What it enables:
This technology allows users to create regristration marks that are compliant with the Ghent PDF Workgroup specifications.

Use case:
A QuarkXPress user designs a layout and sets it up to be a press ready PDF. During export to PDF the user specifies the regrations marks size based on the size of the overall layout.

RegMarks XT FAQ with Nick Martin

1. What is RegMarks XT and what does that mean to the QuarkXPress user?

RegMarks XT is XTensions software for QuarkXPress 7 for Mac and Windows. It allows users to specify the length of the registration marks that are placed on the page when you export a layout as a PDF. Currently the size of the registration marks is always set to 8.467mm (.333 inches) irrespective of the value entered by the user in the Marks pane of the PDF export dialog.

The Ghent PDF Workgroup (GWG) specifies that whatever page size is specified, the mediabox should be an additional 20 mm (5mm bleed and 5mm crop marks offset by 5mm). However, if a user applies these settings in QuarkXPress 7, the mediabox will actually be an additional 26.934 mm — this is because the combined length of the registration marks is 16.934mm (8.467mm x 2). This means that there is additional white space between the crop marks and the mediabox, which the Ghent PDF Workgroup does not allow.

The RegMarks XT overrides the setting for the default size of the registration marks and uses the value specified by the user in the Marks pane of the PDF export dialog box.

2. What inspired you to develop this solution?

The Ghent PDF Workgroup has been asking us to resolve this issue for some time in order that the PDFs created using QuarkXPress 7 comply with their specifications. This XTension makes this possible until the issue is resolved in QuarkXPress itself.

3. Who do you see as the target audience for this solution?

All users creating PDFs from QuarkXPress.

4. If this feature is developed further, what would you like to see added?

This feature will be included in all future releases of QuarkXPress.

Getting Started with the RegMarks XT

RegMarks XT is easy to install. Once you have downloaded the XTensions module, simply open the XTensions directory in the application folder or “Program Files” folder for QuarkXPress and drag and drop the XTensions module to the directory. At the next launch of QuarkXPress, the RegMarks XT will load. There will be no visible change to the application. To uninstall it, use the XTensions Manager in QuarkXPress or simply remove the RegMarks XT XTensions module from the “XTensions” folder.