Letter Size Document Does Not FIt Letter Size Paper

[GRID_James]

I just wanted to ask if anyone knows why this is a thing. I create a US Letter sized document in InDesign, create the document based on the guidelines provided with a standard bleed, and when I go to print the design does not fit onto the letter size paper in the printer.

For the past 20 years, my fix was just "Scale To Fit"... but why? Why is this a problem?

Am I doing something wrong? Do I need to create a document specific to each printer's margins? Or is this just the nature of the beast?

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Can you post screenshot of Marks & Bleeds tab?

Because, if you're adding bleeds / crops - your final paper size becomes US Letter + whatever values you've entered there.

[GRID_James]

I've ignored the bleed for normal printing.

[Peter Spier]

You say you've included a "standard bleed." That increases the docum,ent size if you select to include the bleed in your print or export settings.

Additionally, your perinter does not have edge-to-edge printing capability if you were expecting that.

[GRID_James]

Standard meaning 1/8th of an inch all around. I ignore this when printing to office printers and such.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS · Accepted solution]

The bleed is typically for commercial printers that would print your letter size document (8.5x11 in) on an oversized sheet and trim it down to the proper size. The bleed area is only needed if items such as photos, colored boxes, or rules touch the edge of the paper. If so, they should be extended out to the bleed area. This is simply to prevent slivers of paper (presumedly white) from showing if the paper shifts slight during trimming. 

Most printers, with the exception of some photographic printers, cannot print to the edge of the paper, so a bleed is unnecessary. I "think" you are confusing bleed with printer margins. Generally, if you keep everything 1/4 inch inside the paper edge (not outside like a bleed), then most printers can print the entire page without scaling it down. Some printers might be able to get as close as 1/8 in from the page edge.

[GRID_James]

As I thought, it's just the nature of printing. My old habits of making "press-ready" stuff is what is causing the issue. Thanks for the insight!