Musterdruck

Musterdruck is a term used in German printing and publishing to denote a specimen print or proof created to preview and approve the appearance of a final printed product. It serves as a controlled sample used to assess layout, typography, color reproduction, ink handling, and material characteristics before a full production run. Musterdrucks are used in offset and digital printing, packaging, and textile printing, and can be physical proofs on the chosen stock or digital simulations.

In practice, a musterdruck follows the prepress process, where artwork, color specifications, and substrates are defined. It is produced on the intended stock with the selected printing parameters to approximate the final result. The proof is reviewed by designers, clients, or production teams, and any deviations are corrected before mass printing. For color-critical work, the musterdruck is integrated into a color-management workflow using ICC profiles and objective color measurements.

Musterdruck differs from the final print in that it is intended for evaluation and sign-off, not end-use distribution. Depending on industry, it may be called a color proof, a Musterbogen, or a Musterprobe, and it may exist as a physical sheet or a digital file. Multiple musterdrucks may be produced to reflect variations in paper, coating, or printing method.