with .125 bleed in Adobe Illustrator for printing

To create a PDF with a 0.125-inch bleed in Adobe Illustrator specifically for printing, you can follow these steps:

1. Open Adobe Illustrator and open your document or create a new one by going to "File" > "New."

2. Set up your document size by entering the final trim size of your printed piece. For example, if you're designing an 8.5 x 11-inch flyer, enter those dimensions in the "Width" and "Height" fields.

3. In the same dialog box, under the "Bleed" section, enter 0.125 inches for the top, bottom, left, and right sides.

4. Click "OK" to create the document.

5. Design your artwork within the artboard, ensuring that any important content stays within the safe zone, which is typically 0.25 inches from the trim edge.

6. Expand your canvas to include the bleed area. Go to "Object" > "Artboards" > "Fit to Artwork Bounds."

7. To verify that your artwork extends into the bleed area, go to "View" > "Show Print Tiling." This will show a dotted line indicating the trim edge and the bleed area.

8. Once your design is complete, go to "File" > "Save As."

9. In the Save As dialog box, choose "Adobe PDF" from the "Save as type" dropdown menu.

10. Click "Save" to open the Adobe PDF options dialog box.

11. In the Adobe PDF options dialog box, choose the desired settings for your PDF, such as compatibility, compression, and color management.

12. Under the "Marks and Bleeds" section, check the "Trim Marks" option if you want crop marks to be included in the PDF.

13. Check the "Use Document Bleed Settings" option to ensure that the bleed you set up earlier is applied.

14. Click "Save PDF" to generate the PDF file with the specified bleed.

You now have a PDF file with a 0.125-inch bleed around the edges, suitable for printing. Before sending the file to the printer, double-check the PDF to ensure that all elements, including the bleed, are as intended.