overprint

Overprint is a term used in printing and graphic design to describe the technique of printing one layer of ink atop another rather than leaving the base area to be printed separately. In traditional printing, an element may be set to overprint to avoid gaps caused by misregistration, or to create a color interaction where the top color blends with the color beneath. Designers distinguish overprint from knockout, where the top layer would cut away the underlying color. Overprinting can produce intentional color effects, improve trapping, and help ensure a solid impression when multiple colors are printed in separate passes. In digital prepress, an object can be configured to overprint, so its ink is laid on top of the bottom artwork; the result depends on the inks and paper, and mishandling can lead to unintended color shifts.

Overprint also appears in postal and fiscal contexts. For stamps and banknotes, the term refers to printing additional text, numbers, or symbols over an existing design to indicate a new value, jurisdiction, or provisional issue. This is common when currency is revalued, territory is annexed, or a stamp is repurposed without producing a wholly new design.

The practical effect of overprint depends on the printing method, inks, and substrate; care is needed to manage color accuracy and legibility.