setztest

Setztest is a term that may refer to a test or evaluation related to typesetting and page composition. The expression is primarily found in German-language publishing contexts and may be encountered as a variant spelling of "Satztest" or more commonly as a misspelling of "Satzprobe" (a typography proof). Because of its informal usage, precise definitions vary.

Historically, in letterpress or early printing shops, a setztest could denote a prepared page or sample run used by printers to check the arrangement of type, line breaks, spacing, and overall legibility before committing to a full print run.

In modern digital publishing, the term can pragmatically describe a layout test used to evaluate typography choices, page grids, margins, kerning, and rendering across devices or screen resolutions. It may involve sample text, known as placeholder text, and font metrics checks.

Etymology: The word combines setzen (to set, as in setting type) with Test. In standard German publishing terminology, more common terms for these activities are Satzprobe (typesetting proof) or Druckprobe (print proof).

Usage: Because "Setztest" is not a widely established term in published reference works, usage tends to be informal, and authors often prefer precise terms like Satzprobe or Typographische Probe.

See also: Satzprobe, Druckprobe, Typografie, Druckkunst.