Do I add 3 mm bleed to my custom notebook or planner artwork? No. Every page in your PDF, covers included, must be exactly the finished size of the notebook you are ordering. This applies to every size Valenna offers, not only A5. For an A5 notebook that means 148 × 210 mm, not 154 × 216 mm.
| Notebook size | Every page in the PDF |
|---|---|
| A5 | 148 × 210 mm |
| A4 | 210 × 297 mm |
| Bespoke | The actual finished dimensions you are ordering. Enter them in the Notes field on the product page |
This includes the front cover, the inside of the front cover (page 2), every interior page and the back cover. If you need an A5 notebook, all pages in the PDF must be exactly A5. Do not make the cover larger than the pages.
Bleed exists so that a printer can trim or wrap a design without leaving a white edge or a visible backing material. Many print shops print a cover on vinyl or sticker paper and then glue it onto grey chipboard. The printed sheet has to overflow the edge so it can be wrapped around the board and hide the grey board underneath, so those shops ask for extra bleed.
Valenna does not work that way. Valenna prints your design directly onto the cover stock, and this is the same for all three cover options (385gsm card, 700gsm board and 1200gsm rigid board). The cover material is white, and it is cut to the finished size. There is nothing underneath to hide and nothing to compensate for, so you supply the artwork at the exact finished size and it is printed as it is.
Yes. Backgrounds, colour fills and other non-essential artwork can run right up to the edge of the page at the finished size. You do not need to extend them beyond the page.
The 10 mm margin is not bleed and it is not extra space added to your page. It is a safe zone inside the page. Keep important text, logos, tables and other content that must stay complete at least 10 mm away from every edge, so that they are not accidentally cut or punched through during trimming and wire-binding hole punching. Elements that are not important, such as backgrounds, can go to the edge.
For the full file-preparation steps, read How to Prepare a Custom Notebook or Planner PDF.
The inside of the cover is plain white unless you choose double-sided cover printing. If you do, the artwork on page 2 of your PDF prints on the back of the front cover. See Single-Sided vs. Double-Sided Cover Printing.
Bleed rules are set per product. Some products, such as flyers, ask for 3 mm bleed, and envelopes have their own rules. For custom notebooks and planners, do not add bleed. See Bleed, Safe Area and Crop Marks Explained for how the three controls differ.
Export the PDF again at the exact finished size before you upload it. If you are unsure, raise a support ticket before ordering. See also Does Valenna Check My Artwork Before Printing?