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Work out bleed size, safe area, spine width and wraparound cover size for a print job
Print spec calculatorFreeFor designers
10 min
saved on a typical run. Our estimate, against computing bleed, safe area and spine width by hand from paper caliper and page count.
Before: what you give it
The example input, as typed in. You type in numbers or values.
trim_width: 148 trim_height: 210 unit: mm pages: 200 caliper: 100 caliper_unit: microns spine_extra_mm: 0 binding: perfect
After: what comes back
The first lines of a real run on that input. Nothing here is edited by hand.
Trim: 148 mm (5.827 in) x 210 mm (8.268 in) With 3 mm (0.118 in) bleed: 154 mm (6.063 in) x 216 mm (8.504 in) (1819 x 2551 px at 300 ppi) Safe area (5 mm (0.197 in) in from trim): 138 mm (5.433 in) x 200 mm (7.874 in) Spine: 100 leaves x 0.1 mm = 10 mm (0.394 in) Wraparound cover spread: 312 mm (12.283 in) x 216 mm (8.504 in) (back panel ends 151 mm from the left edge, spine ends 161 mm) - Spine width is an estimate: paper caliper varies by mill and batch, and it can change once the stock is pressed. Get the printer's confirmed spine figure before final art. Formulas: size with bleed = trim + 2 x bleed; safe area = trim - 2 x safe; spine = (pages / 2) x caliper + extra; spread width = 2 x trim width + spine + 2 x bleed. Limits: hardcover (case) bindings add board and wrap allowances that are not calculated; printers' templates and stock figures override this.
What you get
Trim, bleed and safe sizes in mm and inches, pixel sizes, spine width, and cover dimensions
What it cannot do
Default bleed and safe margins are common figures; your printer's spec sheet overrides them.
Who it is for
- Designers
Free and Pro
| Free | 25 runs a day per IP address, up to 100,000 characters a run. |
|---|---|
| Pro | No daily limit, 300 requests a minute, up to 200,000 characters a run. |
Use it from your assistant
The tool is called calc_print_spec. Connect the server once, then ask for it by name or just describe the job. Install steps for each app.
claude mcp add --transport http designers https://designers.allthepossibles.com/mcpcurl -X POST https://designers.allthepossibles.com/api/print-spec-calc -H 'content-type: application/json' -d '{"trim_width":148,"trim_height":210,"unit":"mm","bleed":"","safe":"","pages":200,"caliper":100,"caliper_unit":"microns","spine_extra_mm":0,"binding":"perfect"}'Try it here
The form starts with the same example input, so you can run it first and then swap in your own.
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