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What Are Crop Marks?

Crop marks (also called trim marks) are thin lines printed outside your design that show the printer exactly where to cut the paper.
Simple Analogy: Crop marks are like the dotted lines on a sheet of stickers - they guide the cutting tool to ensure precise cuts.

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Why Do We Need Crop Marks?

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The Problem They Solve

When your printed sheet comes off the press:
  • It’s printed on oversized paper (to accommodate bleed)
  • Multiple designs might be on one large sheet
  • The printer needs to know exactly where to cut
Without crop marks, the printer would have to guess where to cut, leading to:
  • ❌ Inconsistent sizes
  • ❌ Off-center designs
  • ❌ Cut-off content
Crop marks turn guesswork into precision, ensuring every cut is exactly where it should be.

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Types of Printer’s Marks

Print files can include several types of marks:
  • Crop Marks
  • Bleed Marks
  • Registration Marks
  • Color Bars
Purpose: Show where to trim/cutAppearance: Small corner marks (L-shaped) or linesPosition: At all four corners, outside the bleedRequired: Yes, for most professional printing
┌─   Example:   ─┐
│                │
│   [Design]    │
│                │
└─             ─┘

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Standard Crop Mark Settings

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Typical Specifications

SettingStandard ValuePurpose
Line thickness0.25pt (0.088mm)Thin enough to not interfere
Line length6mm (0.236”)Long enough to see clearly
Distance from trim2-3mmOutside bleed, visible
ColorBlack (K100) or oppositeHigh contrast
StyleCorner marksMost common
Print for Figma automatically uses professional-standard crop mark specifications.

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How Crop Marks Are Used

1

Design Phase

Designer includes crop marks in the PDF export
2

Pre-Press

Print shop verifies marks are correct
3

Printing

Design is printed on oversized paper with all marks visible
4

Cutting

Guillotine or cutting machine aligns with crop marks
5

Final Product

Paper is cut precisely at crop marks, marks are trimmed off

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Crop Mark Placement

Crop marks must be positioned correctly: 
Correct Placement:

┌─────────────────────────────┐
│ ┌─   ┐                      │  ← Crop marks OUTSIDE bleed
│ │    │  ┌─────────────┐     │
│ │    │  │░░░░░BLEED░░░│     │  ← Bleed area (3mm)
│      │  │░┌─────────┐░│     │
│      │  │░│ DESIGN  │░│     │  ← Your actual design
│         │░│         │░│     │
│         │░└─────────┘░│     │
│         │░░░░░░░░░░░░░│     │
│         └─────────────┘     │
│                      └─   ┘ │
└─────────────────────────────┘

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Distance Guidelines

  • From trim edge: 2-3mm (outside bleed)
  • From design edge: 5-6mm total (3mm bleed + 2-3mm spacing)
  • Line length: 6mm is standard
  • Gap at corner: ~2mm where horizontal and vertical marks meet

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When to Use Crop Marks

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Always Use Crop Marks For:

Any job going to a commercial printer should include crop marks.
When printing 100+ copies, precision is crucial.
Designs with full bleed absolutely need crop marks.
When ganging multiple items on one sheet.

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Crop Marks Optional For:

Desktop printers usually don’t use crop marks.
If the PDF won’t be physically printed.
Papers with white borders all around (like letterhead).

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Setting Up Crop Marks in Print for Figma

1

Open Plugin

Select your frame and open Print for Figma
2

Navigate to Document Tab

Go to the Document settings tab
3

Enable Crop Marks

Check the box for “Crop Marks”
4

Configure Options

Available options:
  • Position: Corner marks (standard) or full marks
  • Color: Black or white (for dark backgrounds)
  • Registration marks: Enable if needed
5

Preview

Preview in the plugin to ensure marks are visible
Pro Tip: Print for Figma automatically positions crop marks at the correct distance with professional specifications. You don’t need to worry about the technical details!

