If you’ve ever printed a design and ended up with awkward white edges, then you know how frustrating it can be.
That’s where bleed in printing comes in.
And if you’re designing in Canva and want to ensure professional-looking prints, you must add bleed.
Lucky for you, Canva makes this super easy. But only if you know where to look. So, let’s talk about how to add bleed in Canva to make prints almost perfect.
What is Bleed and Why is it Important?
Bleed is the extra margin around your design that ensures no unwanted white edges appear after trimming. Printers aren’t perfect, and even the tiniest misalignment can lead to ugly gaps around your artwork.
By adding bleed, you extend your background and design elements beyond the trim line. This guarantees that your design reaches the edge of the final product without white borders ruining your masterpiece.
Now, the big question: How do you add bleed in Canva?
What Should You Know?
Bleed prevents white gaps from appearing on printed designs.
Canva doesn’t add bleed by default, you must enable it manually.
Always download as PDF Print with Crop Marks and Bleed checked.
How to Add Bleed in Canva (Step-by-Step Guide)
While you can read the step-by-step guide about this, you can also watch a video tutorial below that shows you how to do exactly that.
Step 1: Open Your Canva Project
If you’ve already started designing, great! If not, go ahead and open a new project in Canva.
Step 2: Enable Print Bleed
Click File in the top-left corner.
Select Settings from the dropdown menu.
Click Show Print Bleed.
You’ll see a white line appear around your design. This marks where your document may be trimmed.
Step 3: Extend Your Design Past the Bleed Line
Once the bleed area is visible, make sure that:
Your background extends past the bleed line.
Any design elements that should reach the edge also extend slightly beyond the trim area.
This step ensures there won’t be any accidental white borders in your final print.
Step 4: Export with the Correct Bleed Settings
Adding bleed is pointless if you don’t export it correctly. Here’s what to do:
Click Share in the top-right corner.
Select Download.
Choose PDF Print (this gives you the best quality for printing).
Check the box for Crop marks and bleed.
Click Download.
Your file is now saved with the correct bleed settings, ready for professional printing. Congrats!
Important
Always check your design elements—make sure nothing important gets cut off.
Don’t forget to extend your background. If your background stops at the white line, you’ll end up with unwanted white edges.
Export as PDF Print. This ensures your design maintains high quality and proper bleed.
Adding bleed in Canva takes seconds but can save your design from disaster.
By enabling bleed, extending elements beyond the trim area, and downloading with the right settings, you’ll ensure your prints come out perfect every time.
Now that you know how to add bleed in Canva, go forth and design like a pro!
FAQs
Do I need to add bleed for all designs?
If your design is meant for professional printing, then YES. If it’s only for digital use, then bleed isn’t necessary.
What happens if I don’t add bleed?
Your design might print with awkward white edges, ruining the final product.
Can I add bleed after I’ve already finished my design?
Yes, just enable Show Print Bleed in Canva and extend your elements past the white trim line.
How much bleed should I add in Canva?
Canva automatically adds a standard bleed margin (about 3mm). Just make sure your design extends past the white trim line.
Why does my design look bigger when I download it as PDF Print?
The extra size includes the bleed margin and crop marks. This is normal and ensures correct trimming during printing.
Can I add bleed in Canva’s free version?
Print bleed is available in both free and Pro versions of Canva.
Here Are Some of My Favorite Tools For Print-on-demand
As a graphic designer and POD seller, I’ve had the opportunity to discover different helpful products and tools that can be time-saving and make the process of creating your designs a bit smoother.
DESIGNS:Kittl (best for t-shirt designs), Vexels (for professional designs), Placeit (for unique product mockups)
Disclosure: Some of the links above may contain affiliate partnerships, meaning, at no additional cost to you, NechEmpire may earn a commission if you click through to make a purchase.
I'm Miroslav, a passionate graphic designer, Etsy seller and AI enthusiast. At NechEmpire, I'm here to share my knowledge and skills. I want to turn your design passion into a successful online business.
