Lining up artwork and bleed

[Deflektor]

I'm designing some artwork for my control panel and want some bleed around the edges, so there's some excess in case I don't apply it perfectly. The problem is, if I make the background extend say an extra inch in all directions, then when I go to put it on, how will I know where the "proper" edge is meant to be? I could add a line for the edge in the art, but then that defeats the purpose of the bleed because if I don't put it on perfectly that wonky line will look really bad.

Does anyone have advice for how to have the background extending, but still be able to tell where the proper edges of the control panel are?  I want some circles around the buttons so having it line up as straight as possible would be good.

[Ramakers]

I use so called crop marks.
sample:


the red line represents the dimension of the CP, the bleu dashed line is the bleed and the green dashed line is where you can use text safely, but this does not really  aply to CP overlay.

[Deflektor]

Crop marks! Good idea, that should do the trick. How much bleed do you usually allow? And how long do you make the crop marks?

[Ramakers]

I make the artwork 5mm (about 1/4") bigger than needed (take the CP thickness into your design as well). The crop marks I make 10mm long (about 1/2")
I use backlight  to position sticker properly.

[Deflektor]

What does the thickness have to do with it? Are you folding the artwork down the sides or something?

[PL1]

What does the thickness have to do with it? Are you folding the artwork down the sides or something?

That is one method.

See 8:40 to 16:23 of the video in this post of the "Side Art Install 101" thread.

Others have used a router and flush trim bit like EMDB did here.


Scott

[Mike A]

I really wish I would have watched that video before I applied my side art.

[Ramakers]

What does the thickness have to do with it? Are you folding the artwork down the sides or something?

For control panels I always fold the overlay over the sides, otherwise it will peel of over time.

That is one method.

See 8:40 to 16:23 of the video in this post of the "Side Art Install 101" thread.

Others have used a router and flush trim bit like EMDB did here.


Scott

for the holes you don't have to work as neat as EMBD did (although I like crisp finish) they are covered by the rim of the buttons or the disk around the joystick.
Nice video by the way! I'll definitely going to watch it.

[Deflektor]

Good tips everyone, thanks!