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Crop Mark Color: Black vs White

Choose crop mark color based on your design:
Design BackgroundCrop Mark ColorWhy
Light colorsBlack (default)Maximum contrast
Dark colorsWhiteVisible against dark background
MixedBlack (usually works)Marks are outside design
Very dark bleeding to edgeWhiteEnsure visibility
1

Check Your Design

Look at your bleed area - is it light or dark?
2

Choose Contrasting Color

In Print for Figma:
  • Document tab → Crop Marks Color
  • Select “Black” or “White”
3

Preview

Verify marks are clearly visible

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Common Crop Mark Issues

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Issue #1: Marks Too Close to Design

Problem: Crop marks overlap with design elements Causes:
  • Insufficient bleed
  • Design extends too far
Solution:
  • Ensure 3mm minimum bleed
  • Keep design content inside trim area
  • Use Print for Figma’s automatic positioning

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Issue #2: Marks Not Visible

Problem: Can’t see crop marks in PDF Causes:
  • Wrong color (black on black background)
  • Marks outside PDF page
  • Marks disabled
Solution:
  • Change mark color to white for dark designs
  • Check PDF page size includes marks
  • Verify marks are enabled in export settings

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Issue #3: Marks Cut Off

Problem: Crop marks are partially or fully cut off Causes:
  • PDF page size too small
  • Printer trimmed the sheet
Solution:
  • Increase page size in export settings
  • Ensure 5-10mm margin around design for marks
  • Check printer’s requirements

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Issue #4: Marks Printed on Final Product

Problem: Crop marks visible on finished pieces Causes:
  • Printer didn’t trim the sheet
  • Incorrect cutting
Solution:
  • This is a printer error, not your file
  • Contact the print shop for reprint

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Special Situations

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Multi-Page Documents

For booklets and catalogs:
Each page gets its own set of crop marks
Crop marks on outer edges only, not in the gutter (center fold)
Consider spine width when placing marks

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Gang Printing

When multiple designs are on one sheet: 
Sheet Layout:
┌─────────────────────────┐
│ ┌─┐  ┌─┐  ┌─┐  ┌─┐    │
│ │A│  │B│  │C│  │D│    │  ← Each design gets marks
│ └─┘  └─┘  └─┘  └─┘    │
│ ┌─┐  ┌─┐  ┌─┐  ┌─┐    │
│ │E│  │F│  │G│  │H│    │
│ └─┘  └─┘  └─┘  └─┘    │
└─────────────────────────┘
For gang printing, export each design individually with its own crop marks, then let the print shop impose them on the sheet.

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PDF Verification

After exporting, check your crop marks:
1

Open PDF

Open your PDF in Adobe Reader or Preview
2

View Full Page

Zoom out to see the entire page including area outside design
3

Check All Four Corners

Verify crop marks appear at all corners:
  • Top left ✓
  • Top right ✓
  • Bottom left ✓
  • Bottom right ✓
4

Check Visibility

Marks should be clearly visible and contrast with background
5

Measure (Optional)

In Adobe Acrobat Pro, measure mark position (should be ~3mm from trim)

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Printer Communication

When sending files to a printer:

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Information to Provide

“File includes standard crop marks 3mm outside trim line”
“Trim size: 90mm × 54mm” (the final size after cutting)
“3mm bleed on all sides”
“Page size: 96mm × 60mm” (includes bleed)

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Questions to Ask

Before finalizing your file:
  • “Do you need registration marks?”
  • “What crop mark color do you prefer?”
  • “Should I include bleed marks?”
  • “Any specific positioning requirements?”

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Quick Reference: Crop Marks

ElementStandard
When to useAll professional printing
Position2-3mm outside trim line
Line weight0.25pt
Line length6mm
ColorBlack (or white for dark designs)
StyleCorner marks (L-shaped)

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Checklist: Before Sending to Print

  • Crop marks enabled
  • Marks visible at all four corners
  • Marks have correct color (contrast with background)
  • Marks are outside bleed area
  • PDF page size includes marks
  • Registration marks included (if required by printer)
  • Marks don’t overlap with design
If all items are checked, your crop marks are properly set up!

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Learn More

Understanding Bleed

Learn about the area between your design and crop marks

Safety Zone

Keep content safe from the cutting blade

Export Settings

Master all export options

Working with Printers

Communicate effectively with print shops
Pro Tip: Most modern printers prefer PDF/X-4 format with embedded crop marks. Print for Figma handles this automatically!