What is a test strip / test print?
A test print is a small print you order from your actual file, on your actual chosen paper, before committing to a large or final print. It's the most reliable way to see how a screen image translates into a physical print — because no monitor, however well calibrated, is identical to ink or chemistry on paper.
What it tells you
On a small print you can check the things that only fully reveal themselves on paper: - Colour — how hues and saturation reproduce on that specific paper. - Density / brightness — whether shadows block up or highlights blow out. - Contrast and tonal range across highlights, midtones and shadows. - Sharpness and any artefacts, and the effect of enlargement if you've upsized the file.
How to do it
- Order a small print of your image (or the most revealing crop of it) on the paper you intend to use, or
- Order a paper sample pack to compare how different stocks render colour, contrast and texture.
Tip: trying the same image on more than one paper is a great way to choose the right stock for the look you want.
When to use one
Always consider a test print before a large, expensive, or colour-critical order, or when you're working with a new paper or workflow for the first time.