What are cropmarks?

Just what are cropmarks when it comes to printing? While “crop marks” might sound like something an extraterrestrial visitor would leave as a message, they are actually incredibly useful in the world of printing. In this blog, we’ll take a look at what crop marks are and why you want to use them in your printing projects.

Crop Marks: The Basics

Simply put, crop marks in printing are lines that are placed at the corners of a document, image or artwork layout to show where the piece should be trimmed after printing. These typically look like tick marks and once a project has been printed, these will indicate how much should be trimmed off the edges. One reason crop marks are so important is the issue of bleed.

Bleed and Crop Marks

When we talk about bleed in printing, it refers to a printed design or document extending to at least one edge of the document. In most cases, an image will bleed at least 2mm past the crop marks, the reason being the desired finished product. Once a document or design is trimmed at the crop marks, it will go to the very edge.

Benefits of Bleed and Crop Marks

When you spend so much time on a design, you want the finished product to look as great as it can. By printing your design on an oversized piece of paper with at least 2mm of bleed on each side and crop marks, you have a better chance of trimming your design so it goes all the way to the edge without missing any of the images.

By not using bleed, you run the risk of having white edges along the border of your image. And without crop marks, there’s a high chance you’ll end up trimming the piece unevenly. By planning on using crop marks, you can centre your design better, so the final result is aesthetically pleasing.

What Are Cropmarks?

As you’re designing, keep your bleed and crop marks in mind. Though the number varies, you should plan on at least 2mm to 3mm of bleed along the border of your design. Once you have the design finished, set your crop marks at each corner. This will keep the trimming even around the entire finished print.

If you’re unsure about your bleed and crop marks, there are functions in design programs. Typically there will be an option to show the print bleed, allowing you to visualize how the piece will look after it’s trimmed. There should also be an option to add your crop marks, so you won’t have to rely on your best guess.

Take-aways

While using crop marks coupled with an appropriate amount of bleed isn’t absolutely necessary in design, it is the best way to be sure your finished design is displayed to its fullest potential. You work hard on your designs and using crop marks and bleed, you can show off your work perfectly. Now with this blog post you know what are cropmarks.