Sidetrykk

Sidetrykk is a Norwegian term used in printing and publishing to describe a side-related impression or printing on the edge or margin of a sheet. The word combines sid(e) meaning side and trykk meaning print, and its precise meaning has varied across historical and technical contexts.

In historical and technical documentation, sidetrykk often referred to an auxiliary or incidental impression that occurs along the side edge of a page during the printing or trimming process. This could arise from registration errors, multiple passes through a press, or deliberate edge decoration and marking in certain archival or specialty print runs. Because presses and workflows differed between regions and periods, sidetrykk did not have a single standardized definition, and its interpretation could shift depending on the equipment and methods described.

In some cases, sidetrykk is discussed in relation to binding and finishing, where edge impressions might help align sheets or serve as indicators for cutting and folding. Today, the term is relatively specialized and is mostly encountered in historical sources, technical manuals, or discussions of traditional printing techniques rather than in contemporary standard publishing practice.

Similar or related terms in English might be translated as edge printing, side impression, or edge marks, though these terms are not exact equivalents and their usage may vary by context. Sidetrykk remains a niche term whose meaning is best understood within its specific historical or technical setting. See also: printing, offset printing, letterpress, binding and finishing.