How to Add Crop Marks for Print in CorelDRAW

Adding crop marks in CorelDRAW ensures that commercial printers know precisely where to trim your finished product after printing. This guide walks you through setting up bleed margins, extending background graphics, and generating automated crop marks using CorelDRAW's PDF export settings and Print dialog.

Step 1: Configure Document Bleed

Before generating crop marks, you must define the bleed area so background colors and images extend past the cut line, preventing unwanted white borders.

  1. Open your document in CorelDRAW.
  2. Go to Layout > Document Options (or double-click the page border).
  3. Under Document, select Page Size.
  4. Check the Bleed box and set the bleed value (the commercial print standard is typically 0.125 inches or 3 mm).
  5. Click OK.
  6. Go to View > Page > Bleed to make the bleed guide visible on your workspace.

Step 2: Extend Artwork to the Bleed Line

Ensure that all background elements, fills, and photos extend past the page edge all the way to the newly visible bleed guideline. Keep essential text, logos, and critical details inside the safe margin (at least 0.125 inches inside the actual page boundary).

Commercial printers typically prefer a print-ready PDF with embedded trim marks.

  1. Click File > Publish to PDF.
  2. In the dialog box, choose a high-resolution preset, such as PDF/X-1a or Prepress, from the PDF preset drop-down menu.
  3. Click the Settings button (gear icon next to the preset).
  4. Go to the Prepress tab.
  5. Check the box for Crop marks.
  6. Check Bleed limit and verify it matches your document's bleed size (e.g., 0.125 inches).
  7. (Optional) Check Registration marks and Color bars if your commercial printer specifically requests them.
  8. Click OK, choose your file destination, and click Save.

Step 4: Add Crop Marks via the Print Dialog

If you are outputting directly to a PostScript file, RIP software, or a local plate maker:

  1. Click File > Print (or press Ctrl + P).
  2. Go to the Prepress tab.
  3. Check the Crop/fold marks box.
  4. Set the Bleed distance to match your document's bleed.
  5. Click the Print Preview button to visually confirm that the crop marks appear outside the trim area.
  6. Click Print to output your file.