Add bleed to PDF

[defaulthqthygblc0ko]

Hi guys,

I've got a problem, maybe you can help me with it:

Unfortunately, I don't have the original .indd file because our old agency created the PDF and we don't work with them together anymore.

Basically, I want to print the A4-PDF but the print shop needs 3mm bleed all around. Is it possible, to add bleed in Adobe Acrobat afterwards?

Thanks in advance!

[Luke Jennings3]

You have a few options; first, check to see if your PDF has been cropped in Acrobat to the trim size, if it has, you can remove the cropping to reveal the bleed, or you can place the cropped PDF into InDesign, where the cropped area will be revealed. You can use a Preflight fixup to slightly enlarge the PDF to create bleed. You can place the PDF into InDesign and either slightly enlarge it to create bleed, or copy/paste/object-transform-flip to create bleed. If the background is an image, you can extract and retouch it in Photoshop, then place the image and the original PDF in Indesign and export to a PDF with bleed. Lastly, Pitstop has a tool that can add bleed, it works by taking the edge of the page and mirroring it. The method you use would depend on the content of the PDF.

[defaulthqthygblc0ko]

Hi Luke, thanks for your quick reply.

I've attached you the PDF which I talked about. Unfortunately, I don't know how to check if the PDF has been cropped in Acrobat.

Which method would you recommend? Thanks for your help.

[JR Boulay · Accepted solution]

Using Acrobat Pro :

1.

2.

3. Finish by enlarging the images and backgrounds that are full page 

[defaulthqthygblc0ko]

Thank you so much @JR Boulay , it worked perfectly! Really appreciated it 🙂

[rcschletty]

Previously, I was able to add 1/8" trim in InDesign using PlaceMultiplePDF.applescript. But the Acrobat Pro method you demonstrated so clearly is clearly the winner. I added bleed to a 260 page book created with Apple Pages (which has no option for saving a PDF with bleed).

[rcschletty]

FYI, I added bleed to an existing PDF in InDesign (after creating a blank document with an extra 1/4 inch of height and width) by using the AppleScript as explained here: https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/importing-a-pdf-file-to-indesign/td-p/9233781

[JR Boulay]

PS:

Use CTRL + R to show/hide rulers.

(CMD + R on Mac)