Section 11 · Output & Production

Trim Size

Definition

The final dimensions of a printed piece after cutting — the size it actually is when it reaches someone’s hands.

Why it matters

Trim size is the first decision in a print document and the reference for every other measurement: bleed extends past it, margins are measured in from it, crop marks indicate it.

Example

An 11 × 14 inch trim in a document whose page area, including bleed, measures 11.25 × 14.25 inches.

Teaching note

Set at document creation. Changing trim size after a layout exists means rebuilding it, which students discover the expensive way.