Crop marks

Crop marks are lines printed on the edges of a printed sheet that guide where to cut the paper to its final size. They indicate the boundaries of the design or image and help ensure accurate trimming, especially in professional printing. When designing a publication, extra space beyond the cut line—called bleed—is added; crop marks show where this area ends. During production, printers use these marks to precisely cut the paper, ensuring the final product has clean edges and aligns correctly. In short, crop marks are essential guides for achieving a polished, professional print result.