Add Crop Marks
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What is Add Crop Marks?
Add Crop Marks inserts L-shaped registration marks at the corners of every page in a PDF. These marks define where the page should be trimmed after printing on larger paper stock. The tool expands each page's media box by a configurable bleed amount (default 9 points) and draws thin black lines at each corner to indicate the trim boundary.
The implementation uses pdf-lib to load the document, expand the media box on each page, and draw 18-point crop lines at all four corners. The crop marks are drawn in black at 0.25pt thickness, following standard prepress conventions.
How to Use Add Crop Marks
- Upload a PDF by dropping it onto the upload zone.
- Set the bleed amount (default: 9 points — roughly 3mm). This is the extra paper beyond the trim edge.
- Click Add Crop Marks. The tool expands each page and adds corner marks.
- Download the result as
crop-marks.pdf. The file is ready for professional printing with bleed.
Why Use Add Crop Marks?
Professional printing requires bleed and crop marks so the printer knows exactly where to trim. Without them, slight misalignment during cutting can leave thin white edges. Crop marks tell the cutting machine precisely where the final page boundary is, ensuring clean edges even if the paper shifts slightly during trimming. This tool converts a standard PDF into print-ready format without needing InDesign or other layout software.
Privacy & Security
Your files never leave your browser. Every step — reading, expanding media boxes, and drawing crop marks — happens on your own device using pdf-lib compiled to WebAssembly. Nothing is uploaded to Racira's servers, no copies are stored in the cloud, and no file data is transmitted at any point.
Frequently Asked Questions
What bleed amount should I use?
The standard bleed for professional printing is 3mm (about 9 points). For large-format printing or items with full-bleed backgrounds, use 5–10mm. The default of 9 points works well for most business documents and brochures.
Does this add bleed content?
No. The tool adds crop marks and expands the page size, but it does not extend the page content into the bleed area. For true bleed, your source PDF should already have content extending beyond the trim edge, or you can use the Add Bleed tool to extend background colors and images.