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Graphic Design vocabulary · Print Production

Crop marks

Meaning in graphic design, with examples

/ˈkrɑːp ˌmɑːrks/nounCommon term

In graphic design, crop marks means: Thin lines printed at the corners of a sheet, outside the design, that show the printer exactly where to cut the paper to the final size.

In Turkish: kesim işaretleri, kesim çizgileri

How it is used

Used in printer specifications and PDF export settings. You add, include or turn on crop marks when exporting; they should sit outside the bleed. In American English they are also called trim marks.

Example sentences

  1. Export the PDF with crop marks and 3 mm bleed, as the printer requested.

  2. The crop marks are touching the artwork; increase the offset in the export settings.

Common collocations

  • add crop marks
  • with crop marks
  • crop marks and bleed
  • trim marks
  • bleedExtra image or background that extends past the edge of the final page, usually 3 mm, so that no white edge appears when the printed sheet is trimmed.
  • trim sizeThe final size of a printed piece after it has been cut, for example 148 × 210 mm for an A5 flyer, not counting the bleed.
  • print-readyDescribes a final file that meets the printer's requirements and can go straight to press, with correct size, bleed, colour mode, image resolution and fonts.
  • proofA trial version of a design, on paper or as a PDF, that the designer and client check carefully for mistakes and colour before the full print run starts.

More terms: Print Production

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