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Document Setup Overview

The Document Setup tab is your first stop when preparing files for print. This is where you configure the technical specifications that printers need.
Start here first! Document setup determines how your design translates to physical print.

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Accessing Document Setup

1

Select Your Frame

Click the frame (artboard) you want to export
2

Launch Plugin

Menu: Plugins → Print for FigmaOr: Search “Print for Figma” in Quick Actions (Cmd/Ctrl + /)
3

Document Tab

Plugin opens to “Document” tab by defaultIf not, click “Document” in the tab bar

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Key Document Settings

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1. Bleed

What it does: Extends your design beyond the trim edge
  • Enable Bleed
  • Bleed Amount
  • Bleed Method
Toggle: ON ✓Why: Prevents white edges from cutting imperfectionsMost common setting: 0.125” (3mm)How it works:
  • Plugin extends your design
  • Or you manually design with bleed area
  • PDF shows larger page with crop marks

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2. Crop Marks

What they are: Printer’s guides showing where to cut
  • Enable Crop Marks
  • Crop Mark Style
  • Crop Mark Color
Toggle: ON ✓Why: Tells printer exactly where to trimStandard: Always include for professional printingPreview: Shows corner marks in exported PDF

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3. Safety Zone

What it is: Protected area where critical content should stay
  • Enable Safety Guides
  • Safety Margin
  • What to Keep Inside
Toggle: ON ✓Why: Visual guide in PDF to check content placementShows: Dashed line marking safe areaNote: These are guides only, not printed

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4. Registration Marks

What they are: Targets for aligning printing plates
  • Enable Registration Marks
  • Registration Mark Position
  • When to Use
Toggle: Usually OFF for simple projectsWhen needed:
  • Multi-color offset printing
  • Spot color work
  • Quality control
  • Printer requests them
What they look like:
    ⊕
Target/crosshair symbols in corners

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5. Color Bars

What they are: Reference strips showing ink density
  • Enable Color Bars
  • Color Bar Type
  • When to Use
Toggle: Usually OFF for most projectsWhen needed:
  • Commercial offset printing
  • Quality control requirements
  • Printer requests them
  • Color-critical work
What they show:
[C] [M] [Y] [K] [Gradients]
Strips showing pure colors and tints

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6. Page Information

What it is: Text showing filename, date, plate info
  • Enable Page Info
  • Information Fields
  • When to Use
Toggle: OptionalWhat’s included:
  • Filename
  • Export date/time
  • Page number (if multi-page)
  • Color space
  • ICC profile used
Placement: Outside trim area, near crop marks

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Document Size Detection

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Automatic Detection

1

Frame Size = Final Size

If your frame is exactly the final size:Example: Frame is 3.5” × 2” (business card final size)Plugin action:
  • Detects no bleed included
  • Offers to extend design for bleed
  • Adds 0.125” (3mm) around edges
  • Final PDF: 3.75” × 2.25”
2

Frame Size = Final + Bleed

If you designed with bleed already:Example: Frame is 3.75” × 2.25” (business card with bleed)Plugin action:
  • Detects bleed included
  • Sets crop marks at 0.125” inside
  • Final PDF: 3.75” × 2.25”
  • Trim size: 3.5” × 2”
3

Manual Override

If detection is wrong:Toggle: “Manual size specification”Enter:
  • Final width: [3.5] inches
  • Final height: [2] inches
  • Bleed: [0.125] inches
Plugin adjusts accordingly

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Common Size Presets

Quick select popular sizes:
PresetFinal SizeWith Bleed
US Business Card3.5” × 2”3.75” × 2.25”
EU Business Card85mm × 55mm91mm × 61mm
Postcard6” × 4”6.25” × 4.25”
Flyer (US Letter)8.5” × 11”8.75” × 11.25”
A4210mm × 297mm216mm × 303mm
Poster 18×2418” × 24”18.25” × 24.25”
Click preset → Auto-fills dimensions

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Units of Measurement

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Supported Units

  • Inches (in)
  • Millimeters (mm)
  • Points (pt)
  • Picas (pc)
Common in: United States, CanadaStandard sizes:
  • Business card: 3.5” × 2”
  • Letter: 8.5” × 11”
  • Tabloid: 11” × 17”
Bleed: 0.125” (1/8 inch)Precision: 0.001”

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Unit Conversion

Plugin handles automatically:
  • Enter in any unit
  • Converts internally
  • Exports in selected unit
Example: 
Input: 85mm
Display: 3.346 inches
PDF: 85mm (if mm selected for export)

