Meaning in graphics work
Registration marks are reference targets used to align parts of a printing process, such as separate colour images. Their purpose is process alignment, not the finished design.
They differ from crop marks, which identify cutting positions. A provider may create registration targets during production rather than ask the designer to include them.
Example and practical consequence
A screen-printed design using separate colour screens needs an agreed alignment method. A supplied PDF for another process may not benefit from manually added registration marks at all.
Confirm the production workflow before adding marks. The presence of registration targets cannot demonstrate that a job has been aligned correctly; that needs actual production control. Keep any technical targets outside the finished graphic and preserve the agreed mark settings with the export record.
Take it to the next job
- Separate alignment targets from trim indicators in the export brief.
