Adding registration marks to AI (Adobe Illustrator) is essential for ensuring that your artwork aligns properly when printed. Registration marks are small cross-hairs that are added to the corners of your artboards to help printers align each color separation accurately. Here’s how you can add registration marks to your AI document:
1. Open your AI document: Start by opening your Adobe Illustrator document that you want to add registration marks to.
2. Create a new layer: It’s a good practice to add registration marks on a separate layer so that you can easily toggle their visibility. Go to the Layers panel, and click on the “New Layer” button at the bottom of the panel to create a new layer.
3. Draw registration marks: Select the Line Segment Tool from the toolbar on the left-hand side of the screen. Click and drag to draw a short horizontal line at the top-left corner of your artboard. Then, draw a short vertical line that intersects the first line, creating a small cross.
4. Duplicate and position the marks: With the cross selected, press Ctrl+Alt+Shift+T (Cmd+Option+Shift+T on a Mac) to duplicate the cross and create another one. Position this in the bottom-right corner of the artboard.
5. Group the registration marks: Select both sets of registration marks and group them together. You can do this by right-clicking and selecting “Group” or by pressing Ctrl+G (Cmd+G on a Mac).
6. Save and print: Once you’ve added the registration marks to your AI document, make sure to save your work. When you are ready to print, ensure that the registration marks layer is visible. Check with your printer to ensure that they are familiar with registration marks and know how to use them for alignment.
Adding registration marks to your AI document is a simple yet effective way to ensure accurate printing. By following these steps, you can set up your artwork for professional-quality printing with ease.
