[EN] Document Size – Trim Box & Bleed Box

Introduction & Terminology

Advertisements must be produced in the correct geometric dimensions to be processed by the publisher. Subsequent modification of incorrectly submitted ads is generally not possible without quality loss.

Final Size

The actually visible format is referred to as final size, net size, trimmed final size, or ad size. Unless otherwise specified, dimensions are given in width × height in millimeters (mm).

Bleed Size

The bleed size (gross size) corresponds to the final size plus the bleed. Since this size is typically not entered directly in software today, we do not provide it in the DUON portal. Instead, we specify the bleed allowance (or bleed) per page.n.

Bleed Allowance

For print finishing, ads placed to the edge of a publication must include a bleed allowance to prevent unwanted white borders (“flash”) caused by minor trimming deviations. Depending on the production process, at least 3–5 mm per side is required.

The bleed area creates the bleed zone. In the DUON portal, the values for top, bottom, right, and left are given. Right and left values are generally the same, as placement determines which side is the spine and which is the outer edge.

Safe Area

The safe area is a recommendation for positioning important content. Binding (especially PUR binding) and trimming require tolerance. Texts, logos, and other essential elements should maintain a minimum distance from the edge to ensure readability.

When Is Bleed Required?

Bleed is essential for full-bleed images and elements to avoid white flash. It acts as a safety area (“bleed safety”) and should ideally not be visible in the final product.

All elements that extend to the edge (outer edge or spine) must fill the bleed zone. Many print products require 1–3 mm, but for magazines, a minimum of 3–5 mm is recommended due to production tolerances.

Example:
A full-page ad has a final size of 200 × 280 mm. The bleed is 5 mm on all sides.

• Document/Trimbox size: 200 × 280 mm

• Bleedbox size: 210 × 290 mm

PDF & PDF/X Box Concept

The PDF format (ISO 32000) includes boxes to define the position and dimensions of the final size and bleed. Each box consists of two 2D coordinate pairs (x1/x2/y1/y2), creating a rectangle starting from the origin (0,0). Box dimensions can be derived from these coordinates.

PDF/X standards (ISO 15930) used in print require certain nested geometry containers. They must not overlap:

• MediaBox: The “PDF page,” containing all other boxes. Suitable for trim marks, file info, signatures, etc.

• BleedBox: Final size plus bleed (gross size).

• TrimBox: Defines the final size (net size).

Other boxes exist but are generally irrelevant:

• CropBox: Defines what is displayed or printed. Usually equal to MediaBox. Not required in DUON.

• ArtBox: Legacy concept, alternative to TrimBox. Only one of TrimBox or ArtBox may be defined.

Tolerances: ±0.25 mm per side is allowed due to rounding and quantization in older software.

Checking coordinates in Acrobat:

1. Open PDF in Adobe Acrobat

2. Open Preflight (Advanced > Print Production > Preflight)

3. Run any profile and navigate to: Overview > Pages > Page 1 > Page Information

Note: Trim/bleed marks are not required; compliance is checked via geometry only.

Please Note:

Whether the final size and bleed are correctly set is determined solely based on the geometry specifications. Trim marks, bleed marks, or registration marks are not required for this check.

Depending on the software, visible trim, bleed, or registration marks may differ from or even contradict the geometry specifications. Therefore, we recommend omitting all such marks entirely.

Medium-specific Specifications

1. Search or select the medium from the media list.

2. Go to the medium page by clicking its name.

3. Select the booked issue/date. Requirements may vary by issue.

4. Select the booked format.

5. View final size (width × height) and bleed specifications in the Technical Specifications section.

6. In the overview section, you will find the ad size (width × height) and the bleed specifications. These details are also available under TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS and then FORMAT.

Setting Geometry in InDesign

Document Setup in InDesign

In InDesign, you can set the TrimBox and BleedBox when creating a new document.

1. Go to File > New > Document.

2. Set the TrimBox size by entering the width and height of the document under the document details. Use the width and height values specified for the final size.

3. Choose whether to create a facing pages or single-page layout. Follow the specifications provided by the medium.

4. Set the bleed values in the Bleed & Slug section using the values given in the DUON portal for the selected format. Do not be confused by the labels (Inside/Outside or Left/Right), as they depend on whether the Facing Pagesoption is enabled.

 

Adjusting Document Size Without Scaling Content

You can also modify the document settings after creation by going to File > Document Setup. If a spanning ad format (e.g., "2/1" or "1 1/2") has been booked, make sure to select the Facing Pages option.

For layout purposes, it is recommended to enable this option even when submitting individual pages. During PDF export, you can choose whether to output the pages as single pages or facing pages.

Adjusting Document Size and Scaling Content

If you want to adapt the content of an existing document to a new layout, choose File > Adjust Layout or click the corresponding button in the Document Setup dialog.

This changes the geometry of all pages in the document. Text frames and images are scaled and repositioned so that they fit harmoniously within the new page size. Please note that automatic adjustment may not work perfectly for every design.

Using Different Page Sizes Within a Document

In the Pages panel, select one or more page thumbnails. At the bottom of the panel, click the Edit Page Size icon. Choose Custom, enter the new width and height values, and click OK.

PDF Export from InDesign

Bleed and Slug

You can also influence the geometry during PDF export in the Marks and Bleeds section. To apply the bleed settings from the document, make sure to check Use Document Bleed Settings. This ensures that your document settings are applied.

Alternatively, you can specify custom settings. This may be useful if your document contains a larger bleed and you want to adjust it to the medium’s specifications for a specific adaptation without changing the document setup.

Marks

We recommend not using marks (trim marks, bleed marks, etc.). All necessary information is stored “in the background” for digital processing. Marks are not required in the DUON portal and can be safely omitted, as they provide no added benefit. All required specifications are already included through the use of PDF/X in the PDF file.

If you still wish to use marks, ensure that they do not extend into the effective bleed area. Set the Offset value equal to or greater than the largest bleed specification (top, bottom, left, or right). An offset of 5–7 mm is generally safe.

 

Tips & Troubleshooting

Bleed

• Set a generous bleed. Generally, 5 mm is sufficient; in exceptional cases, 7 mm may be necessary.

• Always extend elements so that the bleed area is fully covered.

• Maintain the safe area for important content.

Missing Bleed

Please ensure the following:

• Set the page size according to the final size specifications.

• Define the bleed under Bleed, not Margins.

• Apply the document bleed settings during PDF export. Only use custom values if a smaller bleed is required.

Affinity Publisher – Missing BleedBox

Set the bleed in the document settings.

Affinity Publisher includes a setting that controls the creation of the BleedBox. If the Include Bleed checkbox is not selected, no BleedBox will be implemented in the PDF. The defined bleed is then only interpreted as the difference between the MediaBox and TrimBox, which is not compliant with the ISO 15930 standard. Selecting the checkbox ensures that the BleedBox is properly generated.

If this solution does not work, you can add a BleedBox afterward in Acrobat Pro. To do so:

1. Open the file in Acrobat.

2. Select the Set Page Boxes tool, found under Print Production.

3. In Margin Controls, choose Apply to: BleedBox from the dropdown menu. Leave the values as they are.

4. Click OK and save the file.

Deviations

In older versions of QuarkXPress, significant inaccuracies may occur when using one of the built-in PostScript libraries. More information can be found here:

r [DE] Trim and Bleed Box Issues (QuarkXPress)

Even in InDesign, very slight deviations can occur during PDF conversion. For submissions via the DUON portal, deviations of ±0.25 mm in TrimBox width or height are acceptable.