bleed

Bleed is a term used in medicine, printing, and other fields, referring to different phenomena involving loss or extension beyond a boundary. In medical contexts, it denotes the loss of blood; in printing and graphic production, it refers to ink or color that extends beyond the final page edge.

In medicine, bleeding can be external, visible bleeding from a cut or wound, or internal, where blood leaks into body cavities or tissues. Causes include injury, surgery, ulcers, ruptured vessels, or clotting disorders. Severe bleeding can lead to shock and requires immediate emergency treatment. First aid emphasizes controlling the source with direct pressure, avoiding removal of embedded objects, and seeking urgent medical help. Treatments may involve hemostatic measures, transfusion, or surgical intervention depending on severity and location.

In printing and publishing, bleed is the area of artwork that extends past the final trim line to accommodate slight misalignment during cutting. Without bleed, small shifts can produce unwanted white edges. Typical bleed allowances are about 3 millimeters (1/8 inch) on each side, though exact specs vary by printer. Files intended for print should have artwork and colors extending to the bleed boundary, with trim marks indicating where to cut. Important text and elements are kept within a safe margin away from the edges to avoid being trimmed or obscured.

Beyond these contexts, bleed can also describe the tendency of inks or colors to extend or run into adjacent areas in certain materials, or, idiomatically, to incur losses in finance or operations.