Indesign: include bleed marks, and bleed

Question

When I export a document using PDF Bleed Marks printer options, and set bleed and slug to the document settings, crop marks appear in the correct location, however crop out the actual bleed colour.

When I turn off bleed marks (but use document bleed settings), the bleed colour appears, though obviously with no marks.

How do I export a PDF with both bleed marks AND bleed?

Answer 1

When generating a PDF for print production you should first use the PDF/X-1a setting. "High Quality Print" is okay, but PDF/X-1a is much better. It ensures the PDF will meet standard requirements for press in terms of color, flattening, etc.

It is also important to always select the Crop Marks option unless you're asked not to specifically. Crop marks tell the printer where the piece is to be cut. Or, in other words, where the bleed starts. Crop marks indicate the final size of the piece to be delivered from the printer.

The bleed marks aren't really a requirement in many cases. They simply indicate where the bleed area ends, but since the piece will be trimmed at the Crop Marks it's somewhat irrelevant where the bleed ends as long as it's enough of a bleed to allow proper trimming (at the crop marks).

I merely think you've confused what bleed marks and crop marks are.

Answer 2

I figured out why this isn't working for you. Uncheck "Use Document Bleed Settings" and make sure you set the bleed to 0.25, and you should be fine. You also want to check "All Printer's Marks."

Answer 3

Yes, like other commenters have mentioned, crop marks are very important - always check that box when doing bleed print projects.

There really isn't any need to ever check the bleed marks box - I have no idea why it is there. I've been doing print-production work for 30 years and the few times I've seen artwork with those bleed marks included it often just confuses the printer who thinks they are crop marks and mistakingly trims to those marks.