printsporen

Printsporen is a Dutch term that translates to "print traces" or "printing marks" in English. It generally refers to the unintended visual evidence left behind on a printed page that is not part of the intended design or text. These marks can arise from various stages of the printing process, from the initial typesetting to the final finishing.

Common examples of printsporen include smudges, ink blots, dust motes transferred during printing, faint impressions from previous sheets, or slight misalignments of ink. These imperfections can be due to issues with the printing press, the quality of the ink or paper, or the handling of the printed material. In some contexts, particularly in historical printing, the term might also encompass minor variations in ink density or paper texture that are characteristic of a particular printing method or era. While often considered flaws, in certain artistic or scholarly endeavors, these subtle marks might be studied to understand the historical printing techniques or even to authenticate a document. The presence and nature of printsporen can sometimes offer clues about the specific equipment and conditions used during the printing of a piece.