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Multi-Page Documents

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Page Setup for Booklets

  • Single Pages
  • Facing Pages (Spreads)
  • Imposition
Method: Each page separateSettings:
  • Bleed: 3mm all sides
  • Crop marks: Each page
  • Independent pages
Best for: Flyers, posters, single sheets

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Gutter Margins

For bound documents: Inside margin (binding edge):
  • Minimum: 0.5” (12mm)
  • Recommended: 0.75” (18mm)
  • Comfortable: 1” (25mm)
Why larger: Allows for binding without covering content Setting: 
Inside margin: [0.75] inches
Plugin adjusts safety zone accordingly

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Orientation

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Portrait vs Landscape

  • Portrait
  • Landscape
  • Square
Height > WidthExamples:
  • Business cards (usually)
  • Brochures
  • Books
  • Letterhead
Setting: Auto-detected from frameManual: Select “Portrait” if needed

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Advanced Document Options

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Trim Box vs Bleed Box

PDF contains multiple “boxes”: 
┌─────────────────────────────┐
│ Media Box (full page)       │
│  ┌───────────────────────┐  │
│  │ Bleed Box (with bleed)│  │
│  │  ┌─────────────────┐  │  │
│  │  │ Trim Box (final)│  │  │
│  │  │                 │  │  │
│  │  │    DESIGN       │  │  │
│  │  │                 │  │  │
│  │  └─────────────────┘  │  │
│  └───────────────────────┘  │
└─────────────────────────────┘
Why it matters:
  • Printer software uses these boxes
  • Defines cutting area
  • Automatically set by plugin
Pro setting: Manual box specification

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Output Intent

What it is: Embedded profile information Purpose: Tells printer expected color space Setting: 
Output Intent: ISO Coated v2 (ECI)
Benefit:
  • Color accuracy
  • PDF/X compliance
  • Professional standard
Automatically set based on ICC profile choice

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Document Setup Checklist

Before exporting:
  • Bleed enabled: 0.125” (3mm) for most projects
  • Crop marks enabled: Printer knows where to cut
  • Safety zone set: 0.25” (6mm) minimum
  • Document size correct: Verify final dimensions
  • Units correct: Inches or millimeters as preferred
  • Orientation correct: Portrait/landscape matches intent
  • Registration marks: Only if printer requests
  • Multi-page setup: Correct page order if applicable

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Troubleshooting Document Setup

Problem: Crop marks overlap contentCause: Insufficient offsetSolution:
  • Increase crop mark offset
  • Standard: 0.125” (3mm) from bleed edge
  • Adjust in Document settings → Crop Marks → Offset
Problem: Plugin thinks size is differentCause: Frame size ambiguousSolution:
  • Enable “Manual size specification”
  • Enter exact final dimensions
  • Specify bleed amount
  • Plugin will recalculate
Problem: Some edges don’t extendCause: Content doesn’t reach edgeSolution:
  • Option 1: Extend design to frame edges
  • Option 2: Use “Extend” bleed method
  • Option 3: Manually design with bleed area
Problem: Crop marks + registration + color bars = clutteredCause: All options enabledSolution:
  • Only enable what printer needs
  • Standard: Just crop marks + bleed
  • Ask printer which marks required

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Best Practices

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Standard Setup (90% of projects)

Recommended settings: 
✓ Bleed: 0.125" (3mm)
✓ Crop Marks: Enabled (Black, Standard style)
✓ Safety Zone: 0.25" (6mm)
✗ Registration Marks: Off (unless requested)
✗ Color Bars: Off (unless requested)
✗ Page Info: Off (optional)
This works for:
  • Business cards
  • Flyers
  • Brochures
  • Posters
  • Most print projects

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Premium Setup (High-end printing)

Enhanced settings: 
✓ Bleed: 0.125" (3mm)
✓ Crop Marks: Enabled (Black, Standard)
✓ Registration Marks: Enabled
✓ Color Bars: Enabled (CMYK)
✓ Page Info: Enabled
✓ Safety Zone: 0.25" (6mm)
Use for:
  • Large print runs
  • Commercial offset printing
  • Color-critical work
  • Corporate annual reports

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Minimal Setup (Digital/desktop printing)

Simplified settings: 
✓ Bleed: 0" (no bleed)
✗ Crop Marks: Off
✗ Safety Zone: 0.125" (minimum)
✗ Registration Marks: Off
✗ Color Bars: Off
Use for:
  • Desktop/home printing
  • Cut-to-size projects
  • Digital-only output

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Learn More

Bleed Explained

Deep dive into bleed setup

Crop Marks Guide

Understanding printer’s marks

Safety Zone

Protecting your content

Multi-Page Documents

Booklets and catalogs
Pro Tip: Save your settings as a preset (Pro feature) to reuse on similar projects. No need to reconfigure each time!