How to add bleed marks to exisiting document in Illustrator?

[zsuzsannap93549917]

Hi Guys!

i have to get a business card to my printer and need to add 5mm bleed on all sides -  i have tried the method of saveing a copy and in the print marks adding the bleed but when I open the save filed I am unlabe to see any marks so I guess my printer will have the same problem..

Does any of you have a tip how can I make these visible or if there is a better method?

Thanks a mill

Zsuzsanna

[Ton Frederiks · Accepted solution]

Make a rectangle that has no fill or stroke at the final size of your business card and choose: Object > Create Trim Marks

[CorySouthpaw]

Answer above certainly works, but I prefer to add them within the "Document Setup".   File > Document Setup, then add the 5mm bleed there.  As long as 'chain link' icon is enabled it will keep all sides the same 5mm.  Then when you export PDF go to [Marks and Bleeds] tab and check off the printer marks you need.  (mainly Trim marks)

[Ton Frederiks]

I agree that this is the better way to add cropmarks to a pdf.

[zsuzsannap93549917]

Thanks I used it and however I wasnt able to see any marks in the ai file, once i opened the pdf in preview the marks appeared... the printed hasnt come back to me yet so hopefully it worked fine

[CorySouthpaw]

Hope so too!  Hope I didn't lead you astray with my screenshot.  I should have mentioned to ignore my PDF Preset, now that I look at it again. Should've assigned it correctly prior to snapping, sorry was rushing a bit.  As long as you choose a PDF preset to start with, then add Marks and Bleeds you want, they should output correctly to the PDF.  On the Illustrator file, you will see bleed represented as a red line outside your art board. If you don't see, Ctrl + semi-colon should enable it.

Here's a snap of one my presets, for a standard business card size. Personally I keep a few marks disabled to reduce visual clutter when they're not needed.  If they are, simply a check away!  Hope this helps for future prints.