This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to effectively use trim marks in your printed products. It covers the core settings, page selection modes, trim mark appearance, and optional settings to help you generate professional trim marks around your artwork.
Core Settings
Sides
Choose which sides of the artwork should include trim marks:
Top
Right
Bottom
Left
You can select any combination depending on your print and finishing requirements.
Offset
Enter the distance (in your template units) between the artwork edge and the trim mark.
Example:
Offset 5 → trim marks appear 5 units away from the boundary.
Snap
Choose the reference for trim mark placement:
Boundary – aligns to the outer boundary of the box/page
Content – aligns to the outer boundary of the content
Is Executed
Toggle to enable or disable the entire trim mark operation.
On → Trim marks will be added
Off → Trim marks are ignored during processing
Useful when testing variations without deleting the step.
Pages
Page Selection Mode
Choose where the trim marks should be applied.
Single
Applies the same trim mark configuration to all selected pages.
Custom Selection
Allows choosing specific pages manually.
Selected Pages
Dropdown to select:
All pages (default)
Front only / Back only
Specific page ranges (depending on template structure)
Trim Mark Appearance
Thickness
Defines the line thickness of the trim marks.
Example: 0.5 = thin professional trim marks.
Length
The length of each line segment making up the trim mark.
Example: 10 = 10 units long.
Stroke
Controls the line color and optional spot color mapping.
Color
Choose the stroke color for the trim marks (commonly black).
Code
If using a spot color, you may map a spot name (such as "CutContour" or custom finishing colors).
You can switch between using a field or a fixed manual value.
Optional Settings
Corners Only
When enabled, only draw trim marks at corners instead of full-length marks on all selected sides.
Useful for:
Certain finishing styles
Minimalist mark layouts
Reducing noise on heavily imposed sheets
Default is to have trim marks at the center as well.
Stroke Spot Color Name
Specify a spot color name if your finishing workflow requires marks to print using spot channels.
Example:
"Cutter"
"Dieline"
"RegMark"
Can also be linked to a dynamic field.
Overprint Stroke
Enable this option when your trim marks must overprint other artwork to avoid knockouts.
Recommended when printing on:
Dark backgrounds
Full-bleed artwork
FAQ
What are trim marks?
Trim marks are indicators that show where the final cut of the printed product will occur.
How do I choose which sides to apply trim marks?
You can select any combination of the top, right, bottom, and left sides based on your print requirements.
Can I customize the appearance of trim marks?
Yes, you can adjust the thickness, length, and color of the trim marks to suit your design needs.