Design in Millimeters

This tutorial details the process of generating an ISO A4 document (210 × 297 mm) for international printing, including metric margin and bleed configurations.

1. Access the Plugin and Preset

To begin, open the Print for Figma plugin from your Figma Actions menu (Cmd+K or Ctrl+K).

1. Navigate to the Create tab.
2. In the preset sidebar, expand the International category.
3. Select A4.
4. The layout dimensions will populate as 210 Width by 297 Height, and the measurement unit will automatically switch to millimeters.

2. Establish Safe Margins

Margins create a visual boundary inside the document edge, keeping critical content safe from the trim line.

1. Enable the Margins toggle.
2. Enter 25 (representing 25 mm). This is a standard margin size for corporate A4 documents and letterheads.
3. Use the chain link icon to lock the margin inputs, applying the 25 mm buffer symmetrically to all sides.

3. Add Bleed (If Necessary)

If your design incorporates background colors or images that extend to the absolute edge of the paper, bleed is required to account for cutting tolerances.

1. Enable the Bleed & Crop Marks toggle.
2. Enter the standard international commercial bleed size: 3 mm on all sides.
3. Keep the Bleed Mode set to Expand so the frame physically increases by 3 mm on every edge without cutting into your 210 × 297 mm design space.

4. Generate the Canvas

Click the Create button. Print for Figma creates a new frame. Because Figma operates on a 72 PPI canvas, Print for Figma calculates the exact sub-pixel dimensions: 595.28 × 841.89 pixels (adjusted automatically to accommodate the 3 mm bleed). Visual layout guides will be placed to show the safe margin (blue) and the final trim line (red).

5. Export Preparation

Upon completing the design:

1. Ensure edge-to-edge imagery extends fully past the red trim line into the outer bleed area.
2. Navigate to the Export tab in Print for Figma.
3. If printing commercially in Europe, enable Color Conversion and select a standard European ICC profile, such as FOGRA39 or FOGRA